[Writing Process post]
Some of the background information I had to create before I started writing.
Specialties of the Jewels:
Red- Masters of the spiritual
Pink- Masters of the desert
Orange- Masters of the jungles and wetlands
Yellow- Masters of the plains and farming
Green- Masters of the forests
Blue- Masters of water (rivers, ice, ocean, etc)
Purple- Masters of societal order
Brown- Masters of mountains
Colorless- Masters of nutrition and food preparation
Turquoise- Masters of necessities
Opal- Masters of new life
Black Onyx- Master healers
Black Onyx- Master healers
Gold- Masters of travel and discovery
Silver- Masters of portals, allegedly
Darterra is a moon world. Xeata-Lidoffad is the planet it orbits. Ospinevarn is the name of their sun, or nearest star.
Life-cycle of Darterrans:
Babies are level 1. (They come from the Birth Place. The people are not mammals of live births, nor do they hatch from eggs.)
When there are new babies, the children advance to level 2.
Puberty advances young people to level 3.
Tests allow people to become elders, level 4.
Death moves most people to the spiritual realm, level 5.
QUESTION: Do you compile background information before you write?
Shout-out to Alex and the awesome co-hosts for today: Jennifer Lane, L Diane Wolfe, Jenni Enzor, and Natalie Aguirre!
April 2 question - What fantasy character would you like to fight, go on a quest with, or have a beer/glass of wine with?
I'll pick one fantasy book per suggestion from the question, plus a bonus. Click titles for links to books.
- The Existence series (by J Lenni Dorner) - 🍻 I'd drink beer with Heath.
- Fragile Remedy (by Maria Ingrande Mora) - 💫 I'd quest with Nate.
- Magic at Midnight (by Ronel Janse van Vuuren) - 💗 I'd fly with Amy and her pegasi
- The Kingkiller Chronicles (by Patrick Rothfuss) - 🍷 I'd drink wine while Kvothe played 🎻 the "lute."
- Red Queen series (by Victoria Aveyard) - 🥊 I'd try to fight Maven. I'd lose, of course, as there's no special power in my blood, but I'd try.
Looking forward to the answers others wrote!
My A to Z 2025 theme is a fantasy story. (And some of the process of writing it as well.) 🕮
- J (he/him 👨🏽 or 🧑🏽 they/them) ~ Speculative Fiction & Reference Author and Co-host of the April Blogging #AtoZchallenge
[No one caught my April Fools prank of labeling my posts as "2026"]
https://bsky.app/profile/jlennidorner.bsky.social My current favorite social media site.
https://amzn.to/41QBB4P Author page on Amazon — please consider following and supporting this indie author!
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-lenni-dorner BookBub author profile— I'd be grateful if you'd follow me.
#AtoZChallenge a-to-zchallenge.com Kindly check out the blog hop's website.
Thanks for the shout-out :-) I'd have a drink with Heath, too.
ReplyDeleteRonel visiting for IWSG day Focusing on Self-Care and A-Z Challenge Bast the Protector & My Languishing TBR: B #AtoZChallenge2025 #Books #Bookreview
At least you like your own character enough to share a drink with him!
ReplyDeleteThere's a lot to your magical system. It's a good thing you developed it before you started writing. I wish I was as organized as you.
ReplyDeleteYes! I do put together background stuff, especially on the characters.
ReplyDeleteWow! No other words...
ReplyDeleteDonna: My 2025 A-Z Blog
Now that's a real commitment that I can admire. I should be so industrious and creative. But this is what one has to do if they're going to write a book--especially a complex one. Nice job.
ReplyDeleteLee
Yes, I do some research/compiling background before I write, some as I'm writing, and also some afterwards. Right now, for my contemporary WIP, I'm keeping a spreadsheet of different character attributes, etc., so I can be sure to keep track. Happy ISWG!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post and learning some BTS aspects of your new story. Yes, I too write a lot of background before I start writing. I loved your answers to this months question- every single one. I'd just like to be in the room and watching someone having a drink with Heath. Nice post.
ReplyDeleteI do compile background info before writing--as a psychologist, I think fleshing out background info is essential for character motivation. However, I might be less detailed now than before. I want to leave some room for the characters to talk to me.
ReplyDeleteGreat answers. Love the jewels! Looking forward to the story.
ReplyDeleteI'm a "plantser" so I do plan out some aspects of the story before I start writing. I'm not doing fantasy, so don't have to invent those aspects of the world, but do try to get the setting in my head. writing a series helps there :)
ReplyDeleteI love the jewels. Trying to figure out which one I'd like to be/have. I'm drawn to turquoise because it is closest to my birthstone of aquamarine. I could handle the necessities. It's a typical mom job.
ReplyDelete