Story Embers | BookDragon | Activity https://storyembers.org/members/bookdragon/activity/ Activity feed for BookDragon. Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:09:57 -0400 https://buddypress.org/?v= en 30 hourly 2 9dd1116d23366ed04498b4dcc3d90c12 BookDragon started the topic Why All Speculative Fiction is Allegorical in the forum Sci-fi Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104550/ Tue, 11 Apr 2023 22:21:27 -0400 A while ago, I made a comment on someone else’s topic about how all speculative fiction is allegorical. I said this knowing full well that it would be new to most people, and I love catching people off guard, not to mention the fact that I knew most people probably wouldn’t notice. Well, someone noticed, so now I’m going to explain what I meant…[Read more]

]]> 0 176a2deaa521d0337f319383eca439aa BookDragon replied to the topic Why is Christian Sci-Fi Scarcer than Fantasy? in the forum Sci-fi Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104468/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 17:26:50 -0400 LOL! I can certainly try! Honestly, it’s a theory I’ve been sitting on so long that it seems obvious to me, so I’m not sure how to explain it. If you had specific things you think would be helpful to address, I’d be happy to work from there!

]]> 0 d660169a8bb25e32c469a2cbf3c1100b BookDragon replied to the topic Struggling with worldbuilding for a strange universe in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104467/ Thu, 30 Mar 2023 17:23:28 -0400 Thank you so much for the input! It’s ironic that you mentioned Terry Pratchett as reading one of his books was part of the inspiration for this story. I’ll be sure to look into the link you gave me!

I’ve also updated some of the worldbuilding from when I made my last post, mostly by adding to some of the cultural aspects of each region.

]]> 0 214629cc548d8feb1ff50dcfdf8d037f BookDragon replied to the topic Struggling with worldbuilding for a strange universe in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104358/ Mon, 20 Mar 2023 22:07:48 -0400 Update: I did some more worldbuilding that hadn’t occurred to me to do before. Some of the layout might be odd, but it’s the best I could do without typing it all out again. Here it is. Thoughts anyone?

 

The World’s Name: Deppord-Dnal

World Description by Perception:

·       Beginning of the book: Deppord-Dnal is comprised of many region…[Read more]

]]> 0 6591c6f45a17b381cd9342516d7559c1 BookDragon replied to the topic Why is Christian Sci-Fi Scarcer than Fantasy? in the forum Sci-fi Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104332/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:29:02 -0400 *timidly enters the room and clears throat*

If I may…

I tend to lean on the same side of the fence as Daeus Lamb. While I don’t believe in aliens, incorporating them in an allegory (which I would argue all spec fic is) gives me the chance to explore how God would interact with them, which in turn forces me to examine how He interacts with…[Read more]

]]> 0 2979233a99ab0643051451a5190bc25f BookDragon replied to the topic Sci-fi God figure? in the forum Sci-fi Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104331/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:09:44 -0400 This.^^^^ I’ve read the first two books of that series and it helped a lot with figuring out how to write sci-fi involving alien races and the God of the Bible. It helped me think of how God interacts with different people on Earth and apply that idea to the universe. I haven’t read the last book (it’s the longest one), but I highly recommend…[Read more]

]]> 0 b2e85448fa32199672aab070f3230124 BookDragon replied to the topic How to increase online visibility for a Sci-fi writer in the forum Sci-fi Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104330/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 16:05:37 -0400 This is all helpful. I just have a question about submitting to online publications and magazines. I struggle with knowing what exactly publishers want and I often get rejected – even when I think I’ve fulfilled their expectations. Are there any steps you recommend to help with that (aside from reading past issues and watching my grammar and such)?

]]> 0 26f73af94ea9cb0a9ef72eda4135338e BookDragon replied to the topic Murder mysteries for dummies in the forum Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104323/ Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:31:56 -0400 Hello! I don’t know if you’re still looking for input, but here is what I have found most helpful:

Mysteries tend to be very structured, especially when looking at episodic mysteries. Someone (I forget who) broke it down into 5 elements that most mysteries have. (1) Someone finds the body. When I write, this is the first act, and it’s usually the…[Read more]

]]> 0 d0805c4c02508b0e95314d80d82c5108 BookDragon replied to the topic Introductory Post I Only Just Realized Was Obligatory in the forum Introduce Yourself https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104322/ Wed, 15 Mar 2023 21:15:55 -0400 Hi! I write in all kinds of genres, but my favorite is mystery. Though I dearly wish I were more proficient at fantasy, I tend to try too hard to depart from the real world and it makes it hard to suspend disbelief. I was also recently inspired to write poetry again, which I used to really love. Now that I see what everyone publishes, I find…[Read more]

]]> 0 2752b7ccdaff9fb289498a974eff4ebc BookDragon started the topic Introductory Post I Only Just Realized Was Obligatory in the forum Introduce Yourself https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104315/ Tue, 14 Mar 2023 12:46:37 -0400 Hi! How’s it going? You can call me by my whole handle (though that would be odd considering what it is), parts of my handle (which would sound less strange), or Liz (because that’s my name).

I have been writing stuff for over 10 years now and am just now trying to get published. I’m also realizing that I don’t understand how to interpret what…[Read more]

]]> 0 e733659769f64d87cb771983d317fe47 BookDragon replied to the topic Ending Scene... Too sudden? Help appreciated and desired! 23K words in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104314/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:41:35 -0400 First, let me tell you what my goal is not right now: my goal is not to tear your work apart. There are parts that choked me up a bit, and I don’t think the ending is too sudden at all! Here is my goal: I want to explain how I feel as a reader. Please don’t be offended.

I think the thing that’s throwing me off a little is that I feel like…[Read more]

]]> 0 5add827e5dd814489b17d3c263218e6f BookDragon replied to the topic Fanatical or Fantasy? Fictional of Heretical? in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104313/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:21:56 -0400 This^^^

I love what-if stories about Scripture. In fact, I’m planning a series that plays with the apocalypse. Where I question this concept is where it concerns God’s character. Would God respond to Satan’s challenge like this? Would He even acknowledge it? Why would He?

I don’t see anything wrong with exploring life post-apocalypse, but…[Read more]

]]> 0 0e7f1ce5fceb9b8a58486e6829c9a3c8 BookDragon replied to the topic Word Count Question in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104310/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 21:14:04 -0400 According to MasterClass, the average YA fantasy novel is about 40,000 to 80,000 words. If you plan to take this to a publisher, that would probably be a good number to shoot for. That being said, I like the other answers on here better.

]]> 0 247bd2c38d1f2e3a321501a4d66e9f92 BookDragon replied to the topic Morally Ambiguous Characters in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104308/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 19:51:59 -0400 I differ with a lot of people on this topic. The main reason for this is that it seems like media is saturated with horrible people that we’re told to like because their hearts are in the right place. I hate that. When I read about horrible people, I want them to get what they deserve, or to see them redeemed. When I write, I want to give my…[Read more]

]]> 0 b55fa8992d3991eed505e116d95452dc BookDragon replied to the topic Dark Fantasy Among Christians? in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104307/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 19:44:12 -0400 Here is how I look at it: I can’t make sense of dark things unless I write about them. I certainly can’t show Christ in dark places unless I go there. In a way, literature is a mission field, which Christians can enter and tell stories of truth and redemption that lead others to Christ. Sherman Alexie wrote a really good article once called Why…[Read more]

]]> 0 09df8dccd9f4055638ba3e9bc760e34d BookDragon joined the group Mystery/Suspense/Thriller Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104306/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 12:41:08 -0400 0 b3a51439e64fd1541586e03a1ad53d75 BookDragon joined the group Sci-fi Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104305/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 12:41:03 -0400 0 a92b630994da7541f04255a17f5f2b4f BookDragon joined the group Publishing and Marketing Nerds https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104304/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 12:40:59 -0400 0 79ac3e2e7efb84fbbf712f6066458a73 BookDragon started the topic Struggling with worldbuilding for a strange universe in the forum Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104301/ Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:48:58 -0400 I love fantasy novels. I love the depth and allegory writers manage to weave into their stories, and I especially love learning about God through them. However, I have always struggled to put such stories on paper. That has never been more true than recently.

I recently came up with an idea for a new high-fantasy novel. The plot is rather…[Read more]

]]> 0 0d105e5976a90e46c5ed9ad35671d04e BookDragon joined the group Fantasy Writers https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104300/ Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:32:54 -0400 0 c346e01e73b9cccd7d0aeaec82d158d4 BookDragon's profile was updated https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104299/ Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:29:59 -0400 0 8ee7b4fecbb9cfe0ff859a02bddfa3dc BookDragon changed their profile picture https://storyembers.org/activity/p/104298/ Sun, 12 Mar 2023 20:25:11 -0400 0