Back to High School Questions
Today's question comes from Jack: Where did you derive your inspiration? Are the "good dragons" or Tatelyn's response to them perhaps a symbol for your own frustrations?
This was one of the most thought-provoking questions I've been asked. For basic story inspiration, I found that flipping through the other Dragonlance books did a lot to get the wheels turning (not to mention having a deadline; I tend to respond very well to deadlines). For other work, I tend to like flipping through history books or fantasy art books. For example, last night I was reading something about Roanoke colony and how one of the native American's thought that the Englishmen were already dead. I need to delve into this further and find out what exactly was meant by that, context, perhaps legends surrounding that, but that fell into place in the existing story so well I gasped. That happens a lot to me, actually, especially when I'm working with historical fantasy.
As for the good dragon issue and Tatelyn's take on it, that comes DIRECTLY from my own frustrations. I have a low tolerance for people who adopt black and white viewpoints about issues, on either side of the spectrum. Tatelyn's response definitely comes from this. I don't like being didactic in my stories, but I did want to show characters learning that their hard and fast beliefs and convictions aren't always the right ones and you should consider all sides of the issue.
This was one of the most thought-provoking questions I've been asked. For basic story inspiration, I found that flipping through the other Dragonlance books did a lot to get the wheels turning (not to mention having a deadline; I tend to respond very well to deadlines). For other work, I tend to like flipping through history books or fantasy art books. For example, last night I was reading something about Roanoke colony and how one of the native American's thought that the Englishmen were already dead. I need to delve into this further and find out what exactly was meant by that, context, perhaps legends surrounding that, but that fell into place in the existing story so well I gasped. That happens a lot to me, actually, especially when I'm working with historical fantasy.
As for the good dragon issue and Tatelyn's take on it, that comes DIRECTLY from my own frustrations. I have a low tolerance for people who adopt black and white viewpoints about issues, on either side of the spectrum. Tatelyn's response definitely comes from this. I don't like being didactic in my stories, but I did want to show characters learning that their hard and fast beliefs and convictions aren't always the right ones and you should consider all sides of the issue.