(Accidentally posted prematurely.) When I pause to think about how my familiar physical environment shapes my fiction—whoa. Southeastern U.S. There's a decided theme in much of my main narrative of trying to carve out a better, more perfect version of an old world or home in a new place. Of holding precarious ground between dangerous but beautiful wild country and the vengeful spirits of the past. Caught between mountains and the sea. Lots and lots of hills and forests!
Beautiful stuff and I don’t mind lmao that you posted prematurely.
I love putting in the sea, hills and forests into my works. This describes not only Canada, but Japan, Scotland and France where such terrains dominate though the open farmland thing is decidedly more France.
Geeze you worded it so beautifully. I honestly feel a stronger connection to you than through the musique you’ve shared and the stories I read of yours than I do a lot of others, and also have a sense of the Appalachians, swamps and high desert than I do the stories and songs of others as one cannot help but feel their influence in your work.
“ Walking, I can almost hear the redwoods beating. And the oceans are above me here, rolling clouds, heavy and dark. It is winter and there is smoke from the fires. It is a world of elemental attention, of all things working together, listening to what speaks in the blood. Whichever road I follow, I walk in the land of many gods, and they love and eat one another. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.”
Funny enough, i have not written a piece of fiction set in my country. I just...don't like it? I have a profund apathy towards "my people" for many reasons i'm sure my reader are tired of hearing. I've found way more inspirations both in my ancestral traditions and the traditions of others. I have travelled extensively across the Americas and Europe and i my ideas are always captured by these foregin places and cultures that fascinate me. Perhaps the curse of the amateaur anthropoligst-historian?
I truly envy people who come from a place that they can smile and say "i belong". Brazil is not that place.
I know you don't know me but I just wanted to let you know I can relate. I live in the part of America that is called flyover country and it is what you think of when you think of middle America. It's not a really thrilling part of the world in most people's eyes. But I'm hoping to change that
I know, I understand not liking Brazil, I’ve never quite understood the appeal it holds over a great many people. I meant to tag you to see if there’s any lands such as those de la France ou Suisse, ou Portugal that inspires your soul and makes you wish to live there?
Something that would involve lots of desert, plains and horses but also mountainous and with plenty of horses and hearkening back to Scotland or Germany, all whilst there’s an exploration element and also a conquest over the darkness/evil rival army.
Funny you mentioned Germany. My mom's side of the family is part German part eastern European. This has definitely got me thinking. Maybe after I write the Arthurian stories I'll write a romance for the Midwest.
I traveled, including hiking, through a multitude of forests, mountains, and deserts. But not many marshlands. Lots of memories and pictures to go with many of them. I visualize some of these places in many of my scenes - though I need to work better on describing them well in my writing.
(Accidentally posted prematurely.) When I pause to think about how my familiar physical environment shapes my fiction—whoa. Southeastern U.S. There's a decided theme in much of my main narrative of trying to carve out a better, more perfect version of an old world or home in a new place. Of holding precarious ground between dangerous but beautiful wild country and the vengeful spirits of the past. Caught between mountains and the sea. Lots and lots of hills and forests!
Beautiful stuff and I don’t mind lmao that you posted prematurely.
I love putting in the sea, hills and forests into my works. This describes not only Canada, but Japan, Scotland and France where such terrains dominate though the open farmland thing is decidedly more France.
Yes!
My own experiences directly influence the location, culture, identity in my work. Lyrics, music, fiction.
The Mountains of Appalachia, the Swamps of the Everglades, the High Desert of New Mexico.
Each Carries a Jungian mythic identity.
As do all places.
What the Romans called Genius Loci.
The spirit of the place.
Geeze you worded it so beautifully. I honestly feel a stronger connection to you than through the musique you’ve shared and the stories I read of yours than I do a lot of others, and also have a sense of the Appalachians, swamps and high desert than I do the stories and songs of others as one cannot help but feel their influence in your work.
There's a quote from the Poet Linda Hogan.
“ Walking, I can almost hear the redwoods beating. And the oceans are above me here, rolling clouds, heavy and dark. It is winter and there is smoke from the fires. It is a world of elemental attention, of all things working together, listening to what speaks in the blood. Whichever road I follow, I walk in the land of many gods, and they love and eat one another. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.”
She says far better Than I could.
She really does put it pretty well.
Funny enough, i have not written a piece of fiction set in my country. I just...don't like it? I have a profund apathy towards "my people" for many reasons i'm sure my reader are tired of hearing. I've found way more inspirations both in my ancestral traditions and the traditions of others. I have travelled extensively across the Americas and Europe and i my ideas are always captured by these foregin places and cultures that fascinate me. Perhaps the curse of the amateaur anthropoligst-historian?
I truly envy people who come from a place that they can smile and say "i belong". Brazil is not that place.
I know you don't know me but I just wanted to let you know I can relate. I live in the part of America that is called flyover country and it is what you think of when you think of middle America. It's not a really thrilling part of the world in most people's eyes. But I'm hoping to change that
The Flyover states are the most exciting parts of America.
I know, I understand not liking Brazil, I’ve never quite understood the appeal it holds over a great many people. I meant to tag you to see if there’s any lands such as those de la France ou Suisse, ou Portugal that inspires your soul and makes you wish to live there?
Brothers what do you think a romance for the Midwestern US would look like?
Something that would involve lots of desert, plains and horses but also mountainous and with plenty of horses and hearkening back to Scotland or Germany, all whilst there’s an exploration element and also a conquest over the darkness/evil rival army.
Funny you mentioned Germany. My mom's side of the family is part German part eastern European. This has definitely got me thinking. Maybe after I write the Arthurian stories I'll write a romance for the Midwest.
Good idea. I’ve plans for a podcast this Saturday instructing how to write an American/Australian/NewZealand/Canadian Epic Fantasy universe.
Looking forward to it. Did you guys get the interview questions I emailed to you?
Let me check…. found them yes
If these lands are so inspiring, it would be a waste not to visit all of them.
Agreed, and I’d say you’ve worked at least one miracle; you’ve visited Japan which is on a par with the most inspiring lands of Europe.
I traveled, including hiking, through a multitude of forests, mountains, and deserts. But not many marshlands. Lots of memories and pictures to go with many of them. I visualize some of these places in many of my scenes - though I need to work better on describing them well in my writing.
I gotta work on my descriptions of local areas also so you ain’t alone there. But travelling through natural locations is awesome.
I can’t post my photo here so it will be in a restack, but yes there is magic in the local forest. Unique magic.
There is indeed, and will go check it out right away.
The environment is something I feel like I should spend more time with in my fiction, as well as weather and time of year sometimes.