And any plot help really… I feel like I suck at writing overall because I can't plot out a novel, or at least a novel that is great and exceeds my expectations…
Anyway, my MC's soul is bound to a space-time sword (created by her mother, origin unknown as of yet but immensely powerful, along with the help of the creators of this "earth"). She was bound by her mother to hide the sword (?) and placed into a pocket dimension (as the sword has the ability to cut into the fabric of time and space and create pocket dimensions and other things related to that…) where she lives in a sort of stasis until the sword (which has more hold of her soul than the soul does of the sword) randomly forces her into the world at different points in time (and not always linear). This causes her to be in two places at once (earth and the astral plane) and causes considerable strain on her body where she is then brought back into stasis for a number of years.
My other MC is the immortal son of a dictator king (son of one the gods that created the planet), and the two MC's cross paths multiple times, resulting in the "Rift" (where a separate dimension is laid over the earth as a copy for certain species to live to save the planet from destruction) and then the 'end of the world' where the earth is plunged into a post apocalyptic age after the two MC's try to save it.
(If anyone would like to collaborate, let me know)
Anyway, how do I plot this out?
Okay, that sounds really, really cool. How did you even come up with this? It's so unique. I would love to read something like this.
Could you elaborate on what you mean by "plot this out"? I'd love to help, but I'm not exactly clear on where you're struggling.
(I've never done a collaboration before, but I would certainly be interested).
@alice
Thanks! I've been working on this idea for a few years. It started out originally as something completely different, and now it's at this point where I want to try to do a time-travel type of thing, if I can (I feel like I am not a good enough writer to pull this off, but I want to try).
Well, I have a few things I would like to happen in the story. So, say, I have Points B, D, F, G whatever, but I don't know how to connect all together to make a coherent plot from point A to point Z. I want my two MC's to be the reason that their entire world is changed (the Rift that I mentioned earlier, I'm not sure if they should be involved in that or possibly the MMC be part of the group that causes it, or it happens while he is too young to help; and then my FMC is either born right before that happens or right after and then bound to the Sword) into an apocalyptic setting because of their choices to mess with the other dimension that was created (in their eyes they are trying to save it, but in reality they do the exact opposite).
So, I'm struggling with, how to I start something like this out, and how to I plan it out where everything connects, makes sense, and have the plot 'unique' in a way that readers will want to keep reading until the end. What happens in the beginning, the end of the beginning, the beginning of the middle, etc. that will lead to the ending that I want.
I feel like I can come up with something really exciting to write about, but then when I think of plot, my mind goes blank because I want to create something amazing, but feel like I can't do that for some reason…
So… I hope that explains it better?
I need motivations, inner/outer conflicts, characters arcs, I need more worldbuilding (I'm still stuck on whether this should be placed on a different solar system completely or just an alternate earth with a different creation story).
I know that is all part of the process of writing a novel, but damn man, I need some help haha ugh
Yeah, that helps. So…where to start? Maybe some more world building would help to start off with? As you set up things like government systems, magic systems, species, plant life, etc. that might introduce new characters and motivations. The way I do things is usually I have an idea (or a few ideas) and then I build off of those. For me, asking a lot of questions helps. Maybe I could give you a few?
- Where is this set? (Our universe, an alternate universe, etc.)
- What is the government system like?
- Is there magic? If so, how does it function? How powerful is it? Is it something you can learn or something you are born with?
- Are there any fantasy species that coexist with humans? (Or that are at war with humans or live separately from them, etc.) If so, what are they and how do they impact the story?
- Is the plant life the same? Does this impact things at all? (e.g. the environmental state, development, etc. if extremely dangerous plants existed (I'm having a hard time coming up with an example, maybe giant Venus fly traps or things that release poisonous spores?) this could be a roadblock to travel, development, etc.)
Well, I can answer a couple of those. I have a bit thought out on the setting.
- Alternate Earth
- I will think about this more.. I know that there is one religion that is gaining favor among most of the population.
-
Yes. Natural Magic and Spirit Magic. Natural magic flows through the ley lines (corporeal lines that run throughout the entire planet) and those that can harness the magic draw the magic from the ley lines (though they can't sense the position of ley lines, they are still able to draw out the magic; only a few can sense where ley nodes are), and ley nodes are where multiple ley lines intersect and are incredibly powerful. This is usually where temples are built, to either stand as a marker or to hide the ley nodes and those wishing to draw magic from them. Those capable of harnessing natural magic are born with it, and cannot be learnt. Spiritual magic is the unification or destruction of one or two souls. This can be learnt. One's soul has to be stronger than the soul they are trying to unite with (unification allows them to either completely devour the soul and take all magical prowess with it, converting the natural magic into spiritual magic, or to unite and borrow spirit energy while keeping that thing (person, animal, plant) alive). To be able to learn this magical art, one must be connected in some way to the astral plane, where they can travel and strengthen their soul. To then be able to use it, they have to go into a battle between their soul and another's, which is where the risk is at. If one soul is not strong enough it will most likely be destroyed (unless they have practiced decades). Without Dragons or Stars (all in hibernation), and the more powerful children of those species stuck in the overlaying dimension (RIFT), there is only one known person that can practice Spirit magic (my MMC), which he learned after he was cursed and unable to use his vast amount of natural magic.
- Dragons and Stars are the creators of the earth (both cosmic species that traverse the universe). They are all in hibernation after the Rift. Children of the Dragons and Stars are as follows:
Demura: children of Dragons (behemoth creatures that helped create the planet in conjunction with the Stars; they currently reside in the center of the planet to heat it in an eternal slumber). Though, only one dragon couple mated, resulting in 5 children that were too incredibly powerful that the other Dragons decided to have children asexually. The first couple of generations of the dragon children are full spirit animals. Once the dragons went into hibernation, the spiritual aspect of the demura was diluted. Demura are all gifted with 'potion' making. They are healers and concoct everything from medicinal supplies to balms and ointments. Demura are all marked with animalistic features, though hybrids more so, as they also have a more human stature.
Halois: children of Stars (bright powerful beings that light the sky about the planet in their hibernation. the largest is Moon, and she is almost always shining). They are all gifted with wings of some sort and are incredibly gifted with technology. This caused them to be enslaved by humans and some demura, resulting in the halois moving to higher ground and isolating themselves. Halois hybrids have one shining eye and the other either blue or gray.
Humans: joint creation between dragons and stars. The humans are more adept at harnessing the natural magic throughout the world.
Hybrids are the result of the 3 species mating. demura/human, human/halois, and the less common, halois/demura.
- I have not thought of plant life yet…
so, I have a bit thought out. I know I need to establish the lands and governments in my 'earth', any advice on tackling that? I have one religion set up, that's very influential, and then I have a few monarchs.
Points 3 and 4 are very detailed and well thought-out. thumbs up
As for government: you mentioned you had a few monarchs. That's a good place to start.
- Do you want all governments to be monarchies?
- What kind of monarchies do you have? Absolute? Constitutional? Both?
- Are your monarchies corrupt or no? Maybe you have a mix?
- You mentioned an influential religion. What kind of religion is it? (How does it function, what are its beliefs?)
- Why is this religion so popular? Is it practiced by choice, or were people forced to convert?
- How far does this religion's influence reach? One country? Two? Most of the planet?
- What influence, if any, does this religion have on the government and why?
