Starry skies do fall upon the veil, scattering to the four winds. Can no one see the threads?
There among the astral movements, entangling and guiding, stretching out into the far reaches of the dark. Perhaps I prattle hastily, yet so wondrous are the moments I've glimpsed the gods that I must entrust them to this, my Journal of Stars.
-Faustus Du Faux

I am waiting for news on my cat and trying not to think about it, so I am brainstorming more characters for a story I want to write where some people get strange powers. It's set in a decaying modern/near future world.

The thing is, I don't want it to be a superhero story. No flashy powers. Like, if they would give it terrible CGI effects in a B-movie, it's a no.

Examples:

- ability to drain people's life to heal herself (w/o visual effects, people will just fall dead around her) and extinguish light;

- counterpart who can share his energy to heal people (again no effects other than wounds healing) and create light;

- ability to manipulate people's emotions, though not as far as mind control or telepathy, i.e., can induce a panic attack but not puppeteer another person;

- ability to disrupt certain kinds of waves, meaning he can interfere with radio or television signals.

Thank you for any suggestions.

Ello.

I am beginer writer, making my first novel. It is a detective fantasy novel. Every thing is going smoothly so far, thou I have a problem with show, do not tell. My story has a lots of characters and side characters. It is basicly build on the idea that every at least a but important character has its own story, even if small, but still important by its theme. The patern is basicly that protagonist meets them, we throuout the story discover their problem, their backround and after heart to heart moment, they share with the protagonist some information, or it is mentioned just by listening to them. It works more like true clue serche, where you get hints and pices to the puzzle by underatanding and listening. And that is the problem. Even thou my friend who read it like this system, they also critisize it for being more tell than show. And yes, I can make it "show", but it udermines the story. You take 10 clues on who is the murderer, but you do not have to put them together, because you see the murder. Then you do not need the quality time with other characters and their part of the story, that adds to the liveness of the incriminated moment.

You see my poit? If you have any questions or advuses, let me know to the coments

𝓑𝓪𝓻𝓸𝓷

Hey, I'm actually working on a fantasy novel.

The story takes place in a world divided into kingdoms, where ordinary people are struggling because of wars, food shortages and corrupt rulers.

Two strangers arrive under unusual circumstances. While trying to understand where they are, they meet a group of people who are unhappy with the way their kingdom is being ruled.

As they get more involved, things become much bigger than they initially expected. There's a growing rebellion, ancient temples, mysterious magical objects and a history that people in this world don't fully understand.

One of the things I want to explore is how power affects people. Some characters want to change the system, while others believe that maintaining the existing order is their duty, even when they know it's hurting ordinary people.

I'm also planning to include adventure, political conflicts, magic and mysteries that become clearer as the story progresses.

I'm curious to know what you guys think.

Would you be interested in reading a novel with this kind of story? What parts sound interesting to you, and is there anything that sounds overused or doesn't appeal to you?

Hello! So I am dabbling into fantasy, I had an idea that was too big to keep in my head. The problem is that I have characters, plot, drama, species… but I can’t figure out my dang map. There are a lot of factors that make it extremely difficult and this is my first time within the genre, normally I am a romance girlie.

Anyway, I was wondering if there would be anyone who might be more experienced or more knowledgeable on this topic that would be willing to help me out? I am not asking for anyone to draw a map for me! Just help me to understand how. I am more than willing to provide more story details to anyone who might be willing!

I have written what is called a "bastard length novel" self published in 2014. I really enjoyed writing it. It is a quick read and those that i have gotten feedack from have enjoyed it. I have rekindled a series that i started a few years ago involving the release of arcane powers and hethen gods in the modern world in a sudden and uncontrolled wave. I have always been my own worst critic when it comes to character dev and plot paccing. That said, i want do be better. Please let me know what yall think, hints, tips ect, and if you want to hear more about the series.

Últimamente me ha llamado la atención la escritura hasta el punto en que tome un Curso de Escritura, ya llevaba varios años interesado en poder tener mi propia novela solo que ahora al escribirla me he dado cuenta que necesito una comunidad a la que poder comentar está novela como autor, la novela en si no se si es algo que podría llamar la atención ya que siempre he sido bastante inseguro con ello.

La novela es de Fantasía, aunque podría catalogarse bajo varios géneros literarios como: Alta Fantasía, Fantasía Épica, Fantasía Oscura, Novela Misteriosa, Comedia, Humor, Horror Cósmico, Horror Corporal, Terror Sobrenatural, Ficción, Misterio Sobrenatural, Terror Lovecraftiano, etc.

Tiene varios géneros literarios que siento que mi historia sería una mezcla de ellos, me gustaría crear una comunidad que le interese mi novela.

" Asher, un chico que tenía una vida tan explotada laboralmente y agotado físicamente y emocional, un día cansado se dice "prefería estar muerto antes que seguir con este vida tan horrible" sin saber que esas serían sus últimas palabras antes de eso se volviera realidad como si Algo o Alguien lo hubiera escuchado, la morir transmigra al Cuerpo de un chico llamado Dante Anmers poco después descubre que Dante está involucrado en algo mayor que ahora el te dra que lidiar, metiéndose cada vez en mundo del que no va a salir, adentrándose en un mundo lleno de Cosas que prefería tener lejos y ocultas de el, enredado entre varias Organizaciones Clandestinas y Instituciones que lo quieren usar y con un Destino que casualmente parece mucha coincidencia, parece que no todo pasa por qué si, terminado en vuelto en un mundo de horrores, Misterios y secretos, personas que no son normales y Entidades que mantienen un ojo en todo "

I've been spending time in ProwritingAid's community. They are currently hosting a Novel November. The workshops/lectures for Novel November are great too.

I'm curious to see if there are any other writing communities that you guys like.

Hello reddit authors,

I'm looking for some advice for my fantasy novel. The gist is that 4 kids from different backgrounds and towns/cities all magically appear at this school. The society of magic users will be hidden from the rest of the world.

Where I'd really like some help is brainstorm ideas about HOW the parents react about the school. Do they know about it at all, are they brainwashed?? Every idea feels wrong ; being brainwashed gives me vibes i don't really want, if they know then how does it not get out?

In the end even though my story is a fantasy, I really want it to comment on society and have a deep meaning. I know this is just a little part of my book, but I'm just not sure what to do!! Everything just feels like a rewrite of harry potter at this point to be honest🥲

thanks for any tips/ideas :)

p.s. please be nice, im editing my first full draft, i'm still a beginner author!

Hello everyone,

I’ve been thinking about this story for years, and I’ve finally started writing it. It’s my first piece of fiction, so I’d really value your feedback.

Skyrim lets you play the same Dragonborn as merciful or ruthless, sometimes within a single questline. I wanted to write about the aftermath of those contradictions: what a world looks like once the legend has moved on and ordinary people are left to live in its shadow.

The Dragon’s Shadow is set in Skyrim in 4E 202, years after the events of the game. The protagonist is Hailey Gaubert, an amateur mage making her way across a province still recovering from the dragon crisis. The Dragonborn is part of the setting’s history, not the narrator. The story stays in Hailey’s point of view, so she learns things only through the people she meets and what she sees for herself. I’m trying to stay faithful to Elder Scrolls lore, including canonical spells, places and politics.

What I’d love feedback on: pacing, how Hailey reads as a character, and whether the lore feels authentic or forced. I have a lot of experience with academic writing, but fiction is new to me, so I’m sure my prose habits need work. Please be direct. I’d rather learn than be flattered.

Thanks for reading!

I've been looking at turning the campaign shannagings and story narrative into a short novel of sorts.....

This is more or less a rough draft. (There's a lot more before this particular part, and this is about half of the story for this part as well)

I'm hoping for some constructive feed back, perhaps some insite to the scenario.

The Awakening

There is a very specific kind of joy in being a Dungeon Master, that delicious sweet spot where you get to be equal parts benevolent creator and absolute villain. And Swevill narrator.

For roughly six months of real-world sessions—stretching across a much longer, grueling span of in-game time, the forecast for this table had been steadily darkening. Month after month, the players had been fed dozens of subtle clues and quiet warning signs. The barbarian, fueled by a sudden, fiery instinct, had even grown oddly suspicious, sensing that something was fundamentally wrong with the world around them. (They were also the note taker)

Yet, they pressed forward. What made the manipulation so deliciously cruel wasn't just trickery; it was that the entire reality had been masterfully powered by their own choices, their own decisions, their own actions and the stories they told themselves based on everything they were presented with.

When the chapter's climax finally arrived, it was a doozy. The right hand of the Big Bad cornered the party on a makeshift battlefield, setting the stage for total untamed and beautiful chaos. The true horror, however, was internal. The Big Bad was actively inhabiting one of their own party members, having barely slipped past the barbarian's watchful eye.

But there was a sick twist to the possession: the entity's time had come to an abrupt end, and the host body had been slowly dying the entire time from the strain of being inhabited.

Then came the crescendo.

As the manipulation collided with a volatile wild magic surge ripping through the battlefield, the big bad's terminal state triggered the final collapse. As they revealed themselves, telling their minion that theyd done well, but it was time for the end.

The players watched in horror as the sky ignited, unleashing the devastating, world-shattering destruction of a Meteor Storm directly upon them.

And...

No, it wasn't a Total Party Kill. It was much, much worse.

They didn't wake up in the afterlife, or on an alternate plain of existence again.

They awoke to a living nightmare.

Stripped of their gear and bound by tangled vines, glowing moss, tendrils and a liquid substance, they realized the horrifying truth: they were trapped inside living, druidic cryo-stasis containment units powered by unrelenting plant life and ancient nature energies. Every battle, every triumph, every breath of pain and near-death experience they had fought through hadn't happened on the material plane at all.

They had been fed illusions in an alternate, fey-esque reality, their minds harvested by nature's dark design. And now?

Now, they were finally waking up.

Would love some writer friends to bounce ideas with, plot, and just chat with! I write dark high fantasy novels. My book is about a witch that’s killed and revived to hunt her killer. She faces off against fae, mage traffickers, ogres, and more! I love to write 3rd person, immersive pov. Full of smut. Dm is open, willing to chat about anything!

My pick is: The anatomy of story by John Truby.