tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post2139187721662449642..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: Shaping Fantastic Creatures by Shannon DittemoreStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-45951075073064846902013-08-27T12:20:35.772-05:002013-08-27T12:20:35.772-05:00I don't have very many fantastical creatures i...I don't have very many fantastical creatures in my books... except for maybe the humans... hahahaha. Okay. I do have some different creatures of my own, but they aren't the focus of my story at all. I love the Narnia books. C.S. Lewis has fantasy creatures throughout the series- Fledge in Musician's Nephew, Tumnus in Wardrobe, Bree and Hwin in Horse and His Boy, and on and on, even having Jewel the unicorn in Last Battle. These books don't focus entirely on the creatures involved, but on a greater story, and I can really appreciate that. <br /><br /> Thanks for stopping by Shannon! I don't care for angel books either, but I love Angel Eyes!Bethany Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14160544671105522363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-23439394940803039632013-08-24T21:12:20.299-05:002013-08-24T21:12:20.299-05:00Ahhh, Shannon Dittemore! This is so cool! I bought...Ahhh, Shannon Dittemore! This is so cool! I bought Angel Eyes, mmmm, in the spring. (Wow, was it ever good!) So excuse me while I get all thrilled that she's guest-posting at GTW!<br /><br />I've never really done much with fantastical creatures in my own books, and it's not a genre I really frequent...(hm, maybe it's time to change that?) CS Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia is probably my favourite fantasy book, although I hugely enjoyed Harry Potter as well...the fantasy creatures in Rowling's series were really cool. :)<br /><br />Olivia Smithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248659353869417682noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-88595414503205042562013-08-24T16:13:58.439-05:002013-08-24T16:13:58.439-05:00I love sci-fi and fantasy so I've played with ...I love sci-fi and fantasy so I've played with various creatures, everything from aliens to werewolves to mutant talking animals.<br />With the mutant animals, one of the things I did was state that their intelligence is because they were engineered with a human mind. This means that they act a lot more like humans than animals and it's a situation where people have to get used to treating these animals as humans.<br />In the alien idea, I think I might use the idea of aliens to show some foreign policy related things, as well as take on how humans have made themselves too used to war. By showing the situation partially through an alien's eyes, I can show a different view of the situation.Jessi L. Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12368094392959597176noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-15669658300702471092013-08-24T11:58:33.286-05:002013-08-24T11:58:33.286-05:00I am currently doing a rewrite for my book and I h...I am currently doing a rewrite for my book and I have fantastical creatures in it as well. :) The book sounds so interesting! :DDevin Berglund - Creative Writer https://www.blogger.com/profile/07057407889912105784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-40115798472308517102013-08-23T21:27:25.080-05:002013-08-23T21:27:25.080-05:00My merfolk story is really about the dangers of ma...My merfolk story is really about the dangers of magic. The magic in my stories almost always (as in hardly ever doesn't) ends up killing the user in some way or other.<br /><br />Bryan Davis' Dragons in our Midst series really made me rethink dragons. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04990614284549395617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36990653038935724942013-08-23T19:32:45.303-05:002013-08-23T19:32:45.303-05:00Glad Holly gave your book the chance! I bet she...Glad Holly gave your book the chance! I bet she's glad, too. Sounds like your story itself has an amazing story behind it.<br /><br />And thanks for the great tips! I like to slip superhero elements into all my different stories, sometimes more subtly, sometimes not so much--and I think all these pointers could apply really well to that, too.Jenna Blake Morrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12348472716158899465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-46203350907035501532013-08-23T19:28:10.716-05:002013-08-23T19:28:10.716-05:00Thanks so much for the tips and giveaway! We'...Thanks so much for the tips and giveaway! We're so glad you joined us!<br /><br />Hmmm...I don't typically write fantasy/science fiction type of stories. However, some of my favorite books have great creatures in them. "The Hobbit" or LOTR series are a few books with detailed and believe able characters. The trolls, elves, hobbits, and dragons are so well-depicted and come to life on the page.Kate S (4readin)https://www.blogger.com/profile/03311476103331480075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-70613305619460821672013-08-23T12:24:00.218-05:002013-08-23T12:24:00.218-05:00Okay, cool thing is I just finished reading Angel ...Okay, cool thing is I just finished reading Angel Eyes yesterday, and I have to agree with Holly. It's about the supernatural. Therein lies the reason I love it. :) (And it's extremely well-written, too. Thanks for this great book, Shannon!)<br /><br />So, anyway, I'd love to enter the giveaway! Thanks for having it!<br />rachelle (at) rachellerea (dot) comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150136011032761640noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-64302294417726448012013-08-23T06:17:54.382-05:002013-08-23T06:17:54.382-05:00This is SUCH a good post! I love reading books whe...This is SUCH a good post! I love reading books where the "old" ideas is twisted to be shiny and awesome. I think every book needs that. Like, the answer to the question: "What makes your book different?" <br />As for supernatural...I put my fantasy series on the shelf for now, but I did love brainstorming new twists on the same-old-same-old. I had scary horses that ate people. And also eyes like mood rings. And a jungle that also ate people. (Lots of eating happens in my books.)CG @ Paper Furyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14954615708675952085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-30171059106857279642013-08-22T21:07:20.321-05:002013-08-22T21:07:20.321-05:00YOU GUYS ARE ALL BRILLIANT! I love reading your st...YOU GUYS ARE ALL BRILLIANT! I love reading your story ideas. Jill and Steph, THANK YOU so much for having me on the blog today. I'm crazy honored to be with you all and wish you each the absolute best of luck on your writing journeys. Shannon Dittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07757781231485815876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56730689102980994542013-08-22T20:36:23.868-05:002013-08-22T20:36:23.868-05:00I have dragons for my antagonists. After the first...I have dragons for my antagonists. After the first draft, I realized they were too cliche. Just mean firebreathers. Anyone can have those. It's an allagorical fantasy, so they represtent satan and his demons. I made it so like this: When Lucifer rebelled and the Maker cast him out of the High Relms, he cursed all dragons to being cold-hearted. So instead of dragons that breathe fire, they breath the oposite of fire. It'll burn you just like fire. Kind of like dry ice, except that it can burn wood and other flammable items like normal fire. The dragons themselves are varying shades of blue/black. I haven't finished fleshing them out yet, but that's what I have so far.Connie Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00929239591451167169noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-73313263398625339112013-08-22T19:54:16.323-05:002013-08-22T19:54:16.323-05:00Not sure if this counts but I have a zombie story ...Not sure if this counts but I have a zombie story on the go. It's a zombie apocalypse story but I'm trying not to make it about the zombies. It's more about humanity and fear and how those things mix. What happens to humanity when fear kicks in? Are we all willing to leave a friend behind in fear for our own life? It's also about loss of innocence. There's one girl that everyone tries to protect the entire time. She's hopeful and innocent. When she turns into a zombie, it's as though all innocence is lost. Another thing: an individual's centre. Who we really are. When all is said and done, what will we actually do and why? <br />Again I'm not sure is a zombie is a fantastical creature but that's what I've come up with. Cassianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7112115574953441012013-08-22T19:27:07.241-05:002013-08-22T19:27:07.241-05:00Currently I am writing a kind of complex (slight c...Currently I am writing a kind of complex (slight crazy) and enchanting story about resurrection of dragons in the world! :D It actually starts out like a fantasy type world but *spoilers* it is actually a futuristic earth! whoa! But the dragons are also different than say dragons in legends and other fantasy stories b/c they can't talking or mind readers or anything. Their DNA bonds with the human so there's a connection that way (kind of basing off weird sensations twins have b/c of shared DNA and stuff). But it also doesn't just involve castles, knights and kings, but pirates are thrown into the mix, with dragons working on pirate ships too. I haven't read a story involving dragons where pirates are a huge focus, if they are there at all, so I thought it would be an interesting twist to include it. :) Jaimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03689116701916581439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-1233162815702816342013-08-22T19:25:41.047-05:002013-08-22T19:25:41.047-05:00I'm not writing a book like that but I did hav...I'm not writing a book like that but I did have a book idea like that. I'm going to work on it after my current project. It wasn't necessarily about fantastic creatures but it's basically about supernatural human beings. The main character was bionic altered as a child and can move objects with her mind.<br />Not necessarily a fantastic creature but I guess I was trying to take that whole super hero and villain thing to a new level.<br />Thanks for the post!!Emmi Lynnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16103869981438471742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-25780952165446558052013-08-22T17:14:33.049-05:002013-08-22T17:14:33.049-05:00Well, I fondly call my current WiP That Magical Sp...Well, I fondly call my current WiP That Magical Space Angel Novel, which gives you a hint as to what it's about. My "angels" aren't really angels, or even related to them (God has not inserted himself into this story in a blatantly visible way at all, actually); they're navy-eyed humanoid creatures that can grow wings at will, heal people, and come back from the dead. Oh, and they can also fly in space. (Let it never be said that I listen to the constraints of "genre." The truly crazy thing is that it all makes sense in-world.) The word "angel" is never used in the story--instead I call them Winged Ones. (Let it also never be said that I give my creatures uncreative names.) The fact that protagonist #1 is a Winged One doesn't even have much bearing on the plot. It's simply part of who he is and, although it is a key part of his backstory, he doesn't let it define him. At its heart, TMSAN is about love and friendship and the things that makes those bonds break and the things that heal them. Any Magical Space Angels are just there to focus that theme.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00957038872768998481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-57828645470051657512013-08-22T16:20:37.526-05:002013-08-22T16:20:37.526-05:00Narnia is my fav too!!! it's really cool! I re...Narnia is my fav too!!! it's really cool! I really enjoy how the kids meet all the characters! And great post, Sharon! :)TW Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213969076030457918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-89476820319504672192013-08-22T15:22:26.003-05:002013-08-22T15:22:26.003-05:00Well I've written about ghosts (not as the pro...Well I've written about ghosts (not as the protagonist...yet) but the message of the book isn't "don't go into a haunted house it's scary and your camera will explode" -- it's about the MC learning to let go of something that's been bothering her for over a year, learning to trust people but at the same time, to not be gullible, etc. I would say my themes are love, belief and above all, loss. Everyone has lost or looses something during the course of the story.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11828772181763803223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-23137445908406364032013-08-22T13:48:02.383-05:002013-08-22T13:48:02.383-05:00I'm actually writing a semi-steampunk/alternat...I'm actually writing a semi-steampunk/alternate history/urban fantasy novel that has vampires, but I really wanted to take a 'typical' vampire and do something different with them. They have all the elegance, class, and snark you would expect the normal vampire to have, but instead of drinking blood, they drain energy through skin contact. Every vampire has a hidden phobia and an obsession that can be used against them. The story is centered around Skata, a Lamia Venator (vampire hunter) whose job is not to hunt vampires to kill them, but to ensure the peace between non-human creatures and humans themselves. He's seeking revenge on the vampire who murdered his wife and child and is prejudiced against every non-human creature - until he realizes he can't do everything alone. He befriends an outcast half-breed and an exceedinly annoying vampire to help him unravel the mystery, and I'm hoping what readers will take away is two things, actually. One is the main theme of most my novels - faith. The other is letting go and accepting help from the most unlikely places. Personal and spiritual growth, you might say. Mirriamhttp://www.shieldmaidenthoughts.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-35855091377475675832013-08-22T12:41:42.302-05:002013-08-22T12:41:42.302-05:00Yes, it is, Sheena-kay.Yes, it is, Sheena-kay.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-7099098834434232562013-08-22T12:41:17.727-05:002013-08-22T12:41:17.727-05:00What a GREAT article, Shannon. I'm so excited ...What a GREAT article, Shannon. I'm so excited to have you on Go Teen Writers. <br /><br />And I'm not surprised your agent took you on - your writing is gorgeous.Stephanie Morrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-62363646404616086202013-08-22T12:28:19.210-05:002013-08-22T12:28:19.210-05:00Is the giveaway international? The dystopian serie...Is the giveaway international? The dystopian series I'm currently writing each has a different set of characters and most of them have no supernatural or paranormal elements. Excellent tips and I definitely agree about being unique and hooking readers/agents. <br /><br />But there is a manuscript I started some time back that involves the children of giants from Genesis coming back to life in modern time and wreaking havoc.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-32022273323119849542013-08-22T11:48:22.707-05:002013-08-22T11:48:22.707-05:00My story is mainly about a girl who enters a world...My story is mainly about a girl who enters a world were people have special powers that are either inherited genetically or are carried around in special stones. This causes her to get too used to relying on her own strength instead of God, so in the end she must take a step of faith--actually a dizzying jump off a cliff to certain doom--to save the world she has become so attached to. I guess the point I want my readers to take away from the story is that you can trust God, because He has a reason for putting you in whatever situation you are in, and He may have given you a special gift you didn't even know about to help you through that hard time. Golden Gladiolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00500327745088577755noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-33024902477415718682013-08-22T11:47:44.879-05:002013-08-22T11:47:44.879-05:00I read Angel Eyes and LOVED it!! Shannon is a fant...I read Angel Eyes and LOVED it!! Shannon is a fantastic writer. <br />My books don't have any supernatural elements, but one series I read that did was The Chronicles of Narnia. C.S. Lewis did such a great job of making the creatures in those stories believable and so fun!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17957186594019726224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-66505177015255965672013-08-22T11:04:41.748-05:002013-08-22T11:04:41.748-05:00My story has fantastical creatures, but all my MCs...My story has fantastical creatures, but all my MCs are human. My current WIP is really more about learning to trust God, about pride and how no matter how much good we do, we're not perfect, and about love.Sarah Penningtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06377945004067760298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-36408563961691798832013-08-22T10:18:20.578-05:002013-08-22T10:18:20.578-05:00This is such a helpful post! Thanks Ms Dittemore! ...This is such a helpful post! Thanks Ms Dittemore! :)<br />All of my stories have an element of the fantastic in them, but I never want that to take the focus. My current WIP contains "special" characters but it's really about choosing a side and always being a slave to something, good or evil. <br />Thanks again for this great post, and thanks Jill and Stephanie for hosting this giveaway!Georginanoreply@blogger.com