Unique Mythology
u·nique
–adjective6. the embodiment of unique characteristics; the only specimen of a given kind: The unique is also the improbable.
my·thol·o·gy
–noun, plural -gies.1. a body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person: Greek mythology.
As a writer, you are a myth maker. To be profitable and artistic is to create myths that are unique in some way.
What about your characters or world is different or unusual?
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August 10th, 2007 at 5:06 am
I don’t know if anything specifically is very ‘different’. The problem with fantasy is that it all takes elements from things that already exist, thus making it rather devoid of true originality–a problem much of science fiction is facing these days because technology in the world is becoming rather stagnant, providing little room for advancement and ultimately new and revolutionary thinking. Granted there are some rather fascinating novels out there (Spin State by Moriarty for example).
So, I suppose the only thing I can think that is unusual about my world is something that happened that I had no intention of happening–a huge Biblical reference. My fantasy world has a belief in a Heaven-like place and a Hell-like place. The main character is essentially not of that world, yet he is endowed with abilities he shouldn’t have, and nobody should have actually–he can actually control entities and magic from the Hell-like place (called Loe). The problem is that things from Loe are only able to act upon evil, except for some reason they act in evil ways upon the good actions of the main character. He can make them do things that are violent, but for the betterment of himself and his companions. It’s going to be interesting to see how this develops in the second book. In theory he could summon a Lyphon–a creature of my creation I suppose, or at least as much as my creation as possible. Now Lyphons only exist in Loe, and are supposed to be incapable of existing in the real world, though the bad guy of the novel supposedly has summoned one and the main character technically could summon one too…but Lyphons are essentially…well…about as evil as you can get. Their blood drips from their mouths and corrupts the very earth they walk on…so.
I’m rambling though. I don’t think other than those sort of fantastical tidbits there is anything necessarily unusual. There are doubts that characters would have, fears, and the like…yeah.
August 10th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
I don’t think it’s about originality as much as it is about novel/memorable combinations. There’s nothing new about a child hero, magic, or the idea of wizards having to practice magic at a school, but when you combine those three you end up with Harry Potter.
The same applies to creating your unique mythology.
I think once you accept that absolute originality is a myth in itself, and that creativity doesn’t happen in a vacuum, mixing, matching, and re-imagining a variety of concepts becomes a little easier.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Well exactly. I consider myself creative, not original. I try to take things that may already exist somewhere and make them different as best I can, as is the case with a Lyphon. Their very similar to a lot of mythologies about creatures from the underworld or creatures from lands of dead.
So I agree :)