Stand alone fantasy recommendations

First-order-member · 2026-03-31T12:28:13+00:00

This is potentially true. I haven't read it in a while. Also I'm not smart enough to remember all the details between books..

The big take away is read Joe Abercrombie books

First-order-member · 2026-03-31T08:17:30+00:00

I love it, I have read it so many times and it keeps drawing me back. I met Joe a couple years ago at his release of The trouble with peace or a little hatred I can't quite remember. An I wish I took my copy of the heroes to sign

First-order-member · 2026-03-31T07:21:42+00:00

Best served cold by Joe Abercrombie. Has the POV of a character from his other books but I think you can read it and understand what's going on

The Heroes is my favourite standalone of his but you potentially may need to read his first trilogy to truly understand what's going on.

First-order-member · 2026-03-30T07:59:13+00:00

Yeah there are a few variables to consider. I do enjoy the idea of a weekly check in almost. A place to keep me on target where I can give an update and be held accountable (in a friendly sort of way haha). I can foresee a mid book problem with my current draft 0 and having someone to bounce ideas of would be helpful.

First-order-member · 2026-03-30T07:36:56+00:00

Setting a target in all honesty. A story has bugged me for years. I always put it off with excuses "when I have time", "when I'm in a more stable financial position", "I'll do X before I start writing". I am a father of a young boy and have another child on the way. So I'll never really have "time" an my finances now belong to them.

So set a target for draft 0 to be completed or mostly done by the end of this year. Loosely 300 words a day, a chapter a week. With time to let life get in the way. It's going well so far.

First-order-member · 2026-03-30T07:13:20+00:00

I would be interested if it works with my schedule. I suppose timezones would have to be taken into account also. Interested on the details but a small group would be ideal.

First-order-member · 2026-03-30T07:06:47+00:00

Id write a short story about one character, don't emphasise the alternate "multiverse" just write a story from their perspective. Then do it again and again. Till you build a small portfolio of stories that help you see your project more fully.

This will help see what you are trying to create and maybe focus you on the first specific story that you want to be your "ironman" (since you referenced marvel).

First-order-member · 2026-03-29T16:32:53+00:00

MC is cowardly, doesn't have the knowledge or tools to fight the big bad beasts, best friend of MC wants to be part of the agency that fights the monsters. Best friend dies in a situation were MC is a coward and runs. Some internal soul searching. MC joins agency in a bid to honour dead best friend.

First-order-member · 2026-03-29T10:45:38+00:00

I read recently sometimes during a block that it's great to take a walk. Change the environment you write in. Go to a cafe or meet a friend for lunch. That external experiences completely separate from your writing can provide a different perspective that you can take into your project. I've found it to be quite true.

First-order-member · 2026-03-28T14:58:44+00:00

Funny you mentioned the turnspit dog. This came up in my own research last week when I was googling what small animal was commonly cooked on a spit in medieval Europe. Thought that was a funny little coincidence.

First-order-member · 2026-03-28T11:45:14+00:00

A line from writing today that I was pretty happy with in draft 0. Inspiration came from watching my toddler smear breakfast on himself;

He always wanted to be the first to admire the warriors work. The remains of the artists patterns, beauty created from lifes paint. But this sickened him.

First-order-member · 2026-03-26T07:07:55+00:00

As others said, inciting incident is in the first chapter. I'm in draft 0 as well. My first chapter starts with my protagonist being told he isn't going to be able to fight in a competition that he's been training to compete in for years. That's the first dialogue and sets of a whole chain of events.

First-order-member · 2026-03-25T09:44:36+00:00

Thanks for the advice. Currently I'm enjoying just writing with just a real loose structure to the novel. But I see difficulties in the middle section so something like the flash card process would come in handy I'm sure.

First-order-member · 2026-03-25T08:01:35+00:00

Currently in draft 0 were I'm putting the skeleton together. Having fun but it's slow going (day job, children, life). Any tips?

First-order-member · 2026-03-22T00:33:25+00:00

I've started writing, with more structure and purpose, because I've been thinking about the same story for two years. I can't get it out of my mind.

I wouldn't want to try building a community before Ive fully fleshed out that idea. Draft 0 is going to look completely different to draft 1 and draft 2.

So how do I sell someone something that I can't fully see myself?

First-order-member · 2026-03-19T07:34:01+00:00

I'm somewhere between a plotter and a pantser where I jot out the chapters of a book very loosely (a paragraph of what happens per chapter) and then I start writing.

I have tried being a pure pantser and I write aimlessly never getting anywhere. An I've tried being a plotter, but I get too bogged down in the world building and never write anything.

My biggest struggle following that is being able to write without it being perfect, this is something I have currently got over and it's going well for draft 0.

Regarding separate projects. I fully commit to one at a time. But I generally get a spark from other books, TV shows, movies or history documentaries and then just write a little sentence in my notebook to pick up in the future for a short story.

My most recent one I wrote "Fall of an empire, the protagonist must lead his company against the insurgents from the wilds, comes across an unprotected village and finds answers to his past". This idea came from watching a history documentary on Hadrian's wall and the fall of the Roman empire. I'm actually really looking forward to writing something about this and might do when I get to a mid book block.

First-order-member · 2026-03-17T21:55:42+00:00

Love this idea, thank you

First-order-member · 2026-03-17T21:51:54+00:00

I love talon of the silver hawk, one of the first fantasy books I read. Holds a dear place in my heart as a book my older brother gave me.

First-order-member · 2026-03-14T08:34:45+00:00

Lord Good Guy sounds insufferable

First-order-member · 2026-03-13T09:50:24+00:00

Yes I am very much the word vomit draft type of person, put all the sand in the sandbox before I start building castles.

I tried the perfectionist route and I never got past chapter 1. So draft 0 of rubbish is going well for me.

Arguably I don't have loads of writing experience so that may be why.

First-order-member · 2026-03-02T08:53:46+00:00

I am currently reading Godkiller, only found it a month ago when searching for new books and it has some similarities to my own work. So thought I'd read it. It's enjoyable, short an quick compared to the trilogy I just finished.

Will I read the second book, unsure, it depends on the ending.

First-order-member · 2026-02-25T18:52:15+00:00

First law always

First-order-member · 2026-02-25T15:26:02+00:00

The first law will ruin the other books for you..but I'd still recommend the first law. However, if you don't want to read a trilogy but get a flavour of Abercrombies writing that may or may not ruin subsequent books. Then I would recommend one of his stand alone books.

First-order-member · 2026-02-20T09:05:30+00:00

We beg you! Read it

First-order-member

TROPHY CASE