[KATS]

“But I do identify with you on fan stories being easier to write. Half the work (creating the world) is done for you and all you have to do is focus on a certain side of it and develop that. “

Reminds me of something I heard an author say once, I think it was Mercedes Lackey, but I don’t really remember. Anyway, she said that she got tons of proposals for 50/50 partnerships for books. They give her the idea for the story and ALL she had to do was write it. Then they could split the proceeds 50/50. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif After the questions most of the people were asking her, I believe it too.

[Spacejock]

"she said that she got tons of proposals for 50/50 partnerships for books. They give her the idea for the story and ALL she had to do was write it."

In reply, of course, you offer to give THEM an idea for a story and ask them to go away and write it and give you half the proceeds.

Cheers
Simon http://www.spacejock.com

[Bardos]

Wynyelle> I think I disagree on that "concetrate" on ONE character concept. Personaly, I like to use many characters, and see the world shpericaly, from all points of view. IMHO, it's more interesting that way.
But I have to ask (courious me http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif): Why do you think telling the story of ONE character (i.e. having one main chatacter) is more interesting?

[Xayn]

if you really want to create an entire world, then I suggest you do that first. before you think at all about the dwarf-kid-plot and the characters entangled in it.
you should, however, ask yourself what it is primarily that you want to do: creating a whole world, or writing about that dwarf-orc-vampirelord tale.
if it is the first, then pay a lot of attention not to bore the readers to death by giving them endless passages of world-background-lore as interesting as reading a lexicon, which has precious little to do really with the plot&characters-at-hand.
should it be the latter I suggest you simply do without any lengthy background.
There are wonderful fantasy novels out there. single volumes! no 20+ novels-sagas, not even trilogies. just one book.
once you're done with that one, you can always write another one set in the same world, making use of the wee little background you've created so far, and carrying it a wee little further with that second novel.

[Excalibur]

I suggest you take a day off rom work or school or whatever it is that you do and sit down with paper and pencil (the keyboard can never replace that for me anyway). Jot down EVERYTHING you have so far-the plot, the characters, the world, the geography, the history, some of the more dramatic scenes... Make maps and tables and write down paragraphs explaining and outlining your characters and their surroundings. Then (cliched though it may sound) SEE it in your mind. SEE your world and your people and the events unfold in your mind. Once you have it ALL in your head, make lots of coffe and start writing. Don't worry about the spelling or the writing or whether it's intelligible or worse-saleable. Just keep writing. The first draft is the most important because you write about it as you have just seen it. Later you'll have to make changes to make the story consistent and believable. Some things may be conradictary. All that will have to be changed inthe successive drafts.

As for the starting point-you have to come up with that yourself. No-one except the aithor will KNOW the 'correct' beginning.

[Excalibur]

Typo errors, typo errors and yet more typo errors. I have GOT TO practice typing more.

[tamlyn]

this has probably been said before but if you don't write anything that comes into your head down you'll feel really bad about it later. Even if it seems to be nearly exactly the same as something else write it down. maps are always good ideas and so are character descriptions. if you've still got trouble just sit down with a pencil and a bit of paper and don't think too hard. And to put it rather poetically, the thoughts will just flow through your pencil in a cascade of words on paper.

[Ironorc]

so is Dwarf Saga published yet?

[Zsinj16]

no, I haven't really got to it yet. I've been rather ill lately and haven't really felt much like reading or writing.

[Mirror]

I just wanted to tag on to what LeMort had to say:

Although he is very straight forward take what he has to say seriously because he's very right in his suggestions. I wondered myself when I read your ideas WHY ARE ONLY SIX DWARVES going to rescue this child if he was so important.

The orcs and dwarves can't be at war "just because". What was the history that caused so much animosity? How has their conflict affected the lands and inhabitants around them?

Another question I had is why are an army of orcs subjects of this vampire? What has he done for the orcish culture for them to worship him? Are there no Gods? You could meat up your story a little and help the realism by adding legend to the history of the two factions.

I don't necessarily think a little cliche is bad because it's pretty difficult to write any kind of epic without crossing some of the classic themes. However your story may drag if you have no dynamic action. The guidelines you've created for yourself seem to set up only one course of action for heroes and foes alike.

With great fantasy there needs to be individual triumphs and tragedy throughout a quest. Smaller journeys and trials along the way will help create emotion for your characters. The reader needs to be able to empathize and understand the "humanity" and vulnerability of your characters in order to understand when they overcome great obstacles.