And courtesans, harlots, streetwalkers, ladies of negotiable virtue, and other various hangers-on.

( Here we go )

This is meant to apply as broadly as possible-to normal animals, telcoms (telepathic companions), shapeshifters, and author-created fantasy animals. Some of it does assume that you’re writing from the animal’s point-of-view, but it could also be useful for describing them from the outside.

( So here we go )

As threatened promised hinted at.

( Sure, sometimes it’s cool, but the problem is the frequency )

A few people have asked for a rant on mentors, so here it is.

( How to keep your teacher from becoming a pale imitation of Gandalf )

Huh. Well, okay, this is one of those rants, like the “ten alternatives” ones, where each item is short because each is obvious and I don’t have much to say about it.

( Here’s hoping it’s still of use )

This one is on friendships.

( Whee! )

This one does require some defining of terms, because “minor character” means different things to different people. To me, they are the third level of characters, two steps away from “protagonist” (who usually gets the most development, is often the person whose mind we share, and usually the person we’re supposed to cheer for) and one step away ( Read more... )

Ah, here we are.

Lucky me, as I happen to be reading a fantasy novel with three Designated Love Interests at the moment, so I have examples staring me right in the face.

( Here complaineth the Limyaael )

( Warning: This one gets rather long )

The title of this rant could be a little confusing, so I’ll just clarify: I meant children who were not the protagonist, as opposed to books about a child or teenager who tries to win back the throne/save the world/destroy the One Ring Golden Treasure of Hwortnoth. They might be children along for the quest, encountered in the villages on the way, ( Read more... )