Mythcreants Posts for February

See what Mythcreants has been up to lately.

View this email in your browser   February Newsletter You can give us feedback via the contact form on our website. (If you reply to this email, we might not see it.) Have a wonderful month! Social Justice, Worldbuilding, Religion Can I Use Christianity In My Urban Fantasy? By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/31/22 Is it problematic to use Christian mythology as some of the basis for the vampire/demon lore in my urban fantasy series? I don’t mean in an “offensive to Christians” way, but more in the sense of is it affirming Christianity as “right” or “true” and being dismissive of other religions? Am I overthinking this? -Ze […] Read in browser » Analysis, Social Justice, Magic 364 – The Wheel of Time Show By Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, Wes Matlock and B.A. on 01/30/22 Is it better than the books? Yes, but better how, exactly? Read in browser » Analysis, Plot, Tension Who Wins on Engagement: Buffy, Supernatural, or Teen Wolf? By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/29/22 It's an urban fantasy showdown! Read in browser » Writing, Wordcraft Five Tips for Reviving Bland Prose By Chris Winkle on 01/28/22 Readers want entertaining narration, but how do you make it entertaining? Read in browser » Space Automation By Bunny and Chris Winkle on 01/26/22 How every space opera should go. Read in browser » Writing, Dialogue, Wordcraft Can I Use Script Format for Dialogue? By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/24/22 What do you think of switching to “script format” for dialogue for a few pages in a story that is otherwise standard prose? Jerry: This is script format. Akeem (angrily): We know that! (shakes their fist) I have a scene w/ a large group of characters who are discussing and arguing an important issue. While […] Read in browser » Writing, Wordcraft 363 – Verbs By Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle and Wes Matlock on 01/23/22 We must all appreciate the hard working verb. Read in browser » Analysis, Worldbuilding, History, Social Justice Building Roshar: How Sanderson Bungled Culture By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/22/22 The world of The Way of Kings has intriguing storms and bizarre gender roles. Read in browser » Storytelling, Plot, Short Stories, Story Plotting 101 Outline a Short Story in Seven Steps By Chris Winkle on 01/21/22 The second edition of this story formula has more tips, more options, and further reading. Read in browser » Modern Weaponry By Bunny and Chris Winkle on 01/19/22 It's no fair if you have sharp teeth AND guns. Read in browser » Meta Help Wanted: Content Editor By Chris Winkle on 01/18/22 Do you love pulling stories apart to see how they tick? Read in browser » Roleplaying, Roleplaying Systems Are There Any Good Steampunk RPGs? By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/17/22 It's time in the Sun seems to have passed, but I still have friends who are fond of steampunk. Out of the many steampunk RPGs that have been made, are there any that you have played and would recommend? Prince Infidel Hey Prince Infidel, great to hear from you again!  I also retain a soft […] Read in browser » Storytelling, Characters, Plot 362 – Meta Mysteries By Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, Wes Matlock and Jess Brownrigg on 01/16/22 Our main advice on meta mysteries is: don't. Read in browser » Analysis, Characters, Plot Five Ways Arcane Could Be Better By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/15/22 Even a show that blows us out of the water has room to improve. Read in browser » Storytelling, Candy and Spinach, Characters, Likability How to Keep Your Favorite Character From Ruining Your Story By Chris Winkle on 01/14/22 The first step to fixing a candied character is recognizing them. Read in browser » Roleplaying, Game Mechanics Four D&D Power Gaming Builds for the Inventor By Ari Ashkenazi on 01/13/22 Some of the best D&D content is entirely unofficial. Read in browser » Folk Instructions By Bunny and Chris Winkle on 01/12/22 Fairytales are required reading for monster hunters. Read in browser » Storytelling, Backstory How Do I Establish Backstory? By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/10/22 So, I’m drafting a fantasy novel, and it currently starts with the main character about to leave for magic school at seventeen. Around when she was twelve, she met this guy who’s already a mage and who agreed to train her before actually getting to said magic school. Right now this extra training is pretty […] Read in browser » Worldbuilding, Monsters 361 – Ghosts! By Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, Wes Matlock and Emma Riley on 01/09/22 Let's play Ghost or No Ghost. Read in browser » Analysis, Characters, Mystery Way of Kings Shows Us the Damage Meta Mysteries Can Do By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/08/22 Don't make readers puzzle out what the protagonist already knows. Read in browser » Commentary, Storytelling, Story Plotting 101, The Writing Process How Writing Instructors Forgo the Most Vital Fiction Lesson By Chris Winkle on 01/07/22 A gut feeling for stories isn't enough. Read in browser » Roleplaying, 5E Level Brackets, Game Mechanics Five Powerful Subclasses for Levels 9–12 By Ari Ashkenazi on 01/06/22 Finally, you can cast Otto's Irresistible Dance! Read in browser » Transporter Malfunction By Bunny and Chris Winkle on 01/05/22 It only breaks down on days that end with "Y." Read in browser » Storytelling, Beginnings, Plot, Throughline How Do I Start My Plot? By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/03/22 Hello again, Mythcreants, I hope you are well! Recently, I’ve been trying hard to formulate a good plot, and I’ve resorted to multiple writing websites and resources to look for tips from already successful authors. One tip I’ve encountered is that the best way to make a good story is to start from the ending, […] Read in browser » Storytelling, Backstory, Characters 360 – Backstory By Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, Wes Matlock and R. Christian Haining on 01/02/22 How much backstory should your story have? Read in browser » Copyright © 2022 Mythcreants LLC, All rights reserved. You are receiving emails from Mythcreants because you signed up on our blog. Our mailing address is: Mythcreants LLC · 19712 50th Ave W · Apt 3 · Lynnwood, WA 98036 · USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Mythcreants Posts for January

See what Mythcreants has been up to lately.

View this email in your browser   January Newsletter You can give us feedback via the contact form on our website. (If you reply to this email, we might not see it.) Have a wonderful month! Analysis, Worldbuilding, Technology Five Unnecessary World Additions in Popular Stories By Oren Ashkenazi on 01/01/22 It would have been so easy to take these out, and yet here we are. Read in browser » Meta Our Best Posts of 2021 By Chris Winkle on 12/31/21 Remember the good times by reading popular articles and editor's picks. Read in browser » Roleplaying, 5E Level Brackets, Game Mechanics Five Powerful Subclasses for Levels 5–8 By Ari Ashkenazi on 12/30/21 Everyone gets a feat! Read in browser » Cutaway By Bunny and Chris Winkle on 12/29/21 Storytellers are still working on object permanence. Read in browser » Storytelling, Agency, Characters How Do I Give a Damsel Agency? By Oren Ashkenazi on 12/27/21 Hey Mythcreants, my current plot has the female love interest get captured by the villain as part of a plan to lure the protagonist into a trap. I’m worried this will rob the love interest of agency. Any advice? -Anonymous Hey Anon, thanks for writing in!  It's good that you're thinking about this now, as […] Read in browser » Writing, The Writing Process, Wordcraft 359 – Metaphors and Similes By Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle and Wes Matlock on 12/26/21 We're in the "similes are metaphors" camp. Read in browser » Analysis, Characters, Plot Five Movies Audiences Loved but Critics Hated By Oren Ashkenazi on 12/25/21 Snobby film nerds versus uneducated rabble, round two! Read in browser » Analysis, Writing, Beginnings, Lessons From Bad Writing, Wordcraft Lessons From the Vague Writing of The Remnant Chronicles By Chris Winkle on 12/24/21 Marketing buzzwords vs the story: the battle begins. Read in browser » Roleplaying, 5E Level Brackets, Game Mechanics Five Powerful Subclasses for Levels 1-4 By Ari Ashkenazi on 12/23/21 This time I'm throwing out levels 5–20 entirely. Read in browser » Storytelling, Characters Can I Change the Hero's Motivation? By Oren Ashkenazi on 12/20/21 Hello guys. Great work, I’m a fan and a constant follower of your posts and podcasts. I’m writing a story that features two main characters who happen to be brothers. The two MCs go through a lot of trials throughout the story and go through a lot of internal and external changes. Is it okay […] Read in browser » Storytelling, Conflict, Tension 358 – Non-Violent Conflicts By Oren Ashkenazi, Wes Matlock and Chris Winkle on 12/19/21 When we say conflict, we do not necessarily mean physical violence. Read in browser » Analysis, Worldbuilding, Magic Systems, Social Justice Building the Raksura: How Martha Wells Fell Into Toxic Tropes By Oren Ashkenazi on 12/18/21 Good intent won't erase the harm of baking bigotry into your worldbuilding. Read in browser » Storytelling, Character Archetypes, Characters Six Character Archetypes for Sidekicks By Chris Winkle on 12/17/21 Secondary protagonists should be distinct and helpful, but not too helpful. Read in browser » Roleplaying, 5E Subclass Ranking, Game Mechanics D&D 5E Wizard Subclasses Ranked, Part 3 By Ari Ashkenazi on 12/16/21 Killing enemies with spells is a great type of group interaction. Read in browser » Social Justice, Characters, Romance How Can I Depict a Jealous Character Without Sending the Wrong Message? By Chris Winkle on 12/13/21 Hi there, Jealousy in love is a pretty bad thing that brings a lot of harm to all involved. But it’s also a common emotion many can’t help but feel. How can characters be shown to feel jealousy without immediately blaming them for it? And is “get over it and trust your lover” good enough […] Read in browser » Worldbuilding, Magic, Magic Systems 357 – Sources of Magic By Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle, Wes Matlock and B.A. on 12/12/21 Where does the magic of a podcast come from? Read in browser » Analysis, Characters, Plot Which Show Is Most Engaging: Voltron, The Dragon Prince, or She-Ra? By Oren Ashkenazi on 12/11/21 Let's find out if these popular cartoons can get more ANTS than Marvel's big hits. Read in browser » Storytelling, Plot, The Writing Process Keeping Readers Happy With Your Novel Series By Chris Winkle on 12/10/21 If you want to hook readers, you'll have less freedom to make changes. Read in browser » Roleplaying, 5E Subclass Ranking, Game Mechanics D&D 5E Wizard Subclasses Ranked, Part 2 By Ari Ashkenazi on 12/09/21 There are lots of features that expand the flexibility of the wizard. Read in browser » Eye Contact By Bunny and Chris Winkle on 12/08/21 Two eyes are worth a thousand words. Read in browser » Writing, Wordcraft Am I Using Too Many Hyphens, Dashes, or Ellipses? By Chris Winkle on 12/06/21 Hey Mythcreants — I’m almost finished with my first novel! It’s been quite a bit of time in the making, and the editing phase is finally within view. I was casually perusing my manuscript when I stumbled across something relatively simple that I’m not sure what to do about: hyphens and ellipses. As it turns […] Read in browser » Storytelling, Characters, Plot 356 – ANTS! By Oren Ashkenazi, Chris Winkle and Wes Matlock on 12/05/21 Is it a framework or is it a conceptual model or is it a theoretical model? Read in browser » Analysis, Worldbuilding, History, Magic Building Three Parts Dead: How Gladstone Writes Magic Law By Oren Ashkenazi on 12/04/21 Anyone familiar with D&D's Eberron setting will immediately recognize Alt Coulumb. Read in browser » Storytelling, Characters, Villains Does Your Villain Twirl Their Mustache? By Chris Winkle on 12/03/21 Let's tackle the #1 problem with villains in manuscripts. Read in browser » Roleplaying, 5E Subclass Ranking, Game Mechanics D&D 5E Wizard Subclasses Ranked, Part 1 By Ari Ashkenazi on 12/02/21 Any subclass built around the often open-ended illusion school will vary wildly in power Read in browser » Copyright © 2022 Mythcreants LLC, All rights reserved. You are receiving emails from Mythcreants because you signed up on our blog. Our mailing address is: Mythcreants LLC · 19712 50th Ave W · Apt 3 · Lynnwood, WA 98036 · USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.