Literary Question

Germanboi · #1 (**permalink**) 06-01-2008, 03:08 AM

So I want to write a story. I kinda want to base it off of an imaginary friend I had growing up, but I do not know how to put it together. Does anyone know a good book/story/short story writing process? I know outlining it would probably be a good way to go...but how do I make something unique? I have read many books, and a lot of them are similar. Bad verses evil kind of thing. Good must find something before bad does...good must become stronger than bad before bad kills them. ect ect ect. (Ahhh the King and I) Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated!

**Ristaron** · 06-01-2008, 11:08 AM

The good vs. evil motif is ubiquitous. I've seen well done forms of it, but the whole moral absolutes thing I feel belongs in a children's story. One thing I would suggest avoiding is not tailoring the story around the main character. Don't have everything be guarded by means that the character is proficient in overcoming... make him need help, or fail a few times. And if you're going to go beyond superficial losses to the character, don't kill off the already tragic sidekick. That's just cliche.

My advice on writing a story is not to follow someone else's structure. Your story should be your own, not a thin veil you cast over someone else's.

Germanboi · 06-02-2008, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ristaron

The good vs. evil motif is ubiquitous. I've seen well done forms of it, but the whole moral absolutes thing I feel belongs in a children's story. One thing I would suggest avoiding is not tailoring the story around the main character. Don't have everything be guarded by means that the character is proficient in overcoming... make him need help, or fail a few times. And if you're going to go beyond superficial losses to the character, don't kill off the already tragic sidekick. That's just cliche.

see thats what I like about the Cloudmage series by S.L. farrell it was not always a "good" person winning this or that...because the "good" was built on the perspective of the characters...granted most of it dealt with the greed of power so whoever you thought was doing it for nonselfish purposes seems to be the "good guy".