Fantasy Writer's Exam

[Ransom v. Unman]

Think you've got some great fantasy work cooking up? Ready to write the next Lord of the Rings? Of, maybe you've already written it, and no one wants to publish it - do you want to know why?

Take this test... (http://rinkworks.com/fnovel/)

Seriously, this made me crack up. Especially questions numbers 30-33, number 40, and all the questions later on about weapons, armour, and travel - and most fantasy writer's ignorance of these subjects.

Take the test - see if you might need some "editing".

(And for the record, I stumbled across this thing as I've been struggling with the possibility that my own novel might just suck for matching some of the criteria described within. :o Hopefully I have a unique enough take in regards to a few of those matters that it will fortunately nullify them.

Will discuss more later...)

[Tarin]

This is complete riot! !thumbsup! I didn't do so bad... only answered yes to three questions. Guess that means I must be writing the next Lord of the Rings - right?:p

[tlm]

Hysterical!

[cpbookworm]

I Loved it.

[Lookin^Up]

Good test. I also noticed some common elements used in The Princess Bride, Doctor Who (especially #70 about declaring death for minor mistakes), and Star Wars (especially #10 about the bad guy being the main character's father).

The closest I came to a "yes" were #28-29 about series, but my first book stands alone--although more can follow if it's successful.

[Ransom v. Unman]

Yeah, what's sad is how many books I know of that fit about 50-75% of those clichés to a "t", and then the fact that competent/non-hack fantasy writers have to struggle so hard to get published. :( It really is tragic.

I came in with...

#26 - 'Did you draw a map for your novel which includes places named things like "The Blasted Lands" or "The Forest of Fear" or "The Desert of Desolation" or absolutely anything "of Doom"?'

Yes, I drew a map. It has a place called "The Little Odd Castle of DOOM!" (always spelled with caps and the exclamation point), and it lies in the midst of the Land of Plastic Explosives, right above the Demented Woods. If my intentions were satirical, which they are, I can be forgiven this trespass, right?

#29 'How about a quintet or a decalogue?'

Yeah, I've been working on that. I know this first book needs to stand alone. My intentions were to write one long book, and I might still stick with that, but I don't know.

#35 'Does your novel contain characters transported from the real world to a fantasy realm? '

:o Again, satirical purposes can bring us to overlook this, right? It is, unfortunately, a fairly central element of the plot.

#39 'Does your novel contain orcs, elves, dwarves, or halflings?'

Yes, but the purposes to this I explained in another post in the critique forums.

Anyway, it almost makes me proud of how many of those clichés I avoided. Still... It makes me have my doubts at points.

Thanks Dave, for pointing out how other great stories mirror some of these weaknesses, but still rise above them.

[Merry]

That is funny! I blew one question, but over-all I think the test should be required reading.

[GentleJourneyAu]

Thanks RvU, that was a riot. Much of it can also apply to historical adventure, etc. 55, 64, and 65 for instance. Now I'm going to take a look at the Filmmaker's exam. Elaine

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

I have a few of those cliches in my WIP novel, but thankfully not many at all.
But then again I'm not a fan of Tolkienesque fantasy (mostly overdone and boring).

[mel3]

I think i passed. Answered yes to one question - do i plan this book to be part of a trilogy.
Welll, aint nothin' wrong with bein' a little ambitious!!:mad: :D

[mel3]

I agree too about Tolkein, to be honest, I dont think much of his writing. Great imagination but thats all I can give him credit for. Hope I havnt ruffled any feathers!

[dulcigal]

I had a couple snag! And I'm writing a space saga...

[Ransom v. Unman]

I agree too about Tolkein, to be honest, I dont think much of his writing. Great imagination but thats all I can give him credit for. Hope I havnt ruffled any feathers!

INFIDEL! SHUT YOUR MOUTH!

:p :D

[mel3]

Feather Ruffle Alert!!!!:D

Well, The Hobbit was great and The Silmarillion (cant spell) but as for LOTR ..it was rather long winded. The only saving grace was the elves.
Alritey! I think I will shut up about the Tolkein thing!!:p

[saz]

Good test. I also noticed some common elements used in The Princess Bride, Doctor Who (especially #70 about declaring death for minor mistakes), and Star Wars (especially #10 about the bad guy being the main character's father).

The closest I came to a "yes" were #28-29 about series, but my first book stands alone--although more can follow if it's successful.

I loved Princess Bride! What a strange book but so much fun to read. I also love the movie. One I could watch again and again. Stephen King did a list of the best 100 quotes from movies and Princess Bride had the most in the top.

Very funny quiz. I laughed out loud at the questions regarding female characters. That is one of my pet peeves for this genre.

"I do not think that word means what you think it means" lol:D

[dulcigal]

"I do not think that word means what you think it means"

Inconceivable!

[Lookin^Up]

My favorite line of the movie: "No one would surrender to the Dread Pirate Westley".

[dulcigal]

Mine: "My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die!" :)

Back on subject: I was looking at the exam again and was reminded of an article by the science fiction author Dan Simmons where he was talking about novice writers:

Once again, I wish I had a dollar for every time, at a party or elsewhere, I’ve heard some would-be but still-unpublished “writer” say that he’s starting work on his novel, often a fantasy with a title such as “The Singing Sword of Sha-na-nah,” which he says will be Book One of the Sha-Na-Nah Chronicles, probably six books, maybe ten.

http://www.dansimmons.com/writing_welll/archive/2006_02.htm

Anyway, that cracks me up...with those nervous sort of chuckles of course...;)

[Nessa-Ciryatan]

"Get back, witch!"

"I'm not a witch, I'm ya wife! But after what you just said, I don't even know if I want to be that anymore."

"You never had it so good!"

***

"...Ever since Prince Humperdink fired him..."

"Ah! You said that name!"

"What? Humperdink!"

"Ah!!"

"Humperdink! Humperdink! Humperdink! Humperdink! Humperdink!"

***

"Tyrone... you know how much I love to watch you work, but I have my wedding to plan, my wife to murder, and Gildor to frame for it. I'm swamped."

***

"Inconceivable!"

"I do not think that word means what you think it means."

***

Wesley: "Where am I?"
Albino: [hisses menacingly] "The PIT of DESPAIR! Don't even think-"
[Albino hocks and clears throat, then resumes in a normal tone] "Don't even think about tryin' to escape..."


...Ermm. Yeah. :o Love that movie! :D !thumbsup!

[Pockets]

I am still trying to catch my breath from laughing!

I couldn't stop until I finished the FilmMaker's Test as well.

This has got to be a requirement for anyone thinking of writing any length of fantasy.

God bless and thanks for the link.

[paulchernoch]

My score? I refuse to answer on the grounds that my words may be used to incriminate me.

The "nothing happens in first fifty pages" of question #1 one hurts the most. I had to go back and check - the prison doctor is found dead on the forty-eighth page. Whew! Close one.

As for trilogies, is it okay if it is an unplanned trilogy? I "planned" for one book, but it took on a life of its own.

I had a near miss with the "information person" of #8. At least mine receives some characterization and dispenses some misinformation.

- Paul

[tlm]

Now, tell the truth--how many of you just threw the outline to your next great novel in the garbage can?:mad:

[aitak]

what a classic! i actually did okay, i think...i only answered a flat-out "yes" to one question (can't remember off-hand which it was), but I did say "not exactly" to a few...does that count as a yes or no? i'm sticking with in-between and i'm taking it as encouragement to get back to writing! how did you find this?

[Lookin^Up]

I went back and looked at the Filmmaker's Test, too, and they made some excellent points. My favorite of that list is the parenthetic addendum of #15: "(You may skip this question if you are Alfred Hitchcock. But if you are Alfred Hitchcock, you shouldn't be taking this test, as you are dead.)"

[Ransom v. Unman]

Now, tell the truth--how many of you just threw the outline to your next great novel in the garbage can?:mad:

I've already been re-working my novel. This test actually gave me some positive guidelines.

Doesn't get me past the impasse, but it at least tells me what not to do.

[Tarin]

It did help me realize that one of my characters was essentially a static advice giver. He's scheduled for a makeover!:eek:

[dulcigal]

Now, tell the truth--how many of you just threw the outline to your next great novel in the garbage can?

I DO think that there are some things on the list that CAN work, if they are done in an original way. So I'm not tossing my story, even though I hit some of the points here! Some of the elements (granted, only a few) listed are elements that have been used to great effect over generations of stories and are literary staples. If you could never reuse a good plot, there would be no romances being published today!

But I get the point that no one wants to see another Tolkein/Lewis/Roddenberry/Lucas rip-off. If your new novel is titled Master of the Round Shiny Things, I'd throw it out. ;)

[Ransom v. Unman]

If your new novel is titled Master of the Round Shiny Things, I'd throw it out. ;)

Wait... My novel is called King of the Finger-Bands. Do you think I should start over too? :(







(:p)

[aitak]

oh, how funny! um, ransom, thats a little too close for comfort, maybe you should reconsider...! (kidding, what do i know?!)

[dulcigal]

Wait... My novel is called King of the Finger-Bands. Do you think I should start over too?

Wait--are you serious? (Hey, you said you were writing satire!) :) At least it's not the Sword of Sha-na-na. Then the trash bin would be advisable!

[Ransom v. Unman]

No, that's not the real title of my novel. Don't worry. :rolleyes:

[P.K.mama]

Insightful and funny. Who was it that said every plot attainable has already been written it is in how you spin it that makes you different.

[Nessa-Ciryatan]

A good way to keep your novel fresh is to think of the worst possible (or impossible!) thing that could happen to your MC, and then throw it at him and see what happens. :eek: I try to remember one of those 10 Commandments for Writers, the one that goes "Thou shalt make trouble for thy MC"... :rolleyes: