Welcome to another day in the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Find the entire list here. My theme this year is world-building.
Mostly I’m asking questions that I believe need to be considered whether you
creating a medieval fantasy world, a science fiction story or even a
contemporary novel. The ideas I present aren’t in a particular order as I had
to fit them into the alphabetical order needed. And don’t forget to visit the
other blog I’m part of during the A to Z Challenge over at the IWSG. Now onto
your world.
Do your characters wear any jewelry? Is it a sign of wealth, a magical tool, a keepsake of a lost loved one? Is it made of precious metals and filled with rare gemstones? Are you going to invent gems and precious metals? Are your characters going to use words that have meaning to them or their contemporaries? Is there a special jargon that will give your characters a unique voice? Will different species or regional groups use identifying jargon to distinguish them from others?
Have you read a book where jewelry or gemstones were used as magical focus or storage props? Have you read books where the unique jargon stuck with you or perhaps even frustrated you? Are you keeping up with A to Z?
16 comments:
I like the idea of using jewelry in stories - it can take on so many meanings. Was it a gift? A memento? Stolen? Is it costume or real and does the wearer and/or the giver know its true value?
Am I keeping up with A-Z? Hmm, I'd like to think so but I'm not totally sure…. :)
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Minion, Capt. Alex's Ninja Minion Army
The 2014 Blogging from A-Z Challenge
No jewelry and I really didn't use any special jargon. Decided it was easier to stick with familiar Earth words than make up my own slang.
I think the jargon would be so hard! I'm so impressed with writers who are able to do it convincingly.
Since I write contemporary romance, there's usually one special piece of jewelry readers are looking for at the end! ;)
I love interesting language in a story, but I hate respelling. I prefer "invented" jargon to mimicked "real" jargon. That way it isn't dated. Hard to do and do it well.
I think it's incredibly hard to come up with a good jargon for a world, so I don't think I'll ever try it. I love reading it in books though.
I'm glad you asked, Susan, because my protagonist has a wedding band that he keeps twisting back and forth. You see he's hunting the killer who took his wife from him. He's ill-equipped and scared, but twisting his band back and forth reminds him he must do this, hunt the man and kill him. Revenge is sweet and Jason is wearing it on his left ring finger.
Thanks for making me realize all this. Hadn't really.
I like to design and make jewelry, so when I work on my future project I'm going to have to remember to give my characters some amazing pieces. :)
Hi, Susan,
Yes, there have been many books I've read where a gem of some kind is magical power source.
In my first novel I feature a pearl necklace with magical capabilities. It's a wonderful tool to use.
Jargon I try to avoid unless needed as not many people know it.
The jewelry is one that came up for me. A signet ring has special meaning to my character and her father as symbol of the old rule. But the only jargon I use, if that's even the right word, would be the inclusion of Welsh words into the dialogue occasionally. And I guess I use British slang a lot too. Yeah, all of that stuff help adds to the flavor of the world for sure.
Speaking of jewelry, I stopped at a blog this evening where the blogger (a lady from Ghana) was talking about waist beads as jewelry (and how sexy that is to the men). If I ever have to build a world for a novel, my female characters are all going to wear waist beads. :D
One of my characters wore a promise ring given to her by her dead boyfriend - but that was in an earlier draft that no longer exists. Well, it does exist, but it's not the draft that I am working on now.
Yes! Several of my characters use jewelry for purposes other than decoration. ;) Gemstones have magical properties, and silver's especially useful in magic.
I dont write fiction but I love to read it and if the story includes jewelery then nothing like it!! Stopping by from the A to Z theme reveal. Good luck! :)
I love jargon and buzzwords specific to the world to really immerse you in it.
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