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Thursday, June 11, 2015

10 Medieval Weapons for your next Fantasy Story (that you’ve probably never heard of)




What is it with the ever-so-important sword? Nearly every hero or heroine this side of dragons and wizards owns one (and there’s usually a prophecy or magical spell involved). Let’s face it: the sword has been there and done that. Everyone loves a cool sword… but it’s time we expanded our horizons.

Here are ten, alternative, medieval weapons that your next protagonist can take on their epic journey.

Bolas
Composed of three weighted balls strung from interconnected chords, the bolas is a Spanish tool used to ensnare fleeing animals. When twirled above the head and thrown, the bolas collides with the animal’s legs, binding and capturing them. However, the bolas also doubles as a weapon, one that if thrown with enough force can break bone and even kill.

While not nearly as mainstream as the sword, the bolas has been featured in several popular franchises. In Mattemeo (part of the Redwall series), the villain, Slagar the Cruel, uses the bolas.


Pernach
Deriving its name from the Slavic word for “feather” because of its resemblance to a feathered arrow, the Pernach is a Ukrainian weapon that became the dominant mace of its time. Incredibly strong and resilient, the Pernach was able to crush both plate armor and mail, making it a hand-weapon to be feared.


Sword Breaker
While it’s unknown whether a Sword-Breaker could, in fact, snap a sword in two, this type of parrying dagger was none-the-less a unique and ingenious weapon. Small notches, cut into the sides of the blade, allowed for an opponent’s sword to become trapped against the sword-breaker, therefore allowing for a finishing blow or other strike. 


Trident Dagger
Also a member of the parrying dagger family, the Trident Dagger utilized mechanical, as well as technical, prowess. Called the “Triple Dagger” for a reason, this weapon contained two spring-loaded blades which, upon release, stuck out in a “V” shape. This technique was most commonly used during fencing duels, when the trident dagger could easily parry and “capture” an opponent’s rapier between its blades.


Chakram
Created in India, the chakram is a circular throwing weapon with a sharpened outer edge. With proper training, chakram users are capable of hurling this weapon up to 100 meters or more. In addition to being a throwing weapon, chakrams can also be worn on the arms or around the neck and be used to cut or maim an opponent at close, hand-to-hand combat range.

Fan-favorite character, Axel, from the Kingdom Hearts series, using flame-infused chakrams as his weapon of choice.


Lantern Shield
In its most basic form, the lantern shield was essentially lantern + buckler. The lamps hung from the buckler by a hook and was used to simultaneously defend against, and bright-light blind, opponents. However, at its most complex, Lantern Shields often included infused gauntlets and protruding blades, doubling them at both offensive and defensive weapons. While its practicality in battle is questionable, the lantern shield undoubtedly made for a fearsome weapon, psychologically intimidating opponents.


Military Fork
Much like its cousin, the trident, the Military Fork began as an agricultural tool before evolving into a weapon. Essentially two, sharp prongs on a long pole, the Military Fork was easier to master than the sword, making it ideal for the lesser skilled in combat. While spears were preferred, Military Forks could be used in place of them.


Vougle
A type of polearm developed by the French, the Vougle was a fearsome weapon comprised of points for stabbing, hooks for snagging, and sharpened edges for cleaving; in fact, it bears a strong likeness to a meat cleaver. Vougles were most commonly used for “hacking” as opposed to cutting, and its design is believed to have inspired the Bayonet in the 19th century.


Morning Star
The morning star has gained renown over the years via several fictional characters, such as the Witch King in The Return of the King. While the most common portrayals of the morning star feature it as a spiked ball chained to a pole, however, many versions of the morning star simply attached the head to the pole itself. In combat, the morning star was capable of severe damage, as both blunt force trauma and puncturing spikes played a part in bringing down a foe.


Bagh Naka
Made famous by Wolverine, the Bagh Naka (or “tiger’s claw”) is brass-knuckle-like weapon that fit over the fingers and can be concealed against the palm, much like the claws of a cat. In hand-to-hand combat, the Bagh Naka was capable of severing both flesh and muscle—a messy weapon, no doubt, but one that was incredibly effective. Some versions of the claws included a top-spike, used for stabbing from the side.


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Friday, May 1, 2015

Ask the Author (Anything!): How to Start a Story





Hi! I was wondering: how do you start a story? Do you just randomly start off somewhere or is there a specific reason you start it at a certain point? Any tips on how to write the intro/beginning of a fiction?


The beginning of your story is one of the most important pieces of your narrative. Here’s my top tips for starting your story off right:

1. Start at the beginning

Let me clarify what I mean by “beginning.” When I say “start at the beginning” I mean start at the exact moment when the central conflict of the story begins. Not all authors will begin their story with this moment of initiation and will instead start a few scenes prior, but the most intriguing and immersive stories open with the moment that the protagonist’s story truly starts.

Think about your favorite movie. What is the opening scene? If the film is well-made, the opening scene probably ties directly into the main plot itself and is more-or-less the crux of what the film is all about. In How to Train Your Dragon, we open with Hiccup capturing Toothless, for example.

2. Open in an exciting place

Make your opening scene interesting. Make sure that it is both relative to the plot and exciting. Open with action, or with an intense moment or conflict of interest. Which story is more likely to snag your attention: (1) a novel that opens with the main character packing up and going to school, or (2) a novel which opens with the main character in a fight with the school bully?

Remember that your readers have short attention spans. You only have a few seconds to capture your reader’s attention enough to keep them reading your book. Ensure that your opening wastes no time getting started, and that it is as exciting as it is relevant to the plot.




3. Introduce your protagonist in a compelling way

You should establish your protagonist in your opening scene. Put your protagonist in a situation that best demonstrates who they are and what makes them interesting and different.

4. Introduce a goal that your protagonist seeks to achieve

As soon as possible, introduce a goal for your protagonist, even if it’s as simple as getting a glass of water or getting a piece of food out of their teeth. This goal should line up to the greater goings on within the plot, of course, but failing (or succeeding) that goal should drive the protagonist toward the bigger story at hand. Readers find stories compelling when the protagonist has a goal in mind and actively seeks to achieve it.

5. Create a one-chapter “arc”

Most strong openings are a story arc in-and-of themselves. They are akin to self-contained short stories, much like the first level or area in a story-based videogame. A conflict should be encountered and resolved within that one scene, and your readers should be able to absorb the first chapter of your book with that mindset. Of course, being a part of a larger novel, the opening scene or chapter should leave an ending hint at what is to come. Aside from this foreshadowing, however, the chapter itself should be largely self-contained.

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Sunday, February 8, 2015

Ten Facts about Swords and Sword Fighting that Writers Get Wrong




Let’s face it, sometimes popular entertainment stretches things for the sake of our enjoyment.

Hollywood blockbusters, adrenaline-laced anime, and button-bashing video games have all given us a skewed, oftentimes downright wrong, impression of what a sword is and how it’s supposed to be used.

As a writer, adherence to reality—even in a fantasy setting—is important. Oftentimes, writers draw inspiration from the media they consume and use it as a basis for writing some pretty unrealistic stuff (almost always without the intention of deliberately doing so). Today, let’s look at ten facts about one of the most popular tools in fictional combat—swords—and uncover the truth about these beautiful blades and their use.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Creative Writing: Tips for Naming Fictional Races




Our world is populated by a wondrous variety of people from different cultural backgrounds; it’s this variety that lends our planet such beauty and diversity.

Our fiction is derived from our reality, and one of the ways in which we seek this derivation is by creating original worlds populated with original cultures and races. Oftentimes, however, the task of creating an entire race of fictional beings can be more intimidating than it appears at first glance.

Today’s writing tip will focus on one simple aspect of race creation: naming your fictional race. We’ll be discussing these seven tips:

  • Re-name an existing race
  • Derive names from physical appearance or existence
  • Derive names from land or territory
  • Incorporate root words from other languages
  • Use ending suffixes to add credibility to your race
  • Consider phonetics and their psychological effects
  • Ensure pronunciation