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beanicole864 · 3 years

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Fantasy: A Quick Guide in Writing by Bea Nicole Aguilan

Magic. When it comes to fantasy, it is the first word that pops out of our heads. But is magic all there is to fantasy? The fantasy genre had been one of the leading, popular genres for the last two decades and many writers have also chosen it as their chosen niche in writing.

But for those beginner fantasy writers who has no idea on where to start writing, here are 10 tips you need in writing fantasy:

1. Identify your niche.

Fantasy itself is a niche on its own, but it is such a broad genre that you have to have a deeper understanding of each subgenre to know what your niche is. By identifying your niche, you will know who your audience will be and what your writing will be focusing on.

Some of the most common subgenres in fantasy are: Alternate History, Arcanepunk Fantasy, Assassin Fantasy, Coming-of-age fantasy, and many more.

2. Develop your world through short stories

Developing your world is one of the major key factors that play in fantasy writing. In order for you to start and begin your world, writing short stories is a good way to start. By featuring your characters into short stories while also building your world, you are able to hit two birds with one stone.

You can also think of it as building your plot and your story brick by brick.

3. Plot out your story

One thing most writers forget to do when writing a story is plotting out there story. Even I forgot writing one when I started writing. Fantasy stories are often complex and epic, which is why you need to plot and outline your story.

You don’t want to end up being that person who trips over a hundred of their storylines, do you? In plotting your story, you must also outline and plan the flow of your story.

A good way for you to do that is by outlining first the three major parts of the story, also called the Three Act Structure where you summarize your supposedly beginning, middle, and ending of the story. Once you have finishsed the Three Act Strucuture, you can then start thinking of how you will cut the three parts into sections and placing them on each chapter.

You must also have a chapter outline wherein you will outline the events that would happen in each chapter that would lead to the major plot points of your story.

4. Tie your worldbuilding to your plot

Worldbuilding is an essential in writing fantasy. You have to know how your world system works. Know your magic system, your government, how the people in your world lives and so on.

Your plot and your worldbuilding should see eye to eye. Your worldbuilding should be connected to your plot in order for it to work. You don’t want your worldbuilding to be out of place while the plot takes place, do you?

5. Keep your story relevant to real-world themes

If you have any social issues you wish to discuss in your story or anything in particular, that is a real-world theme, you can include it into your story. The real-world theme may have to be relevant to the story in some way, whether you explicitly indicate or implicitly indicate it through foreshadowing.

Be creative on how you express these real-world themes. Make sure to fit it in into your worldbuilding.

6. Use all your five senses

What makes your worldbuilding alive? The answer is simple, imagery. Be specific on how you describe things, especially since your story is fantasy. Be creative on how you use terms and words, express what your world is through the five senses.

Describe what your character is seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, and tasting. Be detailed on how you write your world and your story. Describe it with creativity.

7. Give your world internal rules

Worldbuilding is great as it is, but you must set rules in order for you not to jump into something that will never make sense in the story. If your world contains people who can use abilities and magic, remember to add a rule or a limit of their use of it.

Create grounded rules that are rational. Rules that makes sense. Rules that does not defy your worldbuilding. And don’t go breaking the same rules you also created.

8. Have a mindset of a Cinematographer

Having the mindset of a cinematographer can be a good and a bad thing. While some writers may use this advice because it works for them, some may not.

Having a mindset similar to a cinematographer will help you visualize what the scenes in your story look like. You will have the ability to visualize how the scene will play out and how the setting will look like as the scene starts and ends.

9. Don’t introduce all your characters at once

Just don’t. Introducing all your characters at once will give your readers information overload. It will be too much for them to handle, especially if they were still getting the hang of the world you created.

Introduce your characters one by one, starting with the main protagonist, down to the supporting characters and antagonists. It doesn’t necessarily mean you have to introduce them one by one in each chapter. It is up to you how you will introduce them.

10. Pick a book and read it

And finally the last tip, reading a book. For many writers, this tip may have been burning in their ears for the longest time. It is a tip writers always give to other writers, especially to beginner writers. Choose a book you like and it must be in the genre you wish to write, in this case a fantasy.

You must make yourself familiar and knowledgeable about different fantasy books and troupes, that way you know what kind of writing styles to use and what to look out for. Reading a book is the number one tip any writer can give you and it is very effective for starters.

And with that, you can now start and write your fantasy. With the help of these 10 tips, you can improve and make your story as fantastic and magical as you can.

Sources:

Image is made in Canva

Reedsy

#fantasywriting #fantasy #tips #featurearticle #writing #magic #howtoarticle #guide

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beanicole864 · 3 years

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Summer Paradise by Bea NIcole Aguilan

The ride became a roller coaster as the road turned into a zigzag, going on sharp turns as the cliff stood right beside us. The jeep drove up the mountain road, the engine igniting as loud as a barking dog. But the moment we passed through the mountains, the sea became clear over the horizon and wind hummed over my ear.

Baler may not be as famous as other tourist spots, but it is one of the most frequent spots our family visits every summer. And thinking about the place reminded me of the memories of our last visit to the place.

Baler is known for its best surfing spots, offering some of the best waves in all of Asia. The water in deep, aqua color. Its waves can reach up to 14ft high in during high tides and peaks of surfing season. I had remember a moment as a 5ft wave came rushing towards us as we swam into the ocean, jumping as high as we can, being splashed down by the ginormous wave.

The Sabang beach is one of the greatest surfing spot in Baler, offering both soft and thrilling waves perfect for people who are looking for an adventurous ride and for people who are only there to relax.

But the Sabang Beach isn’t the only attraction you can visit in Baler. There is also the Ditumabo Falls, also called Mother Falls. The waterfalls is grandest among all the waterfalls in Baler, standing at 140ft high. But getting there takes a one to two hour trek through a rocky path, into a forest with a path.

The hike wouldn’t be in vain though. With its cold water coming from the highland of Sierra Madre Mountain Range, it is perfect for swimming after the long trek. But beware as there might be rocks flying down from the cliffs surrounding it. I, myself, nearly got hit by one. Plus, one might not want to get too close to the falls itself as they might get sucked down by it and drown to death.

And, if some do not wish to tire themselves of the long trek, there is also a river that flows down from the waterfalls that also serves the same cold water as the spot itself offers. Be on the lookout for small waterfalls along the way as well

And finally, before leaving the city, you may as well visit two more tourist spots that is picturesque, especially for the people who love photography. If you’re going to visit Baler, you might as well stop by at the town plaza, where the iconic signage is located.

It might not be the greatest place to take a photo, but the shot is also worth it as it is located in the center of the town.

Finally, the one place a tourist must never forget to visit in Baler is the Balete Park and Millenium Tree. The Millenium tree is the biggest Balete tree in Asia, standing at 215 feet with a diameter of almost 200ft. It does have an entrance fee to enter though, but paying it is surely worth it.

From afar, the tree may look like a normal tree, standing high above the rest of it. But when I take a closer look at it, branches swirled from one place to another. Vines fell down from the branches, leaves turning into a ceiling above us as we make our way around the tree.

Fun fact, it takes 60 people, arm-to-arm, to circle around the tree. The inside of the tree can also be explored, but a person would need a light and payment fee if they want to enter. The inside is like a cave, pitch-black darkness surrounding you as you enter inside.

And much more, it is a perfect place to have a pictorial for those who people who love taking pictures of themselves.

At the end of the day, once we’ve visited all of these places, we go back to the beach, where we watched as the sun sets on the horizon. The colors swirling in hues of orange and yellow, contrasting against the blue color of the sea. The sea humming, its high waves splashing over the coast as I sat down on the white sand.

Watching as the summer ends.

Sources:

Google Images

https://www.zenrooms.com/blog/post/things-to-do-in-baler/

#baler #sabangbeach #motherfalls #baletetree #travelogue #featurearticle #summer #vacation

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beanicole864 · 3 years

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Life in the Center of War by Bea NIcole Aguilan

Warning: Warzone ahead! Rockets fell down from the sky and into the streets of the city of Gaza. Black smoke rose up in the sky as the loud sound of explosion rang in the air, creating a series of concern and panic to the citizens living in and out of Gaza city.

The conflict between Palestine and Israel has been raging for over many years, even decades, with many civilians in both sides being brought into the chaos and destruction of the war. Tensions were rising between the two countries as the Arabs and Israeli continues to claim the land.

And as the conflict continues even today, news of their conutries’ war spread across the globe, waking the world of the violence that raged on once again with the 11 days attack that resulted in 240 deaths, most are Palestinians in the city of Gaza.

Palestinians living in Gaza has been forced to find creatives ways in coping with the Israeli blockade. Because of the long-term siege between the two countries, it has led to shortages of food and supplies, any other problematic economic problems.

But despite the worsening condition of Gaza, the Palestinians’ resolve has only grown and they strive for dignity and refuse to succumb to their daily humiliation.

Abu Anwar Jahjouh, a Gaza corn seller said in an interview, “The more Israel thinks about wiping out our people and taking our land, the more we are determined to survive.”

Despite the continuous siege and conflict between Israel and Palestine, Palestinians living in Gaza strives to live a normal life. Their determination to live and survive stems from necessity, but it is also symbolic. The Palestinians in Gaza wants to show the world that they refuse to be broken by the Israel occupation.

Despite the many threats around them, the Palestinians continue to live their lives as normal as they could. Farming and fishing outside of their city and near the Israeli forces, taking their children to school even though classrooms are one of the targets of Israeli airstrikes.

The Palestinians continue to rebuild their city despite the continuous destruction caused by the Israeli. Abdul Mu’ti Abd Rabbu, a Palestinian film director, said that, “Whatever the Israelis have done, they never managed to kill our smiles.”

For outsiders, their small acts of resistance may seem confusing, but for Palestinians, the resistance against the occupation of Israel is more than a necessity; it is a moral duty to them. Through Israel’s blockade on the city, they continue to punish the Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

Even so, Palestinians continue to show their resistance against them. They continue their will and determination to survive. They continue to refuse to be defined by the Israel occupation. And despite all the destruction it caused, the beauty of their people and their land continues to shine through.

Sources:

Google Images

https://interactive.aljazeera.com/aje/palestineremix/gaza-lives-on.html#/6

#conflict #humaninterest #featurearticle #israel-palestine crisis #war #struggle #home #life

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beanicole864 · 3 years

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Phase 4 by Bea Nicole Aguilan

Mischievous. Cunning. Marvelous. With the streaming of many Disney+ shows this year, this show may have been the most anticipated of them all. A show of mischief and time travel, where one of our most beloved villain in the MCU universe will play a big role that he has ever been.

The Loki TV series is set to premiere in Disney+ on June 9 of 2021. With its main protagonist having the same name as the series being played by none other than Tom Hiddleston and his co-protagonist Mobius who is played by Owen Wilson, the show is set outside of the current MCU timeline.

But before we jump right into what the premise of the show will be, let us first recollect what happened to our mischievous villain in the previous MCU movies.

Loki appeared in his first blown appearance in the first movie of Thor, released in 2011. He was the brother of Thor, who is the main protagonist of the movie, and was “killed” in the battle against Thor. He came back to life as it was revealed he faked his death and became the main villain in the first Avengers movie.

It was the start of his character being loved by many fans as the actor Tom Hiddleston played the role with the same charisma and charm like the ones in the comics. Loki has also appeared in all three Thor movies, where he also faked his death in the second movie, causing many fans to doubt his deaths on the next upcoming movies.

He also appeared in all Avengers films, although (spoiler alert) he died in Infinity War, actual death, reappearing in Endgame on an alternate 2012 timeline when Captain America, Iron Man, and Antman goes back in time to take the infinity stones.

Which brings us to the setting of the show, where the alternate version of Loki, from the alternate 2012 timeline, stole the Tesserac after Iron Man messed his part in the Endgame movie.

From what many fans know, from the trailers released by Marvel, the series will revolve around time travel as Loki is brought to the Time Variance Authority, a bureaucratic organization that exists outside of space and time and monitors the timeline, where he is given a choice to be erased from existence or fix the broken timelines.

The TV series has became a big hit even before it was premiered, especially since the main protagonist of the show is none other than most beloved trickster and villain, with many Marvel fans hashtaging in Twitter #Loki.

And with Marvel preparing for many projects for the year, the Loki series is just one of the most anticipated Marvel comebacks of the year and third series in the Phase 4 of the MCU. A mischievous comeback by our trickster villain.

Sources:

Google Images

Wikipedia

#Loki #trendstories #feauturearticle #mcu #disney+#mischief #lokiseries

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beanicole864 · 3 years

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The Art of Villainy by Bea Nicole Aguilan

“Fine, make me your villain,” he said with a coarse voice, gazing into her eyes. For General Kirigan, he only wanted to save the lives of his kind. But for others, they see him as a villain who wanted to rule over the world. But as the lights dimmed, and the director shouted the word, “Cut!”

The laughter begins, and the General turned back to Ben Barnes.

For the popular book and Netflix series, Shadow & Bone, Ben Barnes, the actor who played the famous villain General Kirigan, otherwise known as the Darkling, has become a fan favorite for many of the series’ fans.

But who is Ben Barnes before he wears the black kefta and became the Darkling? And how did he got the role of becoming the Black General?

For Ben Barnes, Shadow & Bone is not the first fantasy series he has ever been. In fact, 14 years ago, he was given the role of Prince Caspian in the film adaptation series of Chronicles of Narnia. It became his big role in the acting industry, following his movie debut in the 2007 movie, Stardust, also a film adaptation based of Neil Gaiman’s novel of the same name.

He had also played many other roles in hit movies like Logan Delos in Westworld, Billy Russo in The Punisher, and Tom Ward in the fantasy film The Seventh Son.

As of recent, his role as the Darkling or General Kirigan in the Netflix series Shadow & Bone, made him switch from a lovable prince to a dark, mysterious villain. And Ben knows he is the perfect person to be cast for the role.

Many of the book series fans of the said series has been fan casting Ben Barnes since 2013. According to Leigh Bardugo herself, the author and executive producer of Shadow & Bone, she is also one of the people who wanted to cast Ben Barnes as the villain of the series.

And Ben, himself, admitted that he knew he was being fan cast to the series. According to an interview with New Your Post, he said, “"There was some chatter even a few years before the show — Leigh Bardugo had supported the idea of me playing that character.”

Although he knew how perfect he is for the role, Ben admitted that he initially turned down the role at first.

According to the interview, he said that he feared he wouldn’t be involved much on the production of the series in Budapest, revealing that he has to be convinced by the series’ showrunners and producers after not being featured in the first episode of the series.

“It’s difficult to uproot your life and go to Eastern Europe or wherever it might be in the world that isn’t your home for half the year, and you don’t know if you’re going to do more series,” he said.

He went on and continued to say, “I think if I’m going to do something like that, then I really want to have something I can get my teeth into and be involved in. So I said, ‘I don’t think this is something I want to be involved in’. And they said, ‘Well, hang on’. And then they sent me a couple more of the episodes.”

In the end, as all knows now, Ben Barnes signed in to the show and became the mysterious yet lovable villain the fans loved.

In preparation for the role, Ben read all the books in the series, finding his role as the Darkling interesting. He also shared his involvement in developing and improving the character. His character, General Kirigan, otherwise known as the Darkling or the Black Heretic, is the commander of the Second Army of Ravka and a shadow summoner.

According to Ben, “Eric [Heisserer, the showrunner], who is an incredibly collaborative, open, wonderful, genius writer, he would sit down with me and ask what I thought of different things, especially with the character, the scenes, and the language. My preoccupation and my passion is words. It always has been. It's important to me to have a say in how we tell a story.”

He has also added in another interview that he is drawn to complicated, complex characters. He explained that the reason why he is drawn to such characters is because he spent years playing many earnest protagonist roles that his friends would sometimes call him a boy with a sword.

He also stated that looking through his roles’ cracks and facades, especially for his new villain role, interests him. Ben enjoys exploring the characters he played, especially those who are mysterious and uncanny. He enjoys putting a taste or a little part of himself through the lines of his character.

When Ben is asked if he sees his role as a villain, he answered, “I see him as the antagonist. I don’t know whether I see him as necessarily the villain.”

He also added, “This is a man who doesn’t see himself as a villain, and I don’t think that any of the best villains really do, but he’s been around long enough to know that other people see him that way and need to make a villain of someone to understand their own place in the world.”

And the line, “Fine, make me your villain,” is a line loved by the people who have read the books. And for Ben, the phrase meant something more. He described it not only how the book described it, but he described it differently in his own way.

It was the turning point where Ben made his character his own villain. Where the words were not only written in the page, but spoken with emotion and feelings. Spoken in the voice of a villain.

Sources:

Google Images

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Barnes_(actor)

https://metro.co.uk/2021/04/08/netflixs-shadow-and-bone-ben-barnes-initially-turned-down-role-14380026/

https://screenrant.com/shadow-bone-ben-barnes-darkling-fan-cast-response/

https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/shadow-and-bone-netflix-cast-interview-a3592-20210424-lfrm

https://collider.com/ben-barnes-shadow-and-bone-interview-darkling/

#personalityprofile #benbarnes #shadow and bone #featurearticle #general kirigan #villain #art of villainy

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