Joseph Carrabis's Blog, page 97

World-Building – Weather

I’ve yet to encounter a created world that does not make use of climate and weather directly or indirectly. That includes this one. Consider the history of earth and the interdependencies between life and climate become obvious (I hope). Read anything by Brian Fagan and you’ll get a taste of those interdependencies beautifully written. Examples … Continue reading "World-Building – Weather"

Writing Something Horrifying in Three Steps

[A different version of this appeared on Timothy Bateson’s blog in Oct 2019.] Psychologists and philosophers debate “horror” as a concept. Authors have it much easier. They want to make their readers uncomfortable, nervous. They want to give readers chills. They want readers to turn on all the lights, to check locks on the doors, … Continue reading "Writing Something Horrifying in Three Steps"

Shaman Story Chapter X – Healing

Read Shaman Story Chapter X – Little Girl Lost. Shaman Story Chapter X – Healing   A woman comes on a hot August night. Grandpa and I sit on the frontporch watching traffic and sipping steaming hot espressos. She carries a boy in blue shorts, white shirt, blue three button jacket, knotted blue tie and … Continue reading "Shaman Story Chapter X – Healing"

Heathcliff, the Pileated Woodpecker

About fifteen, twenty years ago I told Susan I heard a new bird in our area. I didn’t hear it often, maybe twice in as many months, but its call was so different from what I was familiar with it stood out. Nobody else heard it. I attempted an imitation. Didn’t go over well. The … Continue reading "Heathcliff, the Pileated Woodpecker"

World-Building – Language

There are three basic questions when considering language in world-building: Does language play any role in your world? Does everyone speak the same language, or is there a variety? Do you need to invent any slang or terminology as part of the world-building process? Here I paraphrase Aristotle’s Poetics, “Avoid neologisms unless introducing some new … Continue reading "World-Building – Language"

Relatability

To me, the key to keeping readers focused on your story is relatability (yes, I know. If you’re reading my world-building posts, you’re shocked). A story is relatable when the reader can imagine themselves in the story, meaning the reader accepts what happens in the story as something that could happen to them, meaning it’s … Continue reading "Relatability"

The Augmented Man Video Series Episode 7 – “Goddamn Sheep”

  Episode 1 – “Good Run, Trailer?” Episode 2 – “Massively Scarred” Episode 3 – “Learn Chess, Yes” Episode 4 – “To Feel” Episode 5 – “Tell Me About Her” Episode 6 – “Little Snitches” Sabine Rossbach Joseph Carrabis The Augmented Man

Shaman Story Chapter X – Little Girl Lost

Read Shaman Story Chapter X – Passing. Shaman Story Chapter X – Little Girl Lost   Buppa stands me in front of him, on the sand facing the ocean. Chan adjusts my feet so they point forward and are as wide apart as my shoulders. “You ever ride a horse, Gio?” “At the Festa de … Continue reading "Shaman Story Chapter X – Little Girl Lost"

Hyacinthe and The Wise Chipmunk

I wrote last week that it’s great when two friends get together for a meal. Sometimes it’s not quite like that. Friends they may be, but sharzees they are not. Case in point, The Wise Chipmunk. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor, to use the cliche. But do note that Hyacinthe, despite an … Continue reading "Hyacinthe and The Wise Chipmunk"

World-Building – Moving from Mundane to Fantastic Settings

When asked, “How do characters move from mundane to fantastic settings?” the correct answer is: The take the 45st L, get off at the first stop, then go left at the bottom of the stairs. By grounding the unfamiliar in the familiar. In the Harry Potter Universe, children get to Hogwarts from Platform 9 3/4 … Continue reading "World-Building – Moving from Mundane to Fantastic Settings"