Runboard.com
Слава Україні!
Community logo

mainpageboardrulesscriptoriumcopyrightlogoutcontact

runboard.com       Sign up (learn about it) | Sign in (lost password?)

 
SFGirl Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Scribus Administratus

Registered: 01-2004
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 939
Reply | Quote
Heroic Fantasy


How would you define heroic fantasy? What elements must be present?

Sherry

---
Reading: Eternity's End by Jeffrey A. Carver
Rewriting: One's Aspect To The Sun (novel)
Editing: Winter Unwitched (short story)
8/26/2005, 9:54 pm Link to this post Send Email to SFGirl   Send PM to SFGirl
 
David Meadows Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Junior Scribe

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 165
Reply | Quote
Re: Heroic Fantasy


A hero? emoticon

My personal definition is that it's something larger-than-life, not just in the deeds done but in the nature of the protagonist. Not just any old hero will do -- not a relucant hero, not an anti-hero, not a well-meaning everyman, but a HERO. Think of Sir Gawain, Robin Hood, Tarzan, Captain America -- impossible, larger-than-life figures, as far above us in moral character as they are in physical prowess. That's the kind of person you put in heroic fantasy. After you get your hero sorted out, you've got your genre. The story is of secondary importance.

---
"Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine, and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they became realities." -- L Frank Baum
8/30/2005, 4:44 pm Link to this post Send Email to David Meadows   Send PM to David Meadows
 
SFGirl Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Scribus Administratus

Registered: 01-2004
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 939
Reply | Quote
Re: Heroic Fantasy


Interesting, David. I'm mulling over a story idea for a contest (http://www.pitchblackbooks.com/icons-contest.asp
) so I'm trying to figure out what kind of story they want. I guess the idea is to figure out what makes these two characters so heroic, and slot them into a story that shows it?

Read the contest call if you have a sec and tell me your take on it.

Sherry

---
Reading: Eternity's End by Jeffrey A. Carver
Rewriting: One's Aspect To The Sun (novel)
Editing: Winter Unwitched (short story)
8/30/2005, 7:15 pm Link to this post Send Email to SFGirl   Send PM to SFGirl
 
David Meadows Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Junior Scribe

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 165
Reply | Quote
Re: Heroic Fantasy


Looks like an interesting idea, though I'm not sure about paying an entry fee!

Yes, as their focus is obviously on the two figures, I would start by deciding what makes them "unusual" -- why their exploits are worth writing about rather than those of a thousand other adventurers in their world. Although, most of the reasons that spring to mind are awfully clichéd.

And make sure it's written so that if you're rejected, you can just change their names and submit the story elsewhere emoticon



Last edited by David Meadows, 9/3/2005, 5:36 pm


---
"I believe that the superhero icon still has a valuable power in it. It kind of transformed my childhood. It's a talisman of the imagination." -- Alan Moore
9/3/2005, 5:34 pm Link to this post Send Email to David Meadows   Send PM to David Meadows
 
SFGirl Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Scribus Administratus

Registered: 01-2004
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Posts: 939
Reply | Quote
Re: Heroic Fantasy


quote:

And make sure it's written so that if you're rejected, you can just change their names and submit the story elsewhere



Yeah, that was my plan! Since nothing is specified except what they look like, it should be easy to morph it into a story about two completely different characters. And $5.00 is my self-imposed limit for entry fees, so they just squeak in.

Still not sure if I'll get it written in time to actually submit, but this happens to me all the time: I see a call for submissions, get a story idea, but by the time I actually get it written that deadline is past and I end up just trying it with other markets. At least they provide me with inspiration!

 emoticon
Sherry

---
Reading: Eternity's End by Jeffrey A. Carver
Rewriting: One's Aspect To The Sun (novel)
Editing: Winter Unwitched (short story)
9/3/2005, 9:32 pm Link to this post Send Email to SFGirl   Send PM to SFGirl
 


Add a reply





You are not logged in (login)