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Abstract

know the meanings clearly or make up your own version for your world. I know it’s fiction and fantasy, but if you introduce elements from our world, they must work consistently. The same applies if you introduce a system of magic. You can create what you like, but it must have consistent rules.</p><p id="a765">It is much easier to make up your own runes and, therefore, their rules and meanings.</p><h2 id="e843">7. Under an Oath or Stolen Memories</h2><p id="1e0e">Under an Oath</p><p id="c875">Tricky one as both can be fun to read and work with if written well. You can approach them from unique angles and create exciting storylines and character developments.</p><h2 id="22bf">8. Rainbow or Waterfall</h2><p id="fc8c">Waterfall</p><p id="614e">Oh, come on, how are you supposed to choose between these two, really? You can create alternate universes, hidden worlds, creatures’ homes, and so much more with both. I’ve gone with a waterfall because I love the power of water, its ability to transport you from one place to another, and how it can be used to hide and expose a new world of wonders.</p><h2 id="1e99">9. Enchanted Object or Cursed Object</h2><p id="1130">Cursed object</p><p id="689e">You can have so much more fun with a cursed object. Imagine being gifted a cursed object and trying to constantly give it away, only for it to keep finding you. Alternatively, you are a grumpy old sorcerer who gives out cursed objects in their will without telling the recipients they are cursed.</p><h2 id="5af7">10. Seer or Warlock</h2><p id="919a">Warlock</p><p id="259b">Again, you can have much more fun with a warlock. Firstly, there are plenty of different types of warlocks, from oath breakers to those in pacts with demonic entities or eldritch horrors.</p><h2 id="75a4">11. Dungeon or Banishment</h2><p id="e59f">Dungeon</p><p id="07b9">I changed my answer to this several times. I initially said banishment, as dungeons can be restrictive. Then my D&D brain kicked in, and well, once you add in all the wonderous things that can happen in a dungeon, I was torn. So, after much contemplation and rerunning some of my favourite adventures in my head, I went for the dungeon.</p><h2 id="c121">12. Soul Sucking or Demon Torment</h2><p id="7835">Demon torment</p><p id="0789">Soul sucking is so final. Once your soul leaves your body and the demon digests it, that tends to be the end. The key here is avoiding this fate. Demon torment gives you a much broader base to work with and isn’t quite so final, although your characters might wish it was, depending on how evil you are to them.</p><h2 id="b1bb">13. Portal or Time Travel</h2><p id="f271">Portal</p><p id="0ba6">Any concept related to time tends to tie me up in knots. I’ve been on record as stating I’d rather explain string theory than where the hour goes when the clocks change. You can imagine what happens to my brain when time travel is involved. Now a portal to another realm I can get behind, as long as you don’t include time dilation in any form.</p>

Options

<h2 id="d7ac">14. Undiscovered or Forgotten</h2><p id="f33b">Undiscovered</p><p id="93c2">I can forget what I’m doing while I’m doing it, especially while writing. More than once, I’ve had to go back through a story and change a name that miraculously changed halfway through writing. If I’m emersed in a fantasy world, I’d rather not be reminded of my own shortcomings.</p><h2 id="ddef">15. Enchanted to Sleep or Cursed to Ride</h2><p id="4842">Enchanted to Sleep</p><p id="d201">Nothing to do with reading or writing; I could just do with someone enchanting me to sleep while they took care of the housework. Being woken with a kiss from a handsome prince or princess wouldn’t go amiss either.</p><h2 id="2426">16. Diary or Grimoire</h2><p id="7a64">Grimoire</p><p id="a51e">It just sounds so much cooler.</p><h2 id="c500">17. Kraken or Mermaid</h2><p id="50c7">Kraken</p><p id="85a2">Don’t get me wrong, mermaids are fantastic, and you can do so much with this character, but I just want to say/write/read the words — Release the Kraken.</p><h2 id="65e8">18. Haunted or Re-programmed</h2><p id="00fd">Haunted</p><p id="d2ec">The idea of being re-programmed runs into science fiction for me. I have nothing against science fiction, but I tend towards the magical and mystical if I’m reading fantasy.</p><h2 id="b4f9">19. Historical or Future</h2><p id="cfe9">Historical (I think)</p><p id="9b84">Okay, so if you’ve read my previous answers, you already know I have a problem with time. The bonus with fantasy is that you can work in the past or future and consider it an alternative timeline without overthinking it.</p><h2 id="16d9">20. This World or Another Realm</h2><p id="a22a">Another Realm</p><p id="fa6d">One of the best things about writing and reading fantasy is you can set your own rules for your world. As long as they are consistent, the world is your oyster, Kraken, or sentient lobster. You aren’t constrained by any history or rules of this world. When you create a completely different realm, you have even more scope.</p><p id="c9ae">There you have it. That’s my take on the Fantasy Fiction This or That Challenge. Do you agree with my choices? How would you answer? Take up the challenge, tag <a href="undefined">Jacinta Palmer</a>, <a href="undefined">Brett Jenae Tomlin</a>, and me if you want.</p><p id="053f"><a href="https://readmedium.com/386f2d545a16?source=post_page-----cd8938d2ec12-----------------------------------">Cathylouise</a> is a juggler extraordinaire who amazingly manages to balance parenthood, health challenges, work, and home responsibilities with a healthy side of poetry, knitting and a growing obsession with Dungeons and Dragons. When she’s not hiding at the kitchen table writing, she is supporting her teenage daughter, dancing around the kitchen to pirate metal and walking two very enthusiastic dogs. Follow her aerial acrobatics on <a href="https://twitter.com/cathyablett">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cathylouisepoetry">Facebook</a>.</p></article></body>

Fantasy Fiction This or That Challenge

Building My Perfect Fantasy World

It’s been a while since I’ve written anything meaningful; I’ve been too busy stressing about housing and dealing with deaths in the family. I love a good challenge. It is a great way to get the creative juices following, especially after an extended period of not writing.

So, when Jacinta tagged me in a new ‘This or That’ challenge, I thought, perfect, this will be a great way of getting back into the swing of things. That was until I saw the choices. I mean, come on, no writer of fantasy should ever have to choose between vampires and dragons.

But a deal is a deal, and since I said I’d take part, here are my answers. And yes, I shed blood, sweat, and tears over several of them.

1. Dystopian or Enchanted

Enchanted

Much of my writing revolves around enchanted worlds full of interesting and unique creatures, as do most fantasy stories I like to read. While my reading and writing tend to be more on the dark side, I usually stop short of dystopian.

2. Vampire or Dragon

Vampire

I thought long and hard about this one. The dragon would win hands or talons down if we were talking about which one would win in a fight. Seriously, I love both, but the myth and lore around vampires win me over every time. Now if we were talking about were-dragons, it might be a different answer (especially if Lorelie_Sands, my naughtier side, was answering).

3. Sword or Bolt of Fire from your Fingers

Sword

No question about it. Fire bolts only come from enchanted objects, dragons, and possibly demons.

4. Mind Reading or Crystal Ball

Crystal ball

Mind reading is far too noisy and complicated. Hearing all those voices, being unable to distinguish one set of thoughts from another. Keeping track of all that in my writing and the lack of privacy is enough to fry my brain. Crystal balls are easier to turn on and off and don’t cause as many problems as long as you remember to keep them covered in direct sunlight.

5. Broomstick or Winged Creature

Winged creature

Nothing gives you an entrance quite like arriving on the back of a fire-breathing dragon or a shining Pegasus. Of course, parking is a bit of a problem, but luckily there are few traffic wardens and plenty of space in most fantasy worlds.

6. Runes or Tarot Cards

Runes

Writing about either can be tricky. Either you need to know the meanings clearly or make up your own version for your world. I know it’s fiction and fantasy, but if you introduce elements from our world, they must work consistently. The same applies if you introduce a system of magic. You can create what you like, but it must have consistent rules.

It is much easier to make up your own runes and, therefore, their rules and meanings.

7. Under an Oath or Stolen Memories

Under an Oath

Tricky one as both can be fun to read and work with if written well. You can approach them from unique angles and create exciting storylines and character developments.

8. Rainbow or Waterfall

Waterfall

Oh, come on, how are you supposed to choose between these two, really? You can create alternate universes, hidden worlds, creatures’ homes, and so much more with both. I’ve gone with a waterfall because I love the power of water, its ability to transport you from one place to another, and how it can be used to hide and expose a new world of wonders.

9. Enchanted Object or Cursed Object

Cursed object

You can have so much more fun with a cursed object. Imagine being gifted a cursed object and trying to constantly give it away, only for it to keep finding you. Alternatively, you are a grumpy old sorcerer who gives out cursed objects in their will without telling the recipients they are cursed.

10. Seer or Warlock

Warlock

Again, you can have much more fun with a warlock. Firstly, there are plenty of different types of warlocks, from oath breakers to those in pacts with demonic entities or eldritch horrors.

11. Dungeon or Banishment

Dungeon

I changed my answer to this several times. I initially said banishment, as dungeons can be restrictive. Then my D&D brain kicked in, and well, once you add in all the wonderous things that can happen in a dungeon, I was torn. So, after much contemplation and rerunning some of my favourite adventures in my head, I went for the dungeon.

12. Soul Sucking or Demon Torment

Demon torment

Soul sucking is so final. Once your soul leaves your body and the demon digests it, that tends to be the end. The key here is avoiding this fate. Demon torment gives you a much broader base to work with and isn’t quite so final, although your characters might wish it was, depending on how evil you are to them.

13. Portal or Time Travel

Portal

Any concept related to time tends to tie me up in knots. I’ve been on record as stating I’d rather explain string theory than where the hour goes when the clocks change. You can imagine what happens to my brain when time travel is involved. Now a portal to another realm I can get behind, as long as you don’t include time dilation in any form.

14. Undiscovered or Forgotten

Undiscovered

I can forget what I’m doing while I’m doing it, especially while writing. More than once, I’ve had to go back through a story and change a name that miraculously changed halfway through writing. If I’m emersed in a fantasy world, I’d rather not be reminded of my own shortcomings.

15. Enchanted to Sleep or Cursed to Ride

Enchanted to Sleep

Nothing to do with reading or writing; I could just do with someone enchanting me to sleep while they took care of the housework. Being woken with a kiss from a handsome prince or princess wouldn’t go amiss either.

16. Diary or Grimoire

Grimoire

It just sounds so much cooler.

17. Kraken or Mermaid

Kraken

Don’t get me wrong, mermaids are fantastic, and you can do so much with this character, but I just want to say/write/read the words — Release the Kraken.

18. Haunted or Re-programmed

Haunted

The idea of being re-programmed runs into science fiction for me. I have nothing against science fiction, but I tend towards the magical and mystical if I’m reading fantasy.

19. Historical or Future

Historical (I think)

Okay, so if you’ve read my previous answers, you already know I have a problem with time. The bonus with fantasy is that you can work in the past or future and consider it an alternative timeline without overthinking it.

20. This World or Another Realm

Another Realm

One of the best things about writing and reading fantasy is you can set your own rules for your world. As long as they are consistent, the world is your oyster, Kraken, or sentient lobster. You aren’t constrained by any history or rules of this world. When you create a completely different realm, you have even more scope.

There you have it. That’s my take on the Fantasy Fiction This or That Challenge. Do you agree with my choices? How would you answer? Take up the challenge, tag Jacinta Palmer, Brett Jenae Tomlin, and me if you want.

Cathylouise is a juggler extraordinaire who amazingly manages to balance parenthood, health challenges, work, and home responsibilities with a healthy side of poetry, knitting and a growing obsession with Dungeons and Dragons. When she’s not hiding at the kitchen table writing, she is supporting her teenage daughter, dancing around the kitchen to pirate metal and walking two very enthusiastic dogs. Follow her aerial acrobatics on Twitter and Facebook.