C.S. Kading's Blog: Words of Wonder

9 Basic Stories

Let's talk plots. Aside from Campbell's concept of the monomyth, there is the idea that there are (basically) only 9 stories that exist in the world, and every tale is a variation of one of these.

Here's your brief educational service for the week:

https://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.c...

On Tropes

Let's talk about Tropes.
On one hand - tropes are common literary devices that authors can use which may help connect with readers. On the other hand - if an author relies too heavily on the use of tropes, the writing becomes cliche' and uninteresting.
Tropes exist *because* they show up frequently in our storytelling through the millennia.
Folklorist and Literature Professor Joseph Campbell expounded on this frequency of concepts and themes, and deemed it associated with something he referred to as "The Monomyth". The concept of the monomyth (the idea that all stories share aspects of the same great original story) can be found in Campbell's work, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces".
The wise mentor. The reluctant hero. The chosen one. The prophecy. The lurking evil. The Quest. These are all examples of tropes we have all probably run into in our reading careers. This not an exhaustive list, by any means.

What are some of your favorite tropes?
What tropes do you feel are overdone?
What spin would you place on a favored trope and why?

On Writing

One of the challenging things I have run into as a writer is writing the over-arching story from different points of view. For example: showing what else is going on in the world at the same time as your protagonists are persuing their personal plot. Insights into villaians and their machinations, or the effects of those machinations on the setting (that is NOT also the protagonists). I have to keep in mind, as I am writing, that the worldview is very different from the vantage point of these other characters. They only know what is going on around them, and what is influencing their own personal spheres. So, while *I* may know that the protagonist is following clues left behind, the antagonist may not realize they have left a trail...or care...or even have the protagonist on their radar.

The worlds of the protagonist and antagonist are dependant on one another. They are the "equal and opposite reaction" to one another. Sometimes this is known (armies reacting on a field of battle). Sometimes it is unknown (the successful assassin in the still dark of night).

The important thing - to me at least - is trying to create a believable reveal that brings those seperate experiences into contact with one another. Where does that happen? How does it happen? WHY does it happen?

And WHAT do each of them do, once the walls fall?

SciFi vs. Sci-Fantasy

Sharing a quick video to help with the understanding of genres.

What is the difference between

Science Fiction
&
Science Fantasy

Let's take a look and find out.

https://youtu.be/qb5bNC8qMJQ

Ripples in a Well

I enjoy crafting stories and sharing them. I have been doing it for as long as I can remember. It gives me joy to create something, and twice that when I share it with others. I like to take people with me on our journey through the creative and imaginary. There is a sense of satisfaction when someone tells me "I laughed so hard at " or "I can't believe happened, you made me cry!" It tells me that the penny I dropped inside the emotional well that resides in us all, created a ripple.

New Release

Well, we finally did it.

It all began with a shared Google Doc and two bored friends, trying to stay sane while facing the year 2020. What started out as something to just keep us busy and entertained personally soon became 20,000 words...then 60,000 words... then we decided... well...ok then...let's just do this.

4(ish) months later - Sanctum: Sands of Setesh was born.

If you take the time to read it, I thank you deeply. I really hope it is something that brings a little magic back to your life.