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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Nov 7, 2023 0:11:12 GMT -5
This might be a dumb question, but are the names of the months important to the story? Most books I read rarely or never mention the specific month(s) in regards to passage of time.
Otherwise, for a generic idea, months/seasons in various cultures are typically named after a particular religious event/holiday, deity, or just in nod to the season (e.g. April comes from "aprilis", meaning "to open" in reference to spring blooms)
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Post by Brownie on Nov 7, 2023 0:17:07 GMT -5
This might be a dumb question, but are the names of the months important to the story? Most books I read rarely or never mention the specific month(s) in regards to passage of time. Otherwise, for a generic idea, months/seasons in various cultures are typically named after a particular religious event/holiday, deity, or just in nod to the season (e.g. April comes from "aprilis", meaning "to open" in reference to spring blooms) I mean if it's epistolary, where all the content is letters, months and the passage of time is bound to come up more often than other styles changing the months tho might be a crazy move depending on the genre. even for different sci-fi, giving the usual months and just having them be translated or transposed for the "english speaking audience" aka the reader can be an easy excuse to let the reader have their familiar things and not have to deal with abstractions. (it can also be really funny to have "translator's notes" or footnotes and give that translator a voice for humor)
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
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Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Nov 7, 2023 0:57:33 GMT -5
So I'm basically all ready to write my epistolary novel after deciding to move the setting from real to fictional since I'll have an easier time keeping characterization accurate while also not having to worry about little details, but a thought just occurred to me: I have absolutely no idea what to call the months. what kind of genre are you going for? What kind of world are you working with? Is it alt-earth or exoplanet? The genre is horror and some events are inspired by real history, but overall, its very much its own setting (albeit one inspired by 16th century Europe).
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
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Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Nov 7, 2023 0:57:44 GMT -5
This might be a dumb question, but are the names of the months important to the story? Most books I read rarely or never mention the specific month(s) in regards to passage of time. Otherwise, for a generic idea, months/seasons in various cultures are typically named after a particular religious event/holiday, deity, or just in nod to the season (e.g. April comes from "aprilis", meaning "to open" in reference to spring blooms) I mean if it's epistolary, where all the content is letters, months and the passage of time is bound to come up more often than other styles changing the months tho might be a crazy move depending on the genre. even for different sci-fi, giving the usual months and just having them be translated or transposed for the "english speaking audience" aka the reader can be an easy excuse to let the reader have their familiar things and not have to deal with abstractions. (it can also be really funny to have "translator's notes" or footnotes and give that translator a voice for humor) Exactly this! It might seem small, but yes, the months do actually matter, more so than in any other type of novel. What's funny is that I have thought about pulling a Tolkien and doing the translator thing, but I already have enough worldbuilding problems to worry about, so just wondering what to call the months for this particular one just seems minor in comparison. Which reminds me, since switching things up, this has also now become part of a much larger world, with it taking place on the same continent as this other story I'm working on. I'd planned on naming the months after deities like I've already done with the other culture, but I'm just drawing a blank right now. So it's less on a matter of what to call the months and more on what to call the deities. For further context, this particular culture takes inspiration from the Germanic tribes.
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Post by Brownie on Nov 7, 2023 1:22:23 GMT -5
my opinion: keep them the regular twelve months during the draft, and flavortext them when it becomes directly relevant to the characters or plot. It should be (hopefully) kind of obvious when those links are being drawn what direction to take them.
After all, they are kinda flavor text and not inherently important to the story. You can simply use our earthly words until you figure that out in time
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
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Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Nov 7, 2023 1:45:05 GMT -5
my opinion: keep them the regular twelve months during the draft, and flavortext them when it becomes directly relevant to the characters or plot. It should be (hopefully) kind of obvious when those links are being drawn what direction to take them. After all, they are kinda flavor text and not inherently important to the story. You can simply use our earthly words until you figure that out in time Yeah, that's basically what I've been doing for the time being anyway, I just know I'll have to come back to this eventually, so I just thought I'd ask in advance.
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Post by Brownie on Nov 7, 2023 1:59:35 GMT -5
my opinion: keep them the regular twelve months during the draft, and flavortext them when it becomes directly relevant to the characters or plot. It should be (hopefully) kind of obvious when those links are being drawn what direction to take them. After all, they are kinda flavor text and not inherently important to the story. You can simply use our earthly words until you figure that out in time Yeah, that's basically what I've been doing for the time being anyway, I just know I'll have to come back to this eventually, so I just thought I'd ask in advance. fair. Usually worldbuilding details like that just... eventually work themselves out as the story progresses. Like one character might mention one of the deities and then it matches the month, or maybe they have more of a system of past monarchs got months named after them like august and that happens to come up for them or smth.
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Nov 7, 2023 9:15:39 GMT -5
Okay second dumb question, whats an epistolary? I have never heard the term before.
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
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Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Nov 7, 2023 9:32:27 GMT -5
Okay second dumb question, whats an epistolary? I have never heard the term before. It just means letter, comes from Greek and Latin. As such, this type of novel is basically where the narrative is made up of letters and documents and such and it's actually been around for a pretty long time, since at least the late 1400s, apparently.
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Post by *Ɗαɾƙρσσℓ* on Nov 7, 2023 16:18:38 GMT -5
ive made like no progress on my nano project :')
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Post by 𝕊’𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 on Nov 7, 2023 17:32:59 GMT -5
Hey guys sorry for not posting in awhile, just checking in on y’all! Anyone doing NaNo? If so, how’s your project coming along?
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Post by Brownie on Nov 7, 2023 21:20:40 GMT -5
UHHH it's coming alright (wrote 0 words)
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#a3c5e6
Name Colour
𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
Warrior Fanatic
All hail me, the flower-flushing queen of Prague
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Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Nov 7, 2023 21:37:20 GMT -5
Hey guys sorry for not posting in awhile, just checking in on y’all! Anyone doing NaNo? If so, how’s your project coming along? I'm participating, but it turns out, when I thought I'd decided where to set my epistolary novel (either the real world or fictional), I started to have doubts. So now I'm basically working on two stories at once just to see which one I like more.
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Post by *Ɗαɾƙρσσℓ* on Nov 7, 2023 23:38:56 GMT -5
i'm participating but rlly not getting much done lol we'll see how the month goes. was also aiming to work exclusively on one project but i keep going back to scenes from my secondary project.
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#f0a9e4
Name Colour
Captain Americat
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"Don't frown, someone could be falling in love with your smile." - Teen Wolf
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Post by Captain Americat on Nov 8, 2023 8:24:14 GMT -5
Hey guys sorry for not posting in awhile, just checking in on y’all! Anyone doing NaNo? If so, how’s your project coming along? Are you doing NaNo this year? I’m not doing it officially, but I would like to try to write something.
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Post by *Ɗαɾƙρσσℓ* on Nov 8, 2023 12:17:23 GMT -5
btw i will probably be attempting some writing sprints again this evening if anyone is around this time. will aim for 11-11:30 p.m. EST. lemme know if anyone wants to join/for me to tag them once i'm close to getting started.
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#f0a9e4
Name Colour
Captain Americat
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"Don't frown, someone could be falling in love with your smile." - Teen Wolf
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Post by Captain Americat on Nov 8, 2023 12:48:01 GMT -5
I would be down! Although… I might be in bed by then 😅
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Post by *Ɗαɾƙρσσℓ* on Nov 8, 2023 13:40:35 GMT -5
All good, i know i kinda miss peak activity times on here since my day schedule is shifted later. i tend to work the evening shift and dont get home till p late :/
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Post by 𝕊’𝕞𝕠𝕣𝕖 on Nov 8, 2023 21:58:10 GMT -5
I'm doing NaNo! I'm currently at 32k words, though I've been struggling to write today
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Post by *Ɗαɾƙρσσℓ* on Nov 8, 2023 22:39:41 GMT -5
Am off work, will try to start writing like maybe 11:15, anybody wanna do a sprint?
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Post by ! (Ġray) ! on Nov 9, 2023 2:37:10 GMT -5
Working on my warriors fanfics, I've been trying to do 300 words a day, which doesn't sound like a lot but I usually go weeks without working on them so it's better than nothing
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Post by *Ɗαɾƙρσσℓ* on Nov 9, 2023 11:42:49 GMT -5
I ended up just doing the one sprint yesterday. 645 words woop woop lol i am so far behind any kind of word goal
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#f0a9e4
Name Colour
Captain Americat
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_blue.png)
"Don't frown, someone could be falling in love with your smile." - Teen Wolf
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Post by Captain Americat on Nov 9, 2023 17:54:31 GMT -5
Hey!
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Post by ! (Ġray) ! on Nov 9, 2023 18:04:37 GMT -5
hi!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2023 8:34:47 GMT -5
Greetings
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Pixie
![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_silver.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_silver.png) ![*](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/stars/star_silver.png)
credit to poleyworld and pixelart
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Post by Pixie on Nov 10, 2023 12:10:45 GMT -5
Reiterating what I posted on a separate thread lol:
It's been on my bucket list to eventually write a book. However, I have multiple ideas, but no concise storyline in my head. How do you guys turn your ideas into full-fledged plots? I know I need an outline, but I just feel stuck lol. Also, how do you pick which idea to write about?
In regard to medium, I don't know if I want to do a comic or an actual book. I have different plots for different things. I know I can do both, but what should I start out with? If I go with the comic idea, I know that doing that means my art will gradually improve and I suppose in the process, my writing as well, and considering I want to lean into the fantasy genre, it would be easier to draw what I imagine versus writing it. I know how difficult it is to get into a fantasy book. It takes me about 200 pages of pure confusion before it eventually just clicks into place on what's happening lmao (one of the reasons I prefer children's fantasy because it's easier to comprehend).
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2023 15:47:13 GMT -5
Reiterating what I posted on a separate thread lol: It's been on my bucket list to eventually write a book. However, I have multiple ideas, but no concise storyline in my head. How do you guys turn your ideas into full-fledged plots? I know I need an outline, but I just feel stuck lol. Also, how do you pick which idea to write about? In regard to medium, I don't know if I want to do a comic or an actual book. I have different plots for different things. I know I can do both, but what should I start out with? If I go with the comic idea, I know that doing that means my art will gradually improve and I suppose in the process, my writing as well, and considering I want to lean into the fantasy genre, it would be easier to draw what I imagine versus writing it. I know how difficult it is to get into a fantasy book. It takes me about 200 pages of pure confusion before it eventually just clicks into place on what's happening lmao (one of the reasons I prefer children's fantasy because it's easier to comprehend). I'm honestly not the best person to respond, but I know it's better to respond that not to. *Note: this person has only completed some short stories and a prologue*
I suggest expanding ideas that you have a vague idea on and writing what you're sure on. I've only used an outline once so I won't comment on that.
Also I'm not going to tell you to "just write" because to me that is the worst thing someone can tell me when I'm struggling with a story line, I suggest nothing productive. Probably why I don't complete anything, the only thing that gets me writing during the day is my lovely friend tell me a daily amount of sentences to write and endless amounts of music.
*Note: This will probably be rewritten later to be more "helpful". I know this is useless, don't judge me.*
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Post by Brownie on Nov 10, 2023 16:08:28 GMT -5
the real answer is: use whatever you have the most ideas and motivation for. it's hard enough--at least when starting out--to force yourself to write something you don't really want to write, so pick the plotline that's been itching your brain for the longest amount of time and go from there.
there's no wrong answer, and you can switch projects if it doesn't work out.
as for outlining, the more detailed the better when you're first starting out. Try and have an outline of all the major story arc in at least a vague sense, then more detailed notes for the first arc in the story. If you're struggling, perhaps look at the story in terms of problems start, problem solution, problem roadbump/slight setback, problem resolution. That typically forms the most satisfying narrative arcs and if you can slot your story into that formula, you'll be in a good starting spot.
As for story vs comic, it really depends on which medium you're more comfortable with. Comics do typically require more dedication and time, as you'll have more skills to pick up as you go vs writing (because in comic writing, you'll ALSO have to learn all the writing skills alongside all the art skills) so my advice would be to write unless you also have a lot of motivation to improve your art
oh also for a starting project: simplify, don't complicate. Pick ONE(1) major problem/conflict to focus on for the whole story, ONE(1) main character, a small cast of supporting characters, and a simple plot archetype (you can look those up online!! they are helpful!!)
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Post by Saint Ambrosef on Nov 10, 2023 17:23:03 GMT -5
I'm a terrible person to answer this, since I've been working on the same project for 12 years and been stuck in the planning stage, but my little tidbit of advice is to figure out what story you want to tell with the main character. Where would you like them to start out as a character, and how would you like to them end up? Having a roadmap (even a vague one) of what kind of development your protagonist needs can help you figure out what needs to happen next in the story.
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