Hi everyone, In all my time on the Internet, this is actually the first time I registered at a writing forum. I don't know why I waited so long but I'm happy to finally check out what people are posting and learn some things about different genres of writing. Thank you to the Admin/Owner for providing this cool space and to the people who keep it active. Nice to be able to participate. - michael
Welcome! Hopefully the first time is a positive experience! Whether you are looking for resources, something to read, something to be read or just some plain ol’ brain food, I think you’ll find there’s plenty of options. If there’s one thing a forum full of writers is never short of, it’s content.
Hello and welcome, Michael! A writing forum can be daunting, if it's your first time. I've been on forums since ... *checks* ... 1994?!! I feel old. Take your time and check out what looks interesting. What genre (or genres) are you interested in writing?
Hello Rath, Thanks for the welcome. I've been on forums probably since the late 90's...actually prefer them to social media...but, in all that time, this is the first time I registered at a forum dedicated to writing. I like sci-fi and any kind of quirky, socially-cutting contemporary fiction. How about you?
I started with writing fantasy (and tried a range of others, e.g. horror), but fantasy was my preferred genre for a while. But gradually, I shifted into a mix of historical fiction and mythology, blended together with some humour, and just a tiny dash of philosophy. I know lots of people will ask: why move from fantasy to history? They seem like complete opposites. My answer is simple: fantasy is simply the stories of what we would do if we could. History is fantasy, minus the mythological creatures and the magic. So logically, if I mix history and mythology, surely I would end up with fantasy. To do this, I follow three steps: 1. I pick a specific historical time period; 2. I research it thoroughly to make sure I understand how people lived back then -- especially to avoid howlers, like giving my ancient Romans tomatoes, or creating a medieval knight with a cigar. (Don't laugh - I've seen both, and even worse, in a so-called "historical fiction" that was published on Amazon. Groan.) 3. Finally, I inject a tiny bit of mythology to shake things up, throw my characters for a loop, and send them off into the wild. (Like Bilbo Baggins, they're going on an adventure!) *grin* But importantly, the mythology has to fit the story-world. Roman myths for ancient Romans, etc. It's hard work, but also lots of fun!
Sounds like an effective formula for keeping things interesting, Rath. Is it ever not hard work, though? So many ideas, so little time.
Welcome! I recently joined WritingForums, which is my first writing forum experience as well. My experience has been great, so I think you joined the right forum!
