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Fantasy: January 19, 2011 Issue [#4191]

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Fantasy


 This week: In The Beginning
  Edited by: Robert Waltz Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.
         -Oscar Wilde

Don't worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you'll have to ram them down people's throats.
         -Howard Aiken

Everyone is in love with his own ideas
         -Carl Jung


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Letter from the editor

Ideas


         For a while there, the most-asked question of science fiction and fantasy writers was, "Where do you get your ideas?"

         Some authors tried to answer honestly. Others made up stuff. I think it was Barry Longyear who said, "Schenectady."

         I often wondered if he was punning on "synechdoche," a literary term for when part of something is used to refer to the whole, or, in one of those rare cases where a word is its own antonym, when the whole is used to refer to a part. Like when you call a car "wheels," or when you say "The government screwed me out of my tax refund" when what you mean is "some flunkie working for the government..."

         More likely, it's just a fun city to say. Say it. Schenectady.

         But I digress. What I mean to point out here is that a) all stories start with an idea and b) some people think they "come from" somewhere, like illegal aliens.

         The thing is, for me at least, ideas don't just pop into my head from nowhere (or some city in New York); they are the result of something else that happens. Like I'm watching my cat play with something and going, "Wow... if cats had opposable thumbs like us, it'd be all over." Usually, it's not just one thing, either. It's a synthesis of several different things, like when I'm walking down the street and I hear a siren and someone's playing the bagpipes - my first thought is, "Yes, please, arrest the bagpipe player."

         But however it happens, there you are, with an idea. That's important. It's not the most important thing - that would be editing - but it's important. There's a reason why the universal comic symbol for the idea is the *Idea* lightbulb: One minute it's dark; the next, it's on. In a flash of inspiration.

         If you're lucky, you'll remember to say "lightbulb" like Gru from Despicable Me. If you're even luckier, you'll remember the idea, and you can write it down and expand on it, later. Combine it with other ideas, because just one idea doesn't usually cut it.

         Next thing you know, you have the beginnings of a story.

         But you don't stop looking for new ideas.


Editor's Picks

All of these, I'm sure, started out as an idea...

 The White Flame Part A Open in new Window. [13+]
The rough draft of a story of a girl coming into her magic and her life.
by Erroneous Author Icon


 Deep Dark Treasures Open in new Window. [E]
after using a few prompted words in a contest , a new story evolves.
by capristar Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 A Pure Heart Open in new Window. [13+]
It was prophesized that only a pure heart could save them.
by Junie Author Icon


 Mathematics and Fireworks Open in new Window. [ASR]
An astral projector has a mathematic problem to solve
by AstralStorySpinner Author Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor


 The Buyer Open in new Window. [E]
a flash fiction story for a contest
by Fred Author Icon

 
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Ask & Answer

Last time, in "Fantasy Newsletter (December 21, 2010)Open in new Window., I talked about how Santa Claus was real... sort of.

LJPC - the tortoise Author Icon:
Hi Robert!
What a delightful newsletter! You're absolutely right about the myths that come to life because people believe in them. We "love" certain characters in books, whether they're real or not. Believing is the key. If you want people to love your characters, you have to love them, too. *Smile*
-- Laura


Well... up to a point. I do things to my characters I wouldn't do to someone I liked, let alone loved *Wink*


THANKFUL SONALI Library Class! Author Icon:
Awesome NL. What an inspiration to really create a character! Thanks, Waltz.

Glad to be inspiring!


And that's it for January... see you next month! Until then...

DREAM ON!!!



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