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This week: Edited by: rose_shadow
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"A lady (and, what makes the story more piquant, she herself was a Jungian psychologist by profession) had been talking about a dreariness which seemed to be creeping over her life, the drying up in her power to feel pleasure, the aridity of her mental landscape. Drawing a bow at a venture, I asked, 'Have you any taste for fantasies and fairy tales?' I shall never forget how her muscles tightened, her hands clenched themselves, her eyes started as if with horror, and her voice changed, as she hissed out, 'I loathe them.' "
-C. S. Lewis, Of Other Worlds: Essays and Stories
Let us all hope that we never end up like this poor woman  .
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The Care and Feeding of a Fantasy Muse Part V:
Hit the Books
Perhaps I'm biased since I've worked in a library since high school, but I've always loved being around books. So much information and so many different places to visit, right at my fingertips. In its own way, the library is a fantastical place with access to many worlds other than ours.
As a writer of fantastic fiction, your muse is best kept happy when she has a steady diet of the written word. Not words that you've written, but words by other people. Just as your body needs proper nutrition and excercise to function at its best, your muse keeps healthy when you read regularly.
So what's the first thing you should do? Go to your local library armed with a notebook and a sharpened pencil (or, better yet, a pen since pencils can break). Check out some books (see below for some recommended subject reading) and start reading! The notebook is where you can (1) write down the call number or title of the books you've looked them up in the card catalog so you can go find them, (2) jot down quick ideas you get while at the library, and/or (3) scribble down the other titles you will want to get in the future.
Reading other fantasy works is a given. Various authors have different styles which can help you create your own and give you ideas. Try not to stay in one genre of fantasy, such as epic style (Tolkien, Brooks, etc), but branch out into others that you usually stay away from.
Don't stop there! Aside from reading other genres of fiction, be sure to include a healthy dose of non-fiction like history and mythology. Ideas abound everywhere. If, while reading, you don't get ideas right away, don't worry about it. It might take awhile to sit in your subconscious, but when you sit down to write, it'll be there.
Well folks, that's the end of this particular series. Thanks for sticking with me this long! I had a lot of fun writing it. Hopefully my muse will stay with me as I think of other topics for this newsletter  .
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"Read, read, read. Read everything -- trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the most. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write."
--William Faulkner
So, what have we learned today class?
 Never Stop Reading
Since it's next to impossible to find out what other books went into the subconscious creation of stories, I chose randomly this week.
 Bonus items!
Also, just a reminder that you can now see past issues of my newsletters here: "Invalid Item"
 Moira's Fantasy Book Pick of the Month
| ASIN: 0064471047 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 6.49
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"The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia, Book 2)" has always been a favorite story of mine. Though it was written for children, all ages can enjoy this story of a magical portal from this world to another and the battle between good and evil
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
http://www.Writing.Com/main/newsletters.php?action=nli_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
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This week's question: Has there been any particular book helpful to your writing?
Previous question:
What do you find is the best way to take a break from writing itself so that you're ready and eager to write again?
From: Rebecca Laffar-Smith  
I find the greatest recharge for a tired muse is sleep. More often than not I get drained because I've been building up the sleep debt without making enough repayments. So if the muse is rejecting your current works go have a nap. You'll recharge your body and refresh your mind.
From: kamylle
In response to the Question of the Week.
Some people may find this odd, but sometimes I think that researching on whatever topic I have in mind at the moment, whether or not it is related to what I am writing, can be the best way to take a break. I usually do this for schoolwork, but sometimes, not even for that.
Oh, and I find eating great for a quick break. If it's hot I eat ice-cold strawberries, and when it's cold I have a cup of hot chocolate.
From: Puditat 
Moira, such a lovely way you have of putting things. I enjoyed your editorial on taking a break. It is so easy to stifle our characters into a corner because we are stifled ourselves...something about a lack of oxygen or nutrients?
I have plenty of things I do when I need a break, the hard part is choosing one of them. Sometimes I do craft, housework, go outside and look at something or close my eyes to detect what noises are around. Quite often it sparks a thought that intrigues me, if not - then I feel refreshed .
From: sakurafantasy
Me? I play piano, read a interesting non-fiction book, go outside, or reply to the e-mails and reviews i recieved. ANYTHING but picking up my lucky mechanical pencil. I get tired of fantasy, and do school work instead. A brainwave worms itself into my brain, and I hurry to get it all down before it's gone. Then the cycle starts again.
*thanks for the NL!
-Sakurafantasy
From: megsie2584
Taking a break is good advice, but when I take breaks from my pieces I often never come back... or when I do come back it has been so long that my perspective on the topic has changed so I have to scrap the whole thing and start over. Now I'm trying to make myself take small breaks (a weekend) instead of long ones (a summer vacation).
From: lil_hanyou
Your writing about taking a break is so true with me. I'm an avid writer myself and often write fantasy. Though, when time comes around, I put them aside and end up starting a horror like story. I have so many stories started it's unreal.
Other Feedback:
From: Bluebird
I'm somewhat new to writing.com and I've recently become more serious about my writing. I am desperate to take advantage of all the resources this site has to offer. Is there any way to get copies of previous fantasy newsletters? It would be much appreciated! Thanks a bunch!
~Bluebird
Hi Bluebird! Yep, there is a place to get previous newsletters.
"Newsletters: Fantasy" has a lot of old ones.
My past newsletters "Invalid Item"
Other editors often archive their own newsletters too, so whenever you read a fantasy newsletter, click on the editor's portfolio and you'll probably find a collection there . I hope that helps you out!
rose_shadow
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Fantasy: June 01, 2005 Issue [#394]
