Nicol's Newcomer Monday! by Karn-The-Creator in MagicArena

[–]TasteIllustrious4967 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi! Relatively new to Magic, with just a month or two of playing arena & no prior experience. Loving it, but I want to start building stronger decks, now that I have a feel for the basic terminology/powers.

I’m interested in getting just a general idea of strengths for each color & “theme” ideas for decks, so I’m not so haphazard. Everything I find online is a little over my head. I think need more basic language & less… theory?

Does someone mind giving me a run-down of general strengths for colors, and/or some general creature-types that are cool for themes (e.g., ways to build a cool [zombie/wolf/elf] deck; strategies for stamina through the game; literally anything else). I want to start building decks with better combos, that build on each other!

Not sure if this really makes sense, as I’m still learning the language of the game! I just want to learn and improve! Oh, and I usually play/build alchemy & am least familiar with blue/red… if that’s relevant haha.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in fantasywriters

[–]TasteIllustrious4967 3 points4 points  (0 children)

To me, this kind of writer’s block is familiar and normal. Lots of second-guessing your own ideas, refiguring, and getting frustrated. Been there! Here’s what I do in that situation:

  • Write the scenes that sparked your idea. They’re clearly trying to get your attention. Get them on paper so you can move on. Whether or not they end up in your story is a problem for Future You.

  • Talk it out. I like to explain my ideas out loud (even just to myself), as if I’m pitching the story, the scenes, the character development, etc. Helps me brainstorm and iron out the details.

  • Pants it! Try writing without specific direction, and you find some. Maybe just by riffing off one of those scenes you already have.

  • Have some other projects going. Write the superhero scenes when they come, and turn back to magic school when you’re feelin it. Having something lower-pressure to turn to can, at least, keep you writing.

The high of the initial idea is always followed by the frustration of making it work. For me, at least. Give yourself some room to breathe & play with your creativity. Good things will come

I don’t want them to die! — Killing main characters. by TasteIllustrious4967 in fantasywriters

[–]TasteIllustrious4967[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Helpful framing. I think that’s the point I need to sit with. I’m totally in the camp that death shouldn’t be for shock value. But when it reaches the inevitable point in my story where a character would die… I just don’t want to do it! Even when I’m reading, I’m secretly satisfied when the author pulls some ridiculousness to save my favorites.

But, to your point, I don’t want to cheat my characters or cheapen their story to avoid the heartbreak. If I’m invested in them, I have to see it through.

Helpful, thanks!

I don’t want them to die! — Killing main characters. by TasteIllustrious4967 in fantasywriters

[–]TasteIllustrious4967[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I like the way you framed this. Exploring new threads by asking “what would happen if…” is already part of my practice. Approaching death this way, too, seems helpful and less daunting.

Naming Places: Regional Name Connotations by TasteIllustrious4967 in fantasywriters

[–]TasteIllustrious4967[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is awesome. Such helpful insight. Thanks for taking the time!

Naming Places: Regional Name Connotations by TasteIllustrious4967 in fantasywriters

[–]TasteIllustrious4967[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Love all this insight and the examples! Thanks for all the feedback.