Well, the settings of fantastical places always require more elaboration than contemporary ordinary modern day since people can fill the gaps in with what they know so it's not as important (?) Aside from that though, I think both ideas are complex in and of themselves, you tend to do that with your writing. XD
Whether you're crazy or not, I'd love to read this. (pokes)
...I'll try to decide that later. Pretty sure I'm going to concentrate on the merfolk/siren aspect of it and maybe make allusions to other things, but won't go into it. I don't know. They are pretty complex, and I don't have that kind of time. :(
because Axel likes to play with fire I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE
IT SOUNDS PRETTY COOL TO ME. I would just say… focus your mythology? Sirens have sort of become conflated with mermaids in some ways, but the original Greek-epic ones were most often half-or-more bird, rather than fish/shark/etc. If you're going to go Classic with something like minotaurs (although given the maze connotations and whatnot, you might be better off with a different beastie if they're outward-facing "guard dogs" here? The minotaur legend is, really, all about shame and secrets, so I'm not sure the connotations quite translate for me there), I'd say that puts some exposition development ahead of you. I guess if you're picking and choosing in general, it doesn't matter as much, but I figured I'd point it out. XD I'd also say be careful with the volume: Greek myth alone has enough in it to occupy everybody for a billion years; Egypt did its own thing, and beyond the god-related myths, there actually aren't a whole lot of creatures that I recall (although I
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The problem with sticking solely to the Greek lore on 'sirens' is that they're the half-bird/half-human mutation. They'll drown their victims, sure, but I'm looking for something between standard mermaids and sirens. So I'm going to twist and tug on the folklore until I shape it into the creature that I want. What I want out of it is probably considered closer to evil mermaids, but I've heard the term siren for evil ass mermaids so many times that it.. stuck
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Haha, I just want to step in with a warning so you don't drive yourself crazy… I feel uniquely qualified to give advice on this since I just did a world with all mythologies coexisting, and I didn't add it up, but I'm pretty sure it took me something like 100 hours of research - not as a hyperbole, but literally, actually, at least 70 or 80 and probably higher. XD I have read so much on mythology over the last few months that the link tierfal left you is my already-visited color. And the worst part is that even with all that research, I still feel like I only managed to scratch the surface of all the different things; fleshing the whole world out and really knowing it probably would have taken me upwards of 500. So seeing someone considering doing the same thing I'm like NO RUN AWAY SAVE YOURSELF. XDDDD
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....yeah, I'm probably gonna stick to the siren/merfolk angle and maybe make vague references to various other mythological creatures. Though I've been super into mythology since I was really young, so... I've got a headstart on the research areas.
Also, WHAT WORLD IS THIS. I WISH TO READ ALL ABOUT IT. ♥
Haha, that's the starting point my time estimates were based on; I didn't even bother writing about mythologies I didn't already know quite well, because even the ones that I've taken classes in and know better than the history of my own country ended up requiring way more research than I expected. XD Oh, god, I can't imagine trying to start that kind of research from scratch; /hides under bed :P
It's for the novel I started for NaNo 2011 and finished last month, which I'm now in the process of editing. :) I told tierfal to punch me in the face next time I plan something that takes place around the world, because I think the amount of time I spent on research and world-building exceeded the amount of time I spent actually writing the thing. XD'
While the Hans Christian Anderson story heavily influenced me, I did a lot of digging into the non-greek sirens/mermaids to piece together the world for that fic. You might want to look into the iara, the nixies, the undine, or really any version of sirens/mermaids you can find. Or even just water creatures that have some resemblance to the siren myth - kelpies, selkies, etc. You never know where you're going to find inspiration (it always surprises me).
I've actually started looking into all of those, because it really helps. Another issue I'm worried about is the fic turning to similar to yours. It's not a huge worry, but it's one of those things where I'm thinking about ideas and am just kind of oh-shit-that-was-in-fuzzy-paint's-fic-wasn't-it? And then I have to go look up your story again to make sure I'm not stepping on your toes. My sirens are significantly more hostile than yours though, and considering that yours had the creatures trying to integrate with the human world and mine has them enslaved to the humans... I probably shouldn't have to worry about it.
But anyway, I've been looking everywhere for inspiration. Oddly enough, it's the Megalodon that are giving me the most ideas. I don't know! We'll see how it goes~ ♥
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Whether you're crazy or not, I'd love to read this. (pokes)
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I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE
IT SOUNDS PRETTY COOL TO ME. I would just say… focus your mythology? Sirens have sort of become conflated with mermaids in some ways, but the original Greek-epic ones were most often half-or-more bird, rather than fish/shark/etc. If you're going to go Classic with something like minotaurs (although given the maze connotations and whatnot, you might be better off with a different beastie if they're outward-facing "guard dogs" here? The minotaur legend is, really, all about shame and secrets, so I'm not sure the connotations quite translate for me there), I'd say that puts some exposition development ahead of you. I guess if you're picking and choosing in general, it doesn't matter as much, but I figured I'd point it out. XD I'd also say be careful with the volume: Greek myth alone has enough in it to occupy everybody for a billion years; Egypt did its own thing, and beyond the god-related myths, there actually aren't a whole lot of creatures that I recall (although I ( ... )
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This should require a Sam/Dean Yellow Fever screaming clip
But I'm at work so that's my face right now
SO EXCITED
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I must also perform this research thing. I have a plot bunny for a KH AU that is part Oregon Trail and part Wild Wild West >:D
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Also, WHAT WORLD IS THIS. I WISH TO READ ALL ABOUT IT. ♥
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It's for the novel I started for NaNo 2011 and finished last month, which I'm now in the process of editing. :) I told tierfal to punch me in the face next time I plan something that takes place around the world, because I think the amount of time I spent on research and world-building exceeded the amount of time I spent actually writing the thing. XD'
Reply
While the Hans Christian Anderson story heavily influenced me, I did a lot of digging into the non-greek sirens/mermaids to piece together the world for that fic. You might want to look into the iara, the nixies, the undine, or really any version of sirens/mermaids you can find. Or even just water creatures that have some resemblance to the siren myth - kelpies, selkies, etc. You never know where you're going to find inspiration (it always surprises me).
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But anyway, I've been looking everywhere for inspiration. Oddly enough, it's the Megalodon that are giving me the most ideas. I don't know! We'll see how it goes~ ♥
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