The Philmarillion is my second attempt at a regular blog. Before this I had tried my hand at blogging using the Blogspot platform with a site called Flipping Out. It’s redundant now, but there are some articles I would like to share. The first one is a tale of non-euclidean cosmic terror….
This weekend I was involved with a charity coffee morning for the charity Aware NI, to raise awareness for mental health issues, particularly mental health issues in males. It was the brainchild of my friend Chris, who did a great job organising everyone and everything. Males are generally terrible about talking about their feelings due to the expectation of society that they maintain their ‘masculinity’ and soldier on. Unfortunately, things like anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts aren’t things you can soldier on through. There is no shame in asking for help. It could save your life. Men need to know this, and it is up to society to change the preconceptions and stigma associated with mental health. I have struggled with depression in the past and am thankful that I was able to talk about it with others. Talking about it helped. Writing about it helped. With hindsight, from the conception of my ‘traditional fantasy’ world, long years ago, mental health was a big inspiration; in fact, without realising it at the time, depression and anxiety are literally the enemy…
I signed up for the Writers Circle at my local library a few months back, but haven’t managed to actually go to a meeting as of yet. They send out writing prompts via email during the week for people to create something for discussion. This week they suggested telling a story in ten words.
I’ll hopefully get to the writers group this weekend. Not sure how this will go down with local writers… but in the meantime, I present to you my magnum opus.
I recently downloaded Reddit and subscribed to some very good world-building and writing prompt groups. What follows is a quick attempt at a prompt along the lines of: You are a simple farmer in a world of famine and plague. You pray every night. This time, however, your god answers…
It’s a bit sceptical to say the least…
Mappy New Year…and this is a post about maps…I’m hilarious…
Anyway, I’m not one for New Years’ resolutions, but this year I’ve decided to make one; to write more! Whether it be this blog, or banging my head in frustration, trying to put my ideas to the page, or writing a silly story for my daughter for when she’s a bit older (she’s due to arrive into the world February). Continue reading Mappy New Year!
I have written a prologue for my ‘traditional’ fantasy story, and I did it without giving it much thought. Which, ironically, got me thinking. A prologue is very common in fantasy fiction. So common that I wrote one without consciously thinking “I’m going to give this story a prologue”. But is a prologue necessary? Can a prologue be a help or a hindrance? Here are my thoughts…and a photo of a typewriter.
I have talked about my ‘Big Four’ literary (fan boy) influences on my writing, so now I’m going to talk a bit about other influences. Specifically, music. More specifically, I want to talk about the influence of a criminally overlooked electronic project by the name of VNV Nation.
Musically and lyrically, VNV Nation evoke all kinds of thoughts and feelings, managing both melancholy and euphoria simultaneously. The VNV in the name stands for Victory Not Vengeance. As per their website, the “meaning behind this stylised motto is that one should strive to achieve, not sit in bitter regret.” A good motto to have, wouldn’t you agree?
Different authors have different approaches to world building. Some start with maps of their world. Some, like Tolkien, start with the languages of their creation and then built cultures up around the language. While I like drawing maps, I’m not particularly artistic and unlike Tolkien I’m a not an Oxford educated professor of linguistics. Therefore for my main project, I started with a character.
Where do I start? The beginning is probably a good idea. I have always enjoyed writing the odd short story, but what put the idea of attempting something larger in my mind? I’m going to answer that question and hope that doing so is cathartic, and will begin to break down the wall that is stopping me getting on with the damn thing.
I have been trying to write my own fiction for years. Emphasis on the word trying.
I always liked writing and telling stories, and for around thirteen years I have been toying with several ideas for large-scale projects. They say that everyone has a novel in them. Well, I would very much like to get that novel out of me.
In fact, I have four major ideas that I would just love to follow through to the end; a traditional (ish) fantasy which has been gestating in my mind for thirteen years in one shape or another, an alternate history (with a bit of the fantastic thrown in), a Jack Vance influenced future Earth science-fantasy, and a fantasy comedy. A lot of fantasy fiction, basically.
The problem is that the Angel of Procrastination sits on my shoulder every time I try. I have world built and world destroyed, and built it back up again, but writing the story eludes me. However, I do know that I need to write; hence this blogging venture.
The plan is to review fantasy fiction, discuss tropes, fan theories, themes and my influences (literary, historical and musical), maybe post up some shorter pieces I have worked on in the past, and talk myself through the process of story telling and world building. All this to coax myself into writing my magnum opus.
Hopefully, I’ll gain some followers along the way who will be happy to discuss these things too.
The Philmarillion 
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