Recyling Your Settings: Are You Squeezing the Most Out of the Worlds You Create?

One of my all time favorite settings/worlds is Andre Norton's Witch World series. I've been reading them since forever ... and even have the 25c Ace editions to prove it. Imagine my delight when I discovered a new [to me] Witch World novel in my to-read pile. Andre Norton and A. C. Crispin's Songsmith about Eydrth, the daughter of Elys and Jervon, two of my favorite characters in the series. 

All in all, the Witch World is an excellent example to follow if you want to get the most mileage out of the worlds you create--fantasy or other. How? You recycle the details with new characters.

The story line: Eydrth, a minstrel, seeks a cure for her father whose mind was blasted by magic while seeking her missing mother. On her long journey from Arvon through Escarp, she first crosses the Witches of Escarp and links up with an adept whose quest parallels hers. The quest gets complicated by a mad witch, with a vendetta against men working magic, who seeks to destroy both the adept and Eydrth's family.

Won't mention the authors' effective craft skills here because both writers are Masters. Still there were little glitches here and there which a good copy editor should have caught.

The one I snorted loudest at? Eydrth was singing in the market square when a rampaging half-Keplian stallion threatened her audience. Of course, Eydrth drops her harp and leaves her tip money in the case to calm the stallion. What bothered me? No one stole anthing--neither the harp nor the money.

Such nit-picks aside, I give Songsmith Five ***** Stars. Hey, I read it in one sitting and was bleary eyed the next day. But I enjoyed the trip.

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The Ghost in the Closet is partially back from my beta readers. Got some good input which I'll put into play next week. 

Did get slammed on the word "doodie". I named my charcter "Doodie" because as a kid she hummed to herself -- doo-de-doo-de-dum.

Seems this California gal didn't clue into some eastern parts of the US using "doodie" as the equivalent of "doggie do", aka excrement. My main character's name is getting changed to Dumdie, different but still an insult.

What do you think about getting the cover to 3-D? Is it noticible?

Historical Fiction Writers, Do Your Characters Live in Their World or Yours?

Fantasy writers get dissed a lot for creating massive info dumps as they create worlds for their characters to act in. I'm no different. My critique partners often say I don't have enough action in my stories.

To my mind, historical writers as a group handle the problem worse. Seems like more of them either write fluff or lead. One bunch hasn't done enough historical research or don't understand the facts they wrote down. Others layer on so many facts that their characters get lost. 

Oh, for the writer who creates a living, breathing world.

I just hit it lucky again with Vicky Alvear Shecter's young adult historical novel, Cleopatra's Moon. Yes, that Cleopatra, the seventh of her name, figures large in the book, but this novel's main character is Cleopatra Selene, her daughter. Set during the civil war that changed ancient Rome from a Republic to an Empire under Octavian, the novel is laced with politics as Cleopatra Selene and her two brothers struggle to survive after their loving home in Egypt is destroyed, but it's never dull.

Yeah, the book is well researched and draws wonderful comparisons between the civilized Egyptians with their animal-headed gods and the uncouth Romans who stole so much of their culture from the ancient Greeks. [Okay, I know the Etruscans were part of ancient Greek civilization, if not the actual refugees from the Trojan Wars lead by Aeneas, but the Romans conquered them too.] 

After their parents and older brother die, Cleopatra VII's three younger children must then navigate the corruption of Octavian's rule to survive, especially Selene who hopes to return to Egypt as queen with the help of the worshipers of Isis. Selene tries to protect her younger brothers as she tries to choose which member of Octavian's household will best help her reach her goal of becoming queen.

Shecter builds well-rounded characters. A passage from the scene where Cleopatra offers her own life for her oldest son, fathered by Julius Caesar, shows how deftly she weaves historical facts to draw a three-dimensional secondary character. "Octavianus stood and crossed his arms, a cold grin on his face. 'Very noble of you, but I need you for my Triumph. And I cannot let any blood-son of my adopted father live to contest my legacy, can I? Two Caesars are simply one too many.'"

The motivation for Octavian's actions are neatly tied up in one bit of dialog. Add to that the light airy descriptions of Alexandria and the fetid depictions of Rome, Selene's headstrong maneuvers to return to Egypt as queen, and a choice between two attractive men. You end up with a plot that twists and turns enough to create suspense even though the historical facts are well known. [Cleopatra Selene survived to become the client queen of what's now northwest Africa.]

Think I have an advantage in knowing the era over most readers since I took three years of Latin in high school as well as reading a lot of hard history over the years. Maybe more important, I've re-read I, Claudius by Robert Graves several times. Shecter's writing is awesome and well worth five stars for the way she motivates her characters, though I think she let Livia off easy.

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Question. What do you write first 

I tend to set up dialog first and then fill in the setting, descriptions, and motivations. Then, I have to go back and add my character's doing something.

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Got a surprise from the Grumpy Dragon. They've given my stories set in my alternative California worlds a tag line: "The Andor Chronicles". This is my editor/publisher's reaction when I told her that my short story, Crossings, is threatening to become a novella, which I might self-publish if she didn't mind.

I'm still waiting for the final edits for There Be Demons, but they have been promised by the end of this week. When they arrive, she's going to get another story to glance at, The Noticed One, also set in my alternate California. Even though it's darker and deals with emotional vampires, it's set in the territory and wouldn't take much revision to fit into Andor.

Fiction Writers, What Kinds of Worlds Do You Create? Flat or Three Dimensional?

I do love me a book that draws me into a living breathing world. My reading pleasure seems to double when the pleasure drops unexpectedly into my lap. Case in point: Martin Cruz Smith's Rose. It's not fantasy. Just a fabulous Mid-Victorian mystery set in Wigan, Lancastershire, with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep you guessing, Oh, the clues are well marked along the way but there are so many suspects with so many guilty secrets, including the missing cleric whose disappearance must be solved.

Wracked by malaria, Jonanthan Blair, a disgraced mining engineer, accepts a commission to find a missing curate, who happens to be the fiance of his former boss, a bishop, lord-of-the-manor, and mine owner. If he's successful, Blair can return to Africa to find new gold mines under the imprimatur of the bishop's commercial interests. As he searches for the cleric, all clues lead back to Rose, one of the Wigan pit girls who is the linchpin that holds the plot together until the twisty ending.

Cruz Smith is known for his research. At least, a lot of reviewers reference it. What they don't say so much is the sensual way he uses that background to create a touchable, smellable, gritty world. Can't remember one info-dump in the whole story ... and this is a historical novel that's true to its period.  He writes  good fight scenes too,  using brass-tipped clogs no less, something that was new to me.

One apt quote that had me laughing outloud: "Leveret handed him an envelope as covertly as if he were passing French postcards." It's a beautiful example of Victorian hypocrisy.

For me though, it's the multiple-dimensional characters that shine. All writers know the drill of creating living characters -- describe them, list three memories, set goals, set conflicts and give them a tic or two. Cruz Smith goes way beyond Characterization 101. Even his sadistic villains exhibit well-layered motives ... and the plotline is filled with villains of many ilks.

The book appeared out of the bowels of the basement as we tried to clear tradeable and donateable books from the shelves. Now I have mixed feelings because Rose is so well-crafted. Cruz Smith deserves his reputation if his other books are as well done. Unfortuantely, I don't often read in his genre. 

This is a five star book, in case you want a commitment.

Still don't know if it's a keeper.

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Doesn't time pass fast when you're having fun?

Don't usually pay attention to milestones. I know I missed the fact when I posted my 300th blog. This is my 350th. Basic question running through my mind at the moment: Why I'm still here. Guess I can't shake bad habits. ... I consider this blog sort of like talking to myself even though the stats say between 75-100 page views happen. My highest view rate? 875.

Hey, other bloggers out there.

How many blogs have your written? 
Or, did you give up somewhere along the way?

Another fun statistic: My author website now ranks under 900,000 according to Alexa. I think I need to revamp it, though, because I can't see where it's helping me sell my novellas.

Getting a Dose of Creativity

Think my creativity finally kicked into second gear.  Yeah, I'm getting the haiku organized.  [Watch me break my arm patting myself on the back.]  With luck, the different form will be the catalyst not only to create something new, but to get it written.

So, what's the haiku doing for the creative cells in my brain?   Weeell,  I'm writing controlled vowel pre-primer stories again.  [Much different from the reading levels taught in school.]  though I really must give some credit to the publisher who's interested in an old manuscript, Pat, the Pet.  We're supposed to talk contract at the end of the month ... once the artist and I decided we can go back and create new stories.

Then, there's the new world that's been bumping around in my mind for about twenty years.  Yeah, that's not exactly new ... but the same motifs kept bubbling up to the surface of my mind and sinking again.  Now,  I'm not ignoring them.  I've written several pages of background about the world, how the conflicting factions came to be, and several characters whispering in my ear. 

Problem to write about?  I think I'm going to focus on a "religious" shelter house for kids.  --  Don't know where Maren fits in this.  She's whispering too.

More important, the idea is science fiction ... though I'll probably be handling it like fantasy.  Sort of real, but not, without explaining much of anything.  The machines just do it.

How do you handling settings when you don't have a firm grasp upon the facts?  Does it make the creation process more exciting?  Or, do you throw up your hands and run away?

Oh.  Someday my trailer will arrive.  The music's down and editing's in process.  Will also have a free Half-Elven story "Cavern Between Worlds" up on Smashwords soon.

Then, there's the fantasy haiku.  I've always dabbled in haiku and thrown it away.  Out of pure cussedness I posted a couple pieces on Facebook and Twitter.  Now, I'm writing a story in haiku.  Oddly, it fits right in with the Pat, the Pet stories.   

Bad Haiku...

False Hope
II

Untamed winds whisper

Hopeful tales in people’s ears.

"The true heir survives."

False king’s men search land,

To no avail, then reward’s

Offered for heir’s head.

Heir hides, thinks he’s safe.

Traitor lurks by side.  Takes prize.

Heir’s lady love flees.

Not So Trivia...

The Wall Street Journal stuck their foot in it ... the censorship pile, that is.  I'm used to narrow-minded fundamentalists dictating to me, but the Wall Street Journal?  Guess, I'll listen to their social advice as much as I listen to their financial advice.  YA writing serves a function.  It lets kids try on different worlds and ideas ... safely.