Where Do Ideas Come From?Something I get asked relatively frequently is "Where do you get your ideas? What gives you inspiration for your writing?" Well, I'm here to talk to you about ideas today. More specifically, sources of ideas. To start, lets talk about some of the places I've found inspiration and ideas. Where My Ideas Have Come FromWe can't start talking about ideas without going into where the idea for Stones of the Middle Lands: The Castaway Hero came from. Well, That's a long story, pun-intended. It all started years ago when my mom decided to have me construct a map of a made up place. As you can probably guess, this turned into the early map of The Middle Lands. From there, I was inspired to actually write a book by a lovely young author named McKenzie Wagner. And it kind of snowballed from there. Another interesting place I found an idea is in something my family does. Whenever there is something like a fire, explosion, or large police presence, my family has a tendency to run towards the danger to investigate. As I thought on that one night after we had run toward some danger, I had an idea for a book series. Now I can't say too much about it, in order to protect the idea for the series in the future, but I can tell you this: The main character in that series is heavily based on the idea of running toward danger instead of away from it. The place I got the idea for my short story, Hunted: A Revolutionary Short Story, is an entirely different source. That story idea came from an extra credit opportunity for school. Over fall break, I had the chance to write a historical fiction short story for a bit of extra credit. I hadn't really considered trying my hand at a historical fiction, so of course I took the opportunity. We had recently been studying the Revolutionary War in U.S. History, so I wondered, how would a story in the revolutionary war look if it were told by a Torie?(born american that sympathized with the British.) And thus the idea for the story was born. Where Can You Find Inspiration?So as you can see by the examples up above, inspiration and ideas can come from anywhere. Some other places you may find inspiration could be nature, things laying around the house, family, friends, even just everyday life. The key is looking for a story wherever you are. If you learn to find stories in everyday life, you can tell those stories on the page(or computer, however you write stories.) You could try observing something like two squirrels in the park and narrating their story. I may just be going into some activities you can try to get ideas soon. So go out there and search for your next story. Please feel free to share places you've gotten story ideas in the comments down below! To EndI know, I know, just a bit more. But I have to fit in my obligatory schpeel somewhere. So I hope you found this article helpful, and that it will help you find ideas for your next story. If you want to read my first novel, The Castaway Hero, you can get it on Amazon HERE and through Barnes and Noble HERE. If you have any interest in reading Hunted, A Revolutionary Short Story, you can read it for free HERE. That's all folks, and until next time, keep on writing!
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Is War Ever Just?The matter on whether war is ever just is a complicated issue to say the least. Today I am not looking to offend anyone who has a different opinion from me or the other teens. I simply wish to express our opinions and thoughts on the matter.
More Teenage Thoughts!
War can, and often has throughout history, been just. When war is fought for the intent of freedom, then it can't be anything but just. I do not believe the act of War itself is just as the violence and the other detestable actions committed are horrendous. The reason behind war can be just however. And truly there is hardly a more noble act then going to war as a soldier to defend your country and protect lives. Just as the world is not black and white the reasoning for things will continue to be in color, some unclear and some complex but all to be understood in different paradigms. Ok, so I've been thinking about this and here is what I think. Yes and no. It depends on the reasoning. There is nothing unjust about defending your country, family, values, and freedom. When America fought for their freedom from England, that was just. That needed to happen. However, sometimes the reasoning behind a country fighting or starting a war is not just. Like how Germany started World War Two with their invasions. The reasoning behind that was not good. But England fighting in that war, and later the U.S., was just. War really is a necessary evil. It's ugly, it's hard, and if everyone was perfect it wouldn't be needed. But sometimes countries do dumb things and we can't just wait around for things to get better. For example: if England, America, and the other countries hadn't gone to war with Germany, in the long run, many more people would have died. The Jews probably wouldn't have been around any more. The decision for England and the other countries to engage Germany was just because in the long run, more people would have died. Some Final WordsI would like to end off by reminding everyone that everybody is entitled to their own opinions. Just because you may not agree with what was said here today doesn't mean you cannot have a civil discussion. In fact, I would love to encourage a discussion. Hopefully, as usual, I have shown you just how deep today's teens can be. Feel free to comment down below and start a civil discussion. Also, just a reminder, you can buy my first novel, The Castaway Hero, HERE on Amazon and HERE at Barnes and Noble. Until next time, keep on writing!
Why Creatures Matter in WorldbuildingFirst of all, why would you want to include creatures in your worldbuilding? There are a variety of reasons. First of all, they may be relevant to your plot. They could be something the hero has to face, or they could be an ally, other species, or anything in between. These are especially prevalent in fiction. The hero's may be on a long road when they are suddenly attacked by some fearsome beast. It breaks up the monotony of travel, and gives you some fun conflict. Another reason to have a creature is that they reflect the environment. A lot of creatures are specially adapted to whatever environment they live in, and can be used to help emphasize how deserty, jungley, mountainy, etc... your world is. So especially if your story is a man verses nature type, this is a great reason to have creatures. So what are the most important things for a creature? Appearance, Type, Habitat, and Food SourceFirst and perhaps one of the most important parts of creature creation is appearance. What does the creature look like? A great example from my own book, The Castaway Hero, is the Grunkle, pictured above. This has one of the most fearsome appearances you will find anywhere. This is a creature of nightmares. Its entire appearance screams danger! Avoid me at all costs! This appearance also serves another purpose I will discuss a little later. Closely related to appearance is type. This is basic enough, by type we mean is it a mammal, reptile, fish, or something else entirely? Next is habitat and food source, which are also quite closely related. Where does your creature live? What does it eat? Often habitat and what it eats are also intertwined with appearance. If your creature eats meat, like the Grunkle, it will have adapted like that. The reason the Grunkle has such gigantic claws is because it eats meat. If a creature eats plants, then it doesn't really need things designed for killing. And as noted earlier, a creature that lives in a jungle is going to look quite different than something that lives in a desert. All things to consider when designing a creature. Magic, History, and AdaptationsThe next set is relatively small. First of all, is this creature magical. This is generally something to consider for a fantasy. Next is history. Now this isn't something like an evolutionary history, though that can be something to consider if you are creating creatures that are closely related, such as the Grunkle and Krunkle. What I mean by history is the history of a specific individual creature. If you have a certain creature that may be the last of its kind, what storied past has that creature had? What has shaped it? And the last thing in this chunk is any special adaptations and abilities. These can be quite closely related to habitat and how they survive. Turning to the Krunkle, it has a special ability to shift between a very dog-like form and a monstrous Grunkle-like form. Another thing to consider with the adaptations is why they have them. Has anything forced them to evolve like that? Uses, Threats, Domestication, and PertinanceAnd now for the final things to consider. First of all, how is the creature useful? Is it some kind of beast of burden? Can its body parts be used for something special? Is it quite edible? Can they be used in magic rituals? The next thing is simple. Is the creature a threat? Is it something that could hinder your hero's, or is it just another creature? Another simple thing to ask yourself is are these creatures wild or domestic? In The Castaway Hero, Grunkles are wild, while Krunkles are quite domestic creatures generally. The very last thing to consider is pertinence to the plot. This is almost certainly the most important part. If your creature has no relevance to the plot, why do you even bother creating it? So what you need to think is what purpose does the creature serve in your book? Are they just another obnoxious creature on the long road? Are they some kind of guardian for an object of power? And are they representative of something? For an example, lets return to the Grunkle. In The Castaway Hero, one of the characters is deathly afraid of Grunkles. But, as part of a challenge, he absolutely has to overcome his fear to protect someone he cares about. So in this case, the Grunkle literally represents fear and how the character overcomes it. So consider that next time you create a creature. To end offI hope you have found this article useful. Down below you will find a button which will allow you to download a copy of the template I use for creating my amazing creatures. I think this will help you all surpass even me in creating amazing, fascinating creatures! If you are interested in experiencing many of my creatures, be sure to check out my book, Stones of the Middle Lands: The Castaway Hero, out now on Amazon HERE and Barns and Noble HERE. Until next time, keep on writing!
What is Teenage Thoughts On...?Teenage Thoughts On... is a series of articles I will be running for the foreseeable future. In it I will show you some of the thoughts of teenagers on some of the big issues and concepts, as well as some lighter things, including happiness, productivity, the meaning of life, and much more! We will begin with my thoughts, and then share the thoughts of other teenagers afterword. The point of these articles is to both provide you with food for thought and to show you just how awesome and in depth our youth today can be. So without further ado, I hope you enjoy! What Brings Lasting Joy?To start, I would like to state what I consider "lasting joy." Lasting joy is not being happy 100% of the time. It is the ability to be in the moment and maintain a sense of satisfaction and peace despite what may be happening around you. So what brings lasting joy, in my opinion? I believe (partially) that the key to lasting joy is all about maintaining perspective. If you are constantly looking back and are unsatisfied with how things went, you will not be happy. However, if you are living in the moment and understand that "this too shall pass", then you can live with the understand that this is not the end. If you maintain a good perspective on things, not lingering in the past or chomping at the bit for the future, then you can truly find lasting joy in the moment. Now, lets move on to the thoughts of some other teens! Lasting joy is not being happy 100% of the time. It is the ability to be in the moment and maintain a sense of satisfaction and peace despite what may be happening around you. -Ken Mears More Teenage Thoughts!Lasting happiness comes from our choice. Our choice to see good in the world. Our choice to not let our fears control us. Our choice to make those around us friends. -Shion C. 16, Oregon I think happiness is brought on by our ability to be fully present in each and every moment of life, for when we're not present we're often reminiscing about the past or worrying about the future. Whereas when we're fully present we can fully appreciate each and every one of the happy and beautiful moments which takes place in life, and we can even be able to more effectively handle bad moments as well so that they don't stick with us long term. - ZZ F. 14 I believe that as an individual we can find things that connect to our pasts that we can implement in the future. These can be certain meals, movies, or activities that bring connection and bridge a gateway from yesterday into tomorrow. Another important factor is the relationships that we form with the people around us. You can make ordinary circumstances an extraordinary experience with the right mindset and people around you. -Summer R. 16, Nevada I agree with what has been said, especially that lasting joy is a choice. Another big part is finding things that make you feel happy even when you're struggling, like music, reading, etc. I think the biggest factor, more important than anything, is the factor of people. Bringing others joy brings the best kind of happiness. The purest form of joy tends to come when you're with others, serving them, showing them love and care, and just being with them. Other factors are important too, but I feel really strongly that joy comes from giving to the people around you. -Olivia M. 17, Utah Some Final Words.I hope you all enjoyed and have a new appreciation of how deep teens can be! Please feel free to comment with your thoughts, and if you know any teenagers that would like to give input on deep topics, have them message me so we can get in touch. Also, just a reminder, you can buy my first novel, The Castaway Hero, HERE on Amazon and HERE at Barnes and Noble. Until next time, keep on writing!
Start with a mapSo, you want to build a world in which to tell a story. Well, as someone who has created a whole amazing world(in my humble opinion), let me show you how I got started. When I first started creating The Middle Lands, I began with a basic map. We begin with a basic shape (as you can see the general shape above^). From there you can create various features in the land. I would highly recommend keeping a key so your land formation markings are consistent, As you can see in the image above, I added mountains, rivers, and volcano's to this map. From there you can create names for the various regions in your world. In the case of The Middle Lands, you can see that all boundaries are physical, such as mountains and rivers. Now of course this doesn't have to be the case, you can have more political boundaries in your worlds instead.
When it comes to naming things, when I created the original map of The Middle Lands, I was a little less skilled and named things ridiculously like Kenada and The Ethan Lands, I pray that you do NOT do this! When I had to rename some of the places in The Middle Lands, I looked into the Latin and Greek roots for words associated with major features of each land. For example, Infernterra comes from two root words, Inferno, which means fire, and Terra, which means earth, which means Infernterra literally means "Fiery Earth", an apt description of that particular area. From there we named the major formations, such as the Valley River and The River Unknown. Now would be the best time for you to figure out where your major settlements or plot-relevant places are, and mark them. As you can see on this map, the River, Jungle, and Sea Temples are all marked as they are important places in this world. And there you have it, finish up the map with any more details you would like to fill in and you have a general map of a world for you to tell fantastical stories in. I hope this was useful and I plan on continuing to write more articles on world building 101. If you have any interest in exploring this world any further, please visit HERE to get The Castaway Hero on Amazon or HERE to get it through Barnes and Noble. Until next time, keep on writing! |
Welcome to The Writers Block!AuthorKen Mears is a new 17 year old author, here to share his wisdom, advice, and experiences with you, the reader! Archives
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