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.
Many a great novel or movie starts with a quest. To destroy the ring, find a cure, drive the enemy back or safe the princess or prince. Sometimes a quest is more personal such a proving adulthood or finding one's courage. Two of my Recon Marine novels involved quests, one the quest for vengeance and the other for justice. Quests are great plot starters.What would a story with some magic in be without some quackery? Someone has to be pretending for financial gain or to grab power. It can also add some human or flesh out a secondary character.
Some authors in all genres start each chapter with quotes. Often they're quite real. I've seen The Art of War quoted in many books. Other authors will completely make up quotes, inventing an author and perhaps a history book the saying came from. I love those. You can impart your own wisdom and give a brief foretelling of what it to come in the chapter.
Ever make up your own quotes or use someone else's in a story? Do you have some amusing ideas to use for a quack? What is your favorite quest adventure?
23 comments:
Never thought about using quotes. Don't think they would've fit.
Most of my characters' quests are emotional ones, I guess. I've never had a character actually go on a physical quest, as they do in fantasy/sci-fi/action fiction.
Natalie Damschroder used quotes in the beginning of each chapter in her first Goddess Rising novel. It quoted the Goddess brochure and manual. Great stuff!!
I've never thought of using quotes in my novel. But my AZ is all about quotes.
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Hi, Susan,
I guess all of us can relate to the idea of a quest as the basis for our stories.
As for quotes, in one of my books, I used one at the start of each. They are Jamaican proverbs that speak to what's happening in each chapters and some readers found them interesting.
I've quoted a poem at the beginning of my current work. I've also inserted fictitious quotes from newspapers and the web. It helped to push the story along.
I've seen a few use quotes, I make up my own sometime. Quests are in just about everything
I could start thinking about my MC's journey in terms of a quest. Maybe that would add more to the story. I need to think about that!
Quotes... I have not done it. I always find it interesting when I read a novel that uses quotes preceding each chapter.
Give me a good quest to read about and I'm happy. :)
I've included quotes in the beginning of some chapters before. As well as in the beginning of the actual book. And I've done a mixture of quotes by influential people and lines from songs I've written.
My Q post is actually about quotes and includes a few I've written on my blog. :)
I seem to always be writing adventure/quests. I had no idea that's what I'd do when I started writing. I've made up quotes. It's not easy, but fun. Untethered Realms
I've done both, and usually the made up ones tend to be more pertinent to the story.
My hubby and I call those amazing one-liners "quotables." If you can fashion one to fit into your story, I say your a genius. =)
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I love the idea of starting each chapter with a made up quote! That's fantastic. I wonder if I could get away with that if I'm not writing scifi or fantasy...
Hmmm. I hadn't thought about using quotes. What I have done is start each of my chapters with a poem which has some relevance to the chapter. I haven't stated it but all poems are "written" by a character who only becomes part of the story from Book II. I'm adding in a glossary of terms; names and explanations where I'll tell the reader who the poet (bard) is.
Your blog joins my favourites in a special folder.
The quest is one of the more popular story types!
Your mention of fake quotes made me think a bit though. I love fake quotes in the fantasy novels I read...but I've never used that device in my own writing. I wonder why...may have to give it a go.
Love quotes. Haven't used them in my stories, though.
I've used famous quotes and made up my own in the past. I think my novel Fairy Tail made the most use of quotes. But it is fun to make your own :)
I can't answer this stuff but wanted to say howdy, just the same.
Each time I read one of these posts I'm reminded how much word-building is required, even in contemporary mystery and suspense. There needs to be a quest, even if the protagonist only seeks escape from danger.
Hm, now I'm wondering about some of the fake quotes. Sounds fun! It gave me an idea.
I love those made up quotes too because it shows such talent. Generally my novels begin with a heart wrenching change. Then the protagonist is off seeking knowledge in one form or another. Wish I could be more original.
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