Character Archetypes

Note: This is mainly a rehash of something I went over but I want to focus on character archetypes only this time.

There are at least 12 Character Archetypes. Now you may be wondering, what is a character archetype?

Character Archetype – In literature, an archetype is a typical character, an action or a situation that seems to represent such universal patterns of human nature. An archetype, also known as universal symbol, may be a character, a theme, a symbol or even a setting.

Archetypes:

The Ego Type: The Innocent, The Orphan, The Hero, and The Caregiver

The Soul Type: The Explorer, The Rebel, The Lover, and The Creator

The Self Type: The Jester, The Sage, The Magician, and The Ruler

The Innocent

-Free from moral wrong; not corrupted. Simple; naive. An innocent person, in particular. A pure, guileless, or naive person.

Motto: Free to be you and me
Core desire: to get to paradise
Goal: to be happy
Greatest fear: to be punished for doing something bad or wrong
Strategy: to do things right
Weakness: boring for all their naive innocence
Talent: faith and optimism
The Innocent is also known as: Utopian, traditionalist, naive, mystic, saint, romantic, and dreamer

The Orphan

-A child whose parents are dead.

Motto: All men and women are created equal
Core Desire: connecting with others
Goal: to belong
Greatest fear: to be left out or to stand out from the crowd
Strategy: develop ordinary solid virtues, be down to earth, the common touch
Weakness: losing one’s own self in an effort to blend in or for the sake of superficial relationships
Talent: realism, empathy, and lack of pretense
The Regular Person is also known as: The good old boy, every man, the person next door, the realist, the working stiff, the solid citizen, the good neighbor, and the silent majority

The Hero

-A person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.

Motto: Where there’s a will, there’s a way
Core desire: to prove one’s worth through courageous acts
Goal: expert mastery in a way that improves the world
Greatest fear: weakness, vulnerability, and being a “chicken”
Strategy: to be as strong and competent as possible
Weakness: arrogance and always needing another battle to fight
Talent: competence and courage
The Hero is also known as: The warrior, crusader, rescuer, superhero, the soldier, dragon slayer, the winner, and the team player

The Caregiver

-A family member or paid helper who regularly looks after a child or a sick, elderly, or disabled person.

Motto: Love your neighbor as yourself
Core desire: to protect and care for others
Goal: to help others
Greatest fear: selfishness and ingratitude
Strategy: doing things for others
Weakness: martyrdom and being exploited
Talent: compassion and generosity
The Caregiver is also known as: The saint, altruist, parent, helper, and supporter

The Explorer

-A person who explores an unfamiliar area; an adventurer.

Motto: Don’t fence me in
Core desire: the freedom to find out who you are through exploring the world
Goal: to experience a better, more authentic, and more fulfilling life
Biggest fear: getting trapped, conformity, and inner emptiness
Strategy: journey, seeking out and experiencing new things, and escape from boredom
Weakness: aimless wandering and becoming a misfit
Talent: autonomy, ambition, and being true to one’s soul
The explorer is also known as: The seeker, iconoclast, wanderer, individualist, and pilgrim

The Rebel

-A person who rises in opposition or armed resistance against an established government or ruler. A person who resists authority, control, or convention.

Motto: Rules are made to be broken
Core desire: revenge and/or revolution
Goal: to overturn what isn’t working
Greatest fear: to be powerless and/or ineffectual
Strategy: disrupt, destroy, and/or shock
Weakness: crossing over to the dark side and crime
Talent: outrageous and radical freedom
The Outlaw is also known as: The rebel, revolutionary, wild man, the misfit, and iconoclast.

The Lover

-A person having a sexual or romantic relationship with someone, often outside marriage. A person who likes or enjoys something specified.

Motto: You’re the only one
Core desire: intimacy and experience
Goal: being in a relationship with the people, work and surroundings they love
Greatest fear: being alone, a wallflower, unwanted, and unloved
Strategy: to become more and more physically and emotionally attractive
Weakness: outward-directed desire to please others at risk of losing own identity
Talent: passion, gratitude, appreciation, and commitment
The Lover is also known as: The partner, friend, intimate, enthusiast, sensualist, spouse, and team-builder

The Creator

-A person or thing that brings something into existence.

Motto: If you can imagine it, it can be done
Core desire: to create things of enduring value
Goal: to realize a vision
Greatest fear: mediocre vision and/or execution
Strategy: develop artistic control and skill
Task: to create culture and express own vision
Weakness: perfectionism and bad solutions
Talent: creativity and imagination
The Creator is also known as: The artist, inventor, innovator, musician, writer, and  dreamer

The Jester

-A person who habitually plays the fool.

Motto: You only live once
Core desire: to live in the moment with full enjoyment
Goal: to have a great time and lighten up the world
Greatest fear: being bored and/or boring others
Strategy: play, make jokes, and be funny
Weakness: frivolity and wasting time
Talent: joy
The Jester is also known as: The fool, trickster, joker, practical joker and/or comedian.

The Sage

-A profoundly wise man, especially one who features in ancient history or legend. Having, showing, or indicating profound wisdom.

Motto: The truth will set you free
Core desire: to find the truth.
Goal: to use intelligence and analysis to understand the world.
Biggest fear: being duped, misled, and/or ignorance.
Strategy: seeking out information and knowledge; self-reflection and understanding thought processes.
Weakness: can study details forever and never act.
Talent: wisdom and intelligence.
The Sage is also known as: The expert, scholar, detective, advisor, thinker, philosopher, academic, researcher, thinker, planner, professional, mentor, teacher, and contemplative

The Magician

-A person with magical powers. A person with exceptional skill in a particular area.

Motto: I make things happen.
Core desire: understanding the fundamental laws of the universe
Goal: to make dreams come true
Greatest fear: unintended negative consequences
Strategy: develop a vision and live by it
Weakness: becoming manipulative
Talent: finding win-win solutions
The Magician is also known as: The visionary, catalyst, inventor, charismatic leader, shaman, healer, and medicine man.

The Ruler

-A person exercising government or dominion.

Motto: Power isn’t everything, it’s the only thing.
Core desire: control
Goal: create a prosperous, successful family or community
Strategy: exercise power
Greatest fear: chaos and being overthrown
Weakness: being authoritarian and unable to delegate
Talent: responsibility and leadership
The Ruler is also known as: The boss, leader, aristocrat, king, queen, politician, role model, manager, and administrator

Now although it is easy to just place a character in one archetype, it isn’t what makes a human. Humans are actually multiple archetypes, sometimes two or three or more. For a more, in my opinion, complex character add a second archetype. It can be a conflicting one or a supportive/consistent one. Maybe you give them a specific archetype and are not beholden or don’t care of the weakness specified to that archetype.

You have many choices to make a character who they are, more real, more compelling. Now get to creating, I can’t wait to see who and what you create.

Novella

Hello everyone, I’m back to inform you that I am starting a new story while I am working on Valhalla. It will be a novella that I will throw on ebook when it is finished and edited. In case you don’t know what a novella is it is shorter than a novel.

Short Story – A story with a fully developed theme but significantly shorter and less elaborate than a novel.

Novella – A short novel or long short story.

Novel – A fictitious prose narrative of book length, typically representing character and action with some degree of realism.

A short story is anywhere from 1500 to 30,000 words. A novella is anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 words. A novel is anywhere over 60,000 words. In order to fit within a type of book, it would be a good idea to watch out for your word count when writing.

Now this novella is a type of rapture story. A massive city called Lumen Magnum in a large country called Marlela is home to a religion known as the Cristu faith. The entire country is run by the religious order ruled by a Papa Regem, a King. I borrowed heavily the religious rankings of the Catholic faith but because I need to focus on something specific in this story I won’t be going over it.

The story will be revolved around faith and how people perceive it and led to perceive it. The order is using the religion to control the masses, enslaving people who are different and murdering those who don’t convert. The Seraphim, with the permission of the mighty one above them, have allowed 7 demons to find 7 human hosts to purge the city from the world to hopefully save Eldara, the world, from damnation. In my story, the angels of Hevellum and the demons of Infernos have a much better relationship than most other interpretations of the two opposing sides. Some obviously don’t like each other but it is still somewhat a healthy relationship.

I participated in a contest on Wattpad, I lost, but a couple readers came forth wondering if I was ever going to go more in depth with the story because they really liked it. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I should because it didn’t win but I did like what I wrote. So my husband suggested writing it as a short story and sell it as an ebook for now, maybe with any income I can get from the story I can use the money to self-publish Valhalla. So I decided to turn it into a novella, mainly because after planning it I don’t think it can be short enough for a short story length book.

The story currently has no title nor a summary. I do have a placeholder title and I have an idea for a summary but I plan to get a second opinion first.

I have already done my research on Angels and Demons and Religion, build the world a bit, and finished up writing story bullets. The next step is the outline and then begin writing. I am still thinking about sketching out my characters so I can get a better visual on their appearance but I’m not sure yet. I will be sharing the progress here and on my YouTube account.

In case anyone is curious I do plan to post only the first 2 chapters of this novella. It is a lot shorter than Valhalla and won’t have as many chapters either which is why I will only post 2.

I think that will be all I will go over for this week. If you want to know more about this novella or Valhalla for that matter then please follow my blog. If you have any questions please let me know, I definitely want to hear them. Thank you so much for the read and please stay tuned for next Wednesday for another post on my novella.

I Got Married Today

Hey all I’m just letting you know that my fiance and I just went to a court house and got married. There won’t be a post today because I will be celebrating my marriage. Posts should continue as normal but note that I am still preparing for an October wedding. I hope everyone has a very fun week, much love all.

Mythical Creatures Part 6

NOTE: I created this post to the best of my knowledge on this subject and have provided personal opinions and suggestions on each creature. In no way am I an expert on this subject and am learning still. Please keep this in mind while reading, thank you.

Part 1 Mythical Creatures Part 1

Part 2 Mythical Creatures Part 2

Part 3 Mythical Creatures Part 3

Part 4 Mythical Creatures Part 4

Part 5 Mythical Creatures Part 5

Well here is a new list of mythical creatures, this time focusing on bird like creatures. I never realized the amount of flying creatures found in mythology until I go looking for them and I know there are probably some I’ve missed, and if I have then please let me know.

Cockatrice

As earlier this creature was once known as a basilisk but now the name has changed to a cockatrice, again depending on the writer. Descriptions are the same, a rooster like creature with either feathered or webbed wings and a snake tail. This creature was also known to breathe fire.

Basan

Think of a normal rooster but bigger and can breathe fire. So almost like a cockatrice minus the reptilian features.

Furaribi

This creature is a bird like beast on fire with the head of a dog. So it is almost similar to the phoenix but with the face of a dog and is not reborn in the ashes, also did I forget to mention vengeful.

Itsumade

This creature here has both features from a bird and a snake. It has a body of a snake but feathered wings, beaks, and sometimes feet of a bird. Depending on who is doing the writing they can actually have claws of a reptile or no feet at all and slither about like a snake or fly with its great wings.

Suzaku/Zhu Que/Jujak/Chu Turoc

This creature is very beautiful. It is always known to be read and similar to a pheasant with five, long, and colorful plumage coming from its tail. It is sometimes known to be on fire.

Gandaberunda

This is a large and powerful two headed bird creature.

Jatayu

Think of a large eagle that is able to stand up right like a man. Sometimes the creature has arms like a man or massive wings only. The creature is also powerful, able to fly very high into the sky.

Chamrosh

This creature has a body of a dog with the head and feathered wings of a bird. Some have described it as an eagle head or a falcon.

Roc

Massive and powerful bird capable of carrying an elephant with ease. It is sometimes described as being fully white.

Strix

A bird like creature with a long golden beak, fully feathered body and wings, and black talons with round yellow eyes.

Kongamato

A large bird like creature with webbed wings. This creature is almost similar to a pterodactyl.

Yatagarasu

A crow with three legs.

Griffins

A creature that is half eagle and half lion. The front half is eagle with feathered wings while the back half is lion.

Hippogriff

A creature that is half falcon and half horse. The front half is falcon with feathered wings while the back half is horse.

Thunderbird

This creature is a large bird normally in the shape of an X but still recognizable as a bird. It creates thunder storms and causes heavy rain.

Phoenix

A bird like creature that is either on fire or fully feathered. When the creature dies it is literally reborn in the ashes, meaning when it is time or it is killed it bursts into fire until there is nothing but ashes, and then it is reborn as a baby phoenix. They even have tears of healing.

Owlursus

This is a very interesting creature because it is part bear and part owl. Many have mainly used descriptions of a horned owl but I think you are very much free to use any owl, as for the bear, many have used grizzly bears because of their massive sizes but again I think you should be free to mix and match. Who says you can’t use a snowy owl and a polar bear together? Their back legs have normally been talons while the front is a bears paws. Another notable feature that always remains is the wings. The creature is also known to have fangs of a bear. Some have also described the creature as being able to fly like a griffon or a Pegasus while others describe them as only being able to glide because of its massive weight. You guys decide.

Now although I’ve split up the creatures list a bit I still feel like I’ve missed more. The bird list is done for now along with my mythical creatures list. I hope these lists help you at all in anyway, good luck in creating your world, I look forward to hearing about them.

If you guys have any questions about what I just went over please feel free to ask. I hope you liked my little insight on mythical creatures, I honestly can’t wait to hear some of the other creatures I have missed. If your favorite is not on this list please let me know so that I can add them as soon as I can. Please stay tune for next Wednesday for another post. Thank you all so much for reading and please have a wonderful day.

Mythical Creatures Part 5

NOTE: I created this post to the best of my knowledge on this subject and have provided personal opinions and suggestions on each creature. In no way am I an expert on this subject and am learning still. Please keep this in mind while reading, thank you.

Part 1 Mythical Creatures Part 1

Part 2 Mythical Creatures Part 2

Part 3 Mythical Creatures Part 3

Part 4 Mythical Creatures Part 4

Part 5 Mythical Creatures Part 5

Part 6 Mythical Creatures Part 6

Because of the amount of horse like creatures there are I decided to put them in their own list like the dragons. I’m debating to do the same with bird like creatures. Will have to wait and see next Wednesday.

Kelpie

This is a terrifying creature in my opinion. Think of the frailest looking horse imaginable with a really long mane and tail and very drenched. Depending on who is doing the writing the creature is described to have a fish tail instead of having back legs or a stag instead.

Inkanyamba

Think of a large sea serpent with a horses head. Depending on who is doing the writing can also be eel like.

Yali

This creature is really extraordinary in appearance. It is part lion, part elephant, and part horse. This is quite the combo and as you can see from the statue, the body is more horse like with lion features and tail, even the head is horse like with tusks and trunks similar to an elephant.

Alicorn

This creature is a unicorn meets a Pegasus. The horn on its head is much more curved and blade like then a unicorn with feathered wings like a Pegasus and depending on who is doing the writing the tail is either similar to a horse or a lion.

Hippalectryon

A half horse half rooster creature. The front half is a horse while the back half is a rooster with feathered wings and a tail.

Pegasus

A horse with feathered wings.

Unicorn

A horse with the tail of a lion, a beard of a goat, and a spiraling horn on the center of its forehead.

Buraq

If you know what a sphinx is then I would say this creature would be a cousin to the sphinx. This creature has a full body of a horse or donkey with massive, colorful rainbow wings, however some have been adding a bit more to the creature. Instead of a normal horses tail some have given it a lions tail and as for the head some of have given it a bull, goat, ram, or ox’s head.

Waterhorse/Capricorn

This creature can be mistaken for a kelpie and vice versa. It is a horse but described more as a sea creature. It still has its front legs but instead of hooves they are webbed fins, no back legs but a finned tail similar to a fish. It has many gills down its neck with more fins about its body to allow it to swim easily.

If you guys have any questions about what I just went over please feel free to ask. I hope you liked my little insight on mythical creatures, I honestly can’t wait to hear some of the other horse like creatures I have missed. If your favorite is not on this list please let me know so that I can add them as soon as I can. Please stay tune for next Wednesday for another post. Thank you all so much for reading and please have a wonderful day.

Mythical Creatures Part 4

NOTE: I created this post to the best of my knowledge on this subject and have provided personal opinions and suggestions on each creature. In no way am I an expert on this subject and am learning still. Please keep this in mind while reading, thank you.

This list will actually be different from all the ones I did before as this time I will be focusing on mythical races seen and read in Fantasy. There are, I believe, a lot of races in Fantasy that have been used many times, as other authors just create their very own. This list will only focus on the over used races.

Part 1 Mythical Creatures Part 1

Part 2 Mythical Creatures Part 2

Part 3 Mythical Creatures Part 3

Part 4 Mythical Creatures Part 4

Part 5 Mythical Creatures Part 5

Part 6 Mythical Creatures Part 6

Humans

The focus race in a lot of Fantasy stories, humans. They are you and me, we are humans. Descriptions and ability is determined by you, the creator.

High/Light Elves

 

High Elves or Light Elves, whichever wording you’d like to choose, can also be up to interpretation but their appearance is light or pale with long pointed ears. Their skin is light, almost pale, with hair ranging anywhere from white to yellow with bright colored eyes. Elves have known to be fairly tall, about the same height or taller than humans. Their clothing make them appear radiant or heavenly. Abilities can be up to you.

Wood Elves

 

Wood Elves also have long pointed ears but they are somewhat darker in appearance. Their skin can range anywhere from fair to copper. Hair ranges anywhere from golden yellow to black. Their eyes are also known for being darker or just being similar to woodland colors. Elves have known to be fairly tall, about the same height or taller than humans. Their clothing is meant to be more woodland, almost appearing native or druid like. Abilities are up to you.

Dark Elves

Dark Elves have long pointed ears but have a very dark appearance. Hair, eyes, even their skin can be dark but some opt with grey or pale grey or white. Elves have known to be fairly tall, about the same height or taller than humans. Their clothing have always been up to interpretation, but some make them evil because of their names. Note: Because Dark is in the name does not mean they should be automatically evil. Abilities are up to you.

Half Elves

 

Half Elves have a mix of human and elvish qualities. Their ears are pointed but much shorter than other elves. Male Half Elves are capable of growing facial hair like humans but well kempt and kept short where the other elvish races are not. Appearances also range similarly to humans, including in height and clothing. Abilities are up to you.

Dwarves

Dwarves

Dwarves are much shorter than humans, ranging anywhere from 4’0 to 5’0. Depending on the creator they can have pointed ears or round but the male Dwarves always have beards, long or short. Appearances ranges similarly to humans. Clothing have been up to interpretation. Abilities are up to you.

Gnomes

Gnomes

Gnomes are very short, ranging anywhere from 3’0 to 4’0. Many mistake them for children unless they have facial hair or wrinkles. Appearances are similar to humans but clothing have been known to be brighter and cheerful. Abilities are up to you.

Orcs

Orcs

Orcs have been very much up for interpretation. They have been known to be tall, about 6’0 to 7’0, and very muscular with pointed ears, long or short, and sharp tusks protruding from the bottom of their mouths. Abilities are up to you.

Goblins

 

Goblins are another race up for interpretation. They are small but should never be underestimated. They fall anywhere between 3’5 to 4’5. They are known for having long, pointed ears and less then four digit toes and fingers. Abilities are up to you.

Angels

 

These beings are normally beautiful and holy in appearance. They have the appearance of humans along with their height or taller. These beings are graceful and powerful with massive white wings to allow them to fly through the skies and into the heavens. Some describe them with halos or wearing armor to protect them when in battle with demons of hell. The amount of wings on their back is sometimes described dependant on their angelic rank, the rank is dependant on you along with their abilities.

Fallen Angels

 

These beings are almost the complete opposite of Angels. They also have the appearance of humans along with their height or taller. These beings sadly have fallen from grace so most of their clothing and armor is black, tattered, and sometimes described bounded by chains. Their wings are also black and broken or with massive missing plumages. Some have even described them to be a bit more hellish in appearance by giving them demonic qualities such as horns and the like but their feathered wings stay as a reminder of what they once were. Abilities are up to you.

Demons

 

Demons have always been up for interpretation. They can either have the more human appearance or more of a monstrous appearance. Horns, webbed wings, and a barbed or spear tail is the frequent feature for this race. Abilities are up to you.

Gremlins

Gremlins can be shorter than Gnomes, going anywhere from 2’5 to 3’5. This race is also up for interpretation. They are known for having pointed ears, long or short, and sharp fangs and claws. Abilities are up to you.

Vampires

 

Vampires have at times been up for interpretation but the repeating feature is that they look and are dead. They have pale skin, cold to the touch, and sometimes glowing red eyes. Some creators try something new with their eyes like icy blue, silver, or black. Some either have the vampires turn into a monstrous bat or summon wings from their bodies to fly. Sometimes they have short pointed ears or just normal round ones. They do look like humans but if you have other races in your world you can make them any race. They suck blood and either turn other races into their ranks, give birth to vampires, or turn them into mindless ghouls to control. Abilities are up to you.

Were Creatures

 

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These races are forcibly or willingly capable to turn into humanoid animals, the more popular is the Werewolf, Werecat, Werebat, and Werebear. Like Vampires you can either specify them to humans only or other races can turn into such creatures. Abilities and transformations are up to you.

Fairies

 

Fairies are very small, about 1’0 to 2’0. This race is also up for interpretation, wings especially as some go the insect route or floral leaf route. They basically look like humans but with pointed ears, long or short. Their attire has also been very floral or leaf in appearance. Abilities are up to you.

Trolls

 

Trolls have always been up for interpretation as some either do monstrous or more humanoid appearances. They are very tall, about 6’5 to 7’5. They have long tusks protruding from the bottom of their mouths and less then four digit toes and fingers. Abilities are up to you.

Dragonborn

 

Dragonborn is another race up for interpretation. They either have a more human appearance or more of a dragon appearance. The features that remains is webbed wings, horns, a tail, and the capability to breathe fire. They are known to be taller than humans, about 6’0 to 7’0. Abilities are up to you.

Centaurs

 

This race is half human and half horse. The human appearance is very similar to humans minus size as half of the body is that of a horse making them very tall. Abilities are up to you.

Mermaids

 

Mermaids are always up for interpretation. They are half human and half whatever aquatic creature you want, it can be either a dolphin, lion fish, man’o’war, octopus, etc. Abilities are up to you.

Ents and Dryads

 

Ents and Dryads have been known to be together depending on who is telling the story, other than that they have also been separate. Ents are pretty much walking trees with faces, arms, and legs. Dryads look somewhat human but have much more plant and nature about their body. Abilities are up to you.

Satyrs

 

Satyrs are half human and half goat. Although the top half is human they still have a lot of goat features such as horns, hairy arms, and long ears similar to a goat. Abilities are up to you.

Harpies

 

Harpies have been known to be female only but some have been having fun creating male Harpies as well. They are half human and half bird. Their top half is human but instead of human arms they have massive wings to carry them and legs of a bird. Abilities are up to you.

Giants

 

Giants are well massive, human like creatures with profound facial features. They have also been up for interpretation at times especially their sizes, making them anywhere from 7’0 to 8’0 or much, much bigger. Abilities are up to you.

Naga

 

Nagas are half human and half snake. Although top halves have been human some add more snake like features to their faces or in Medusa’s case, snake for hair. Abilities are up to you.

If you guys have any questions about what I just went over please feel free to ask. I hope you liked my little insight on mythical races, I honestly can’t wait to hear some of the other races I have missed. If your favorite is not on this list please let me know so that I can add them as soon as I can. Please stay tune for next Wednesday for another post. Thank you all so much for reading and please have a wonderful day.

Mythical Creatures Part 3

NOTE: I created this post to the best of my knowledge on this subject and have provided personal opinions and suggestions on each creature. In no way am I an expert on this subject and am learning still. Please keep this in mind while reading, thank you.

This is a continuation of creatures typically seen, heard, and read in fantasy type novels, video games, television shows, etc. This list will only contain some Fantasy fans favorite creatures, dragons.

Part 1 Mythical Creatures Part 1

Part 2 Mythical Creatures Part 2

Part 3 Mythical Creatures Part 3

Part 4 Mythical Creatures Part 4

Part 5 Mythical Creatures Part 5

Part 6 Mythical Creatures Part 6

Drake

 

Like a few other mythical creatures this one has been subject to change. The winged version has especially had several names from salamander, wyrm, drake, or just dragon. They are large, reptilian creatures capable of breathing fire, and fully covered in scales and sometimes many horns about their heads and neck. They have four legs and two webbed wings.

Wyvern

This creature from time to time, depending on the writer, has been known as a drake instead of a wyvern. Like drakes they have scales about their bodies along with many horns about their heads and neck and are capable of breathing fire. They have two legs and two webbed wings, the tip of their wings also act as hands.

Lindworm

This creature can also be considered a dragon. It has a long serpent like body similar to a snake with only two arms and no wings so it can’t fly. Some describe this creature being covered with fur instead of scales.

Qilin/Kirin

Now this is an interesting creature. Depending on who is doing the writing, this creature can be considered a dragon. This creature is very stag like with scales throughout its body with a long tail and two, long, thin whiskers on the side of their nose like a Chinese and Japanese dragon. The stag like features are the antlers, hooves, and even the face can be similar to a stag. It is sometimes known to be on fire.

Longma

This creature is very horse like with dragon features. It has horns about their head and fangs with a somewhat scaly face.

Dragon Turtle

As what you’d expect from the name, the creature is part turtle and part dragon, minus the fire breathing of course. The shell is heavily spiked like a mountain with a reptilian head similar to a snapping turtle, reptilian claws or webbed feet, and a long reptilian or finned tail.

Knucker

This dragon is a long, serpent creature similar to a snake but with four legs like a lizard and two, small, webbed wings. They can’t fully fly but they are capable of gliding and soaring. Like other dragons they are covered in scales and horns about their head.

Chinese Dragon

Chinese and Japanese dragons can be mistaken at times but if you look close enough, you see that they both actually have some key differences. Both dragons are covered in scales with long whiskers on the side of their nose, almost like thin mustaches, and horns similar to tree branches. They are also long, serpent like creatures, similar to a snake with four legs and no wings. These creatures, unlike other dragons also have ears like a horse. The snout to this dragon is short and round with many small spikes going down the back to the tail. Sometimes, depending on who is doing the writing, they are covered in fire. Depending on who is doing the writing, they fly with the use of magic or they do have webbed wings but are apart of the legs connected to the body, giving them abilities to glide instead of fly.

Japanese Dragon

Japanese and Chinese dragons can be mistaken at times but if you look close enough, you see that they both actually have some key differences. Both dragons are covered in scales with long whiskers on the side of their mouths, almost like thin mustaches, and horns similar to tree branches. They are also long, serpent like creatures, similar to a snake with four legs and no wings. These creatures, unlike other dragons also have ears like a horse. The snout is long and slim with soft, long or short hair going down their backs to the tail. Depending on who is doing the writing, they fly with the use of magic or they do have webbed wings but are apart of the legs connected to the body, giving them abilities to glide instead of fly.

Amphithere/Amphitere

This is a very interesting creature and also determines on who is doing the writing. This is a dragon covered in many scales and horns about their heads but their wings can either be fully feathered or webbed but have no legs as the creature is a long, serpent like creature similar to a snake. They can also have either two wings or multiple.

Marsupial

This dragon in no way can be mistaken for a kangaroo but it does move like those creatures and has a pouch over their belly to carry their young as well. They are fully covered in scales with horns about their head and neck and are capable of standing upright on their two hind legs with two somewhat small arms but their webbed wings are surprisingly small. They are in capable of flying but they can help reach taller heights when they make leaps.

Arctic

These are very interesting dragons. Instead of scales they are mainly covered in fur with a scaly underbelly. They do have horns about their heads but instead of breathing fire they can breathe ice and are capable of withstanding the cold but also warm weathers. They have a long body with four legs and no wings.

Frost/Ice

Although these creatures can be mistaken for drakes with their four legs and two webbed wings, they are far from drakes as these creatures live in frozen tundras. Depending on who is doing the writing they are either made completely of  ice or they are just freezing to the touch. They are covered in scales or look like they are with horns about their heads and neck and breathe ice instead of fire.

Dragonette

Think of a velociraptor with two massive webbed wings and there you go, you have your dragonette. They are capable of standing upright on their two hind legs with somewhat small arms. They are fully covered in scales with horns about their heads. The tips of their wings cal also act as hands to help with grabbing things. On their tails, instead of spikes they have fins to help with flying.

Feydragon

These are very beautiful and adorable dragons. They have long bodies and sometimes either two or four legs. Their wings can vary but instead of webbed or feathered, they are insect like, mainly butterflies. They are scaly but have no horns and are small in size, not the size of an insect but of a bird.

If you guys have any questions about what I just went over please feel free to ask. I hope you liked my little insight on mythical creatures, I honestly can’t wait to hear some of the other creatures I have missed. If your favorite is not on this list please let me know so that I can add them as soon as I can. Please stay tune for next Wednesday for another post. Thank you all so much for reading and please have a wonderful day.

Mythical Creatures Part 2

NOTE: I created this post to the best of my knowledge on this subject and have provided personal opinions and suggestions on each creature. In no way am I an expert on this subject and am learning still. Please keep this in mind while reading, thank you.

This is a continuation of creatures typically seen, heard, and read in fantasy type novels, video games, television shows, etc. If by any chance you come upon a mythological creature that has human features, you can change it to make it more animalistic in appearance so long as the base of what the creature truly is remains, such as a sphinx. It has a lions body with a human head, instead of a human head or even a lion, why not give it a goats head or a dragons head to give it that more mythical feel to the creature.

Part 1 Mythical Creatures Part 1

Part 3 Mythical Creatures Part 3

Part 4 Mythical Creatures Part 4

Part 5 Mythical Creatures Part 5

Part 6 Mythical Creatures Part 6

Alphyn

Now this creature here has been known to have some differing of appearances. The creature is known to be wolf like but has varying legs. Some have this creature with having lions legs and paws, others have it that only the front legs are either eagles talons or goat legs and hooves. It has a tail of a lion but sometimes is described with having beaks instead of sharped fanged jaws of a wolf. It also has been mistaken for a griffon at times but note this creature does not have wings so it can not fly.

Freybug

Think of a dog but born of magma. There is no fur but it has sharp piercing fangs and claws, and with eyes of fire. Sometimes this creature is described to breathe fire.

Hellhound

This is another creature up for interpretation but it has always been either a dog or a wolf with pure black fur and eyes as red as blood. Some describe the creature with having fire wrapped around its feet like a clydesdales long hairs about its hooves, a spade or spear shaped tail, or it is either fully on fire or dead like. What I mean by dead like is there is no fur, no skin, just bloodied muscles with a skull helmet of a wolf. Some have even described it breathing fire.

Imp

This is another creature up for interpretation. You can either go the route of demonic description or animalistic description. Some who have come to describe imps go a more demon route but a bit small. They enjoy playing tricks on people so very similar to sprites in that regard. They have red skin, horns, spear shaped, spade shaped, or scorpion tail, webbed wings, hooves for feet, claws, or talons, sharp clawed hands with small tusks protruding from their mouths. The animal route is either a monkey or a lemur with webbed wings and horns of a goat or a ram. So think of a flying monkey from wizard of oz and there is an imp.

Jorogumo

Basically, a giant spider capable of turning into a woman. The male version is called a Jukujikun. Some lately have taken to describe the creature to be more spider like in appearance then human, such as using reference from spiders native only to Japan. Some have even described the creature as being able to breathe fire.

Leviathan

This creature, like the kraken, can be up for interpretation. You can either go the route of a reptilian serpent or a massive sea creature similar to a megalodon or a mosasaurus with large, webbed, fins and piercing fangs.

Naga

This creature is another one up for interpretation but the main appearance of a naga that always stays the same is part snake. Many have stripped away the more human side of the creature in favor of a more, well creature like appearance. On land it is more reptilian, similar to a bearded dragon or an iguana. In the sea people have described them to be more fish like but still keeping the snake appearance while decorating it as a lion fish, a puffer fish, or a beta fish.

Shedu/Lamassu

This is another creature similar to a sphinx. This is another creature to have different appearances. Some have used the body of a bull or a lion but the head has always been a lion with either hooved feet, lions paws, or reptilian claws. Another beautiful feature of this creature is the colorful rainbow wings.

Tarasque

This is another creature up for interpretation. The creature has normally been described as being a massive turtle with a dangerously spiked shell. It has six legs and a long spiked tail. The head can either be similar to a snapping turtle or a lion and you can either give it paws similar to a lion or a reptiles.

Xenobeast

Now this is quite the creature as it has been described in numerous ways but the feature that has always stayed is the six legs, a spiked back, a set of pincers on the side of its mouth, and plated scales. You can definitely go the reptilian route with describing this creature if you want. You can always go a bit more by giving it a scorpion tail or a barbed tail to make it more dangerous if you want. The feet has always been interesting to me as they only have two nibs per feet, always clawed and sharp but I doubt they are capable of climbing or grabbing.

Zburator

I may have found the best description ever, wolf headed dragon. The head is very much a wolf but the body is either to be wolf like or it is fully wolf. The body can be described to be fully reptilian or partially with massive webbed wings. There are no paws only reptilian claws. The tail can also be described as on fire or just normal reptile like while the creature itself is capable of breathing fire.

Lochness/Nessie

This creature can be mistaken for a leviathan. A sea creature with a long neck and tail and simple fins similar to a blue whale. It doesn’t have gills so it will need to go to the surface of the water for air, sharped fangs, and you can decide of the scales, reptilian or fish like?

Jaquins

This creature is a cross between a jaguar and a macaw. Aside from their wings, they have feathers on the back of their legs and on the end of their tails.

Well here is another list of mythical creatures and again, this isn’t all of them. The next list I will actually focus on dragon creatures, so any dragons that are on these two lists I have will be removed and placed in the third list instead to help keep track. As a reminder your story can be the most fantastical of worlds or the most terrifying. It all depends on what you have in mind for your characters to face or trust.

If you guys have any questions about what I just went over please feel free to ask. I hope you liked my little insight on mythical creatures, I honestly can’t wait to hear some of the other creatures I have missed. If your favorite is not on this list please let me know so that I can add them as soon as I can. Please stay tune for next Wednesday for another post. Thank you all so much for reading and please have a wonderful day.

While Writing: What to Listen to?

This weeks post I think is going to be a pretty short and simple one, what should you listen to when writing?

Now I have heard some authors have surprisingly been listening to music with lyrics when writing such as pop, hip hop, country, etc., and honestly I have no idea how. Some even have television shows and movies running in the background while writing. I’ve tried a few times letting shows, movies, and video games play in the background and they are so distracting. Sometimes I accidentally write the quotes from those mediums while I am supposed to be writing MY story. So I am here to suggest what to listen to when writing your stories, whatever they may be.

Soundtracks

 

Now soundtracks, especially from movies and video games, can be some of the coolest, amazing, and epic things to listen to. I especially prefer to listen to soundtracks from fantasy based mediums because they not only have epic music within their track but also some sweet, somber, lighthearted, and mellow music within the track. It is a mixture of things to help you get in the mood and if there is a specific song on that track that really helps for you to write certain scenes in your story you can always play it on loop to help with any immersion needed. You can also try Game of Thrones but to me there is just too much mellow and somber music, of course the show is much darker then certain other fantasy shows and movies, but without a proper diverse soundtrack it can get hard to be in the mood especially if your scene isn’t even a tense scene. Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings also has many lighthearted music to go along with your writing if you are looking for some relaxing air to your writing.

Orchestra

 

If you aren’t looking to listen to soundtracks from movies, television shows, and video games then don’t worry you also have conductors and orchestra groups too. You have groups such as The Philharmonic, Two Steps from Hell, Lindsey Stirling, Taylor Davis, the works. You have an assortment of musicians out there to listen to and what is awesome, if you listen on YouTube or Spotify, they recommend more music like what you are listening to so you will have an even bigger selection.

So now that you have things to listen to when writing, what will you give a try?

If you guys have any questions about what I just went over please feel free to ask. I hope you liked my little insight on music to listen to, I honestly can’t wait to hear what you listen to when writing. Please stay tune for next Wednesday for another post. Thank you all so much for reading and please have a wonderful day.

Mythical Creatures Part 1

NOTE: I created this post to the best of my knowledge on this subject and have provided personal opinions and suggestions on each creature. In no way am I an expert on this subject and am learning still. Please keep this in mind while reading, thank you.

Part 2 Mythical Creatures Part 2

Part 3 Mythical Creatures Part 3

Part 4 Mythical Creatures Part 4

Part 5 Mythical Creatures Part 5

Part 6 Mythical Creatures Part 6

Mythical Creatures, like magic, is a basis of Fantasy. What can have mythical creatures? Do they only belong in Fantasy and High Fantasy? No of course not. There are other Fantasy genres you can stick mythical creatures in such as:

Fantasy –

1. the faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable.
2. a fanciful mental image, typically one on which a person dwells at length or repeatedly and which reflects their conscious or unconscious wishes.
3. an idea with no basis in reality.
4. a genre of imaginative fiction involving magic and adventure, especially in a setting other than the real world.
5. denoting a competition or league in which participants select imaginary teams from among the players in a real sports league and score points according to the actual performance of their players.
6. a musical composition, free in form, typically involving variation on an existing work or the imaginative representation of a situation or story; a fantasia.
7. imagine the occurrence of; fantasize about.

High Fantasy –

1. a subgenre of fantasy, defined either by its setting or by the epic stature of its characters, themes, and plot. The term “high fantasy” was coined by Lloyd Alexander in a 1971 essay, “High Fantasy and Heroic Romance” (originally given at the New England Round Table of Children’s Librarians in October 1969).

Epic Fantasy –

1. Epic fantasy has been described as containing three elements: it must be a trilogy or longer, its time-span must encompass years or more, and it must contain a large back-story or universe setting in which the story takes place.

Dark Fantasy –

1. a subgenre of fantasy literary, artistic, and cinematic works that incorporate darker and frightening themes of fantasy. It also often combines fantasy with elements of horror or has a gloomy, dark (or grimdark) atmosphere, or a sense of horror and dread.

Urban Fantasy –

1. a subgenre of fantasy in which the narrative has an urban setting. Works of urban fantasy are set primarily in the real world and contain aspects of fantasy, such as the arrival of alien races, the discovery of earthbound mythological creatures, coexistence or conflict between humans and paranormal beings, and other changes to city life. A contemporary setting is not strictly necessary for a work of urban fantasy: works of the genre may also take place in futuristic and historical settings, real or imagined.

Fairy Tale –

1. a children’s story about magical and imaginary beings and lands.
2. denoting something regarded as resembling a fairy story in being magical, idealized, or extremely happy.
3. a fabricated story, especially one intended to deceive.

Click on this link to see that there are many other types of Fantasy out there.

So with all that Fantasy going around you can bet you can add your favorite creature in them, but then some of you may ask, what is a mythical creature? Oh boy you are in for a ride. Mythical creatures are mainly found in the many mythologies all over the world from Norse Mythology, Egyptian Mythology, Japanese Mythology, Chinese Mythology, etc. Some are even made up for certain writers stories. Be sure to go searching on the Internet to get an idea of other mythologies out there and the ones you want to look into.

Typically Seen In Fantasy

The typical creatures you find in Fantasy are as followed:

1. Dragons(Any type)
2. Unicorns
3. Griffons
4. Fairies
5. Phoenix
6. Sprites

These, at least to me, is what I’ve seen the most in Fantasy. This is also in no particular order nor is it which has been seen the most. There are loads of other mythical creatures out there from chimeras to grootslangs to kitsunes. Creatures from African Mythology are surprisingly hard to find, these creatures you will need some serious search and discovering to find out what they are.

When looking up these mythical creatures make sure to type Mythology in front of the creature you are going to look up to make sure you get a creature and not some movie, book, toy, or some company. Here are some of the mythical creatures I know to help get you started:

Basilisk

 

Now, depending on who is doing the writing, the original basilisk was actually a rooster like creature with either feathered or webbed wings and a snake tail. Not sure who began to change the origin of this creature but in J.K. Rowling‘s novel Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, her basilisk is a giant snake that can be forced to rest when hearing the cries of a rooster and is laid by one.

Salamander

Just think of a normal salamander but very, very big. Depending on who is doing the writing they can be on fire, sometimes have six legs, or can breathe fire. The early days of dragons were considered salamanders for a time. Taran Matharu‘s Summoner series has a salamander but he is tiny with four legs and can breathe fire. It isn’t until the end of book 2 getting into book 3 the salamander creatures can turn into a drake dragon after taking a heavy swim in lava.

Kitsune

Now with this creature there are two types of kitsunes. One is white and is meant to be more spiritual and the other being a normal orange fox known to be more mischievous with nine or more tails. Sometimes the tips of the tails are one fire, either blue(spiritual) or orange(normal) fires.

Okami

This creature is a Japanese wolf. It is believed that they are smaller then other wolves but also extinct or so they thought. Sightings have been seen in certain precincts of Japan near their mountains but people can’t be sure. They are also believed to be benevolent and malevolent creatures that can be terrifying and dangerous when encountered.

Ifrit

This creature is very cool. It is a powerful creature known to be on fire and can also be vengeful. They are also described with either having horns or tusks.

Hydra

This creature, like the qilin, can be considered a dragon as well. It is known to have multiple heads, at least two and as many as one hundred. As soon as one is cut off another one or two will take its place.

Sprite

These creatures can be hard to figure out when it comes to their appearance. Depending on who is doing the writing these creatures are known to be based on specific environments: water, nature, and flowers. Some give them a very similar appearance as certain bugs or they look very similar to faeries and pixies but with more insect like wings such as dragonflies or bees or sometimes no wings at all but can still fly.

Nanaue

This is another cool creature. Think of a great white shark but can also walk around like a man with arms and legs of their own and still a terrifying swimmer. Depending on who is doing the writing they can either have claws, webbed, or finned hands and feet. Some also don’t describe them as having legs at all but a normal body of a great white shark but still has arms and hands to grab its prey.

Amikiri

Think of a snake like sea creature with a pointed beak like a bird and claws like a crab. This creature is more of a swimmer then anything else but can slither on land but only for a short while.

Genbu/Xuanwu/Hyeonmu/Huyen Vu

A black turtle, can be very similar to a snapping turtle but large. Instead of being wrapped by a snake you can have its tail be a snake instead(my take), make it a bit chimera like if you want.

Ikuchi

Depending on who is doing the writing it is either a really big and long fish like creature or a really big eel like creature. A heavy oil like substance secretes from its body and if not dealt with fast enough it can cause things around you to burn quickly if near fire or sink your ship faster once it passes over you.

Isonade

This is a shark like creature with a large barbed hooked tail. It is known to be the size of a big boat.

Shachihoko

Think of a really big carp fish with the head of a tiger. They are known to bring rainfall.

Makara

If you know of a Capricorn from the Greek Zodiac, think of that but instead of a half horse body it is either a stag, deer, crocodile, or elephant with of course the bottom half being fish like.

Mokele-mbembe

This is another creature very dependent on who is doing the writing. The creature can be mistaken for a loch ness or a brachiosaurus if you are not careful with the description. It is described by either having the body of an elephant or rhino, a long neck and tail, and the head similar to a snake or a crocodile.

Pixies

These creatures, like sprites, can be mistaken for faeries but are more floral in appearance with insect like wings similar to a dragonfly.

Onikuma

A massive bear like creature that is known for always standing up right.

Shishi

This creature share similar features to that of a lion and a dog with cloud like mane and tail. There is both a male and female version.

Quetzalcoatl

Another creature depending on who is doing the writing, this one can also be considered a dragon. It is a massive snake like creatures with feathered wings like a bird.

Amphisbaena

I think this creature looks very cool. It is a snake with two heads but one of the heads is a head while the other is a tail. Depending on who is doing the writing it can have either feathered wings or webbed wings and two claws that can act as either legs or arms.

Angha

This is a very beautiful creature in appearance. It has the body and head of a dog with feathered wings and tails of a peacock and paws and claws of a lion.

Peryton

This creature has both a female and a male version. Most of its body is very similar to either a stag or a deer along with its head. Some have described it to have colorful feathered wings and tails of a bird and some have described its hind legs to be similar to that of a bird.

Enfield

This is another creature with quite the mixture. It has the head of a fox, the chest of a greyhound, the front legs and feathered wings of an eagle, the back half of a wolf, and the body of a lion. So I will have to assume this is a large creature.

Minotaur

To me this is another terrifying creature. Think of a bull capable of standing upright and instead of hooves for hands it is known for having three fingers. This creature is also known for being powerful.

Hibagon

This creature is a Japanese big foot. Think of a guerilla always standing up right.

Nue

This creature here has the face of a monkey, the legs of a tiger, the body of a tanuki(raccoon dog), and a snake for a tail. Some describe it as having a tiger body instead of a tanuki.

Grootslang

I think this is another cool creature. It is a massive snake with the head of an elephant.

Indrik

This is a large creature with a body of a bull, legs of a deer, and a head of a horse with a sharp horn at the end of its snout similar to a rhinoceros. It is described as the largest land mammal ever.

Baku

This creature is described with having the trunks and tusks of an elephant, sometimes a full head of one, rhinoceros’s eyes, sometimes ears as well, an ox’s tail, sometimes the body as well, and tigers paws, sometimes the full leg and the body of a tiger as well.

Criosphinx

This creature is described with having the body of a lion with the head of either a human, falcon, or ram. Some describe it with feathered wings.

Jackalope

A jackrabbit with antlers.

Golem

A massive creature made entirely of rock. Some describe them as being covered in moss and sometimes trees and roots.

Yeti

Think of a large guerilla always standing up right with white fur. Some describe it as having two horns and tusks.

Kaimatachi

A weasel like creature with long sickles for paws, the front only.

Rompo

Here is another creature with quite the mixture. The head of a hare, human ears, a frail body almost skeleton like, the front legs of a badger, and the back legs of a bear. Some describe it having a lion like tail with rabbits or a rats ears.

Gbahali

A reptilian like creature similar to a crocodile. It is a long creature with a much shorter snout then a crocodile with somewhat longer legs.

Bunyip

A large creature with a dog like face, a crocodile like head, dark fur, a horse like tail, flippers, and a walrus’s tusks. Some describe it with either having a horn or having a duckbill.

Coeurl

A panther like creature with long legs and two tentacles coming out from their shoulder area. Some describe it with six legs while others describe the tentacles as more whisker like but coming from the face instead.

Byakko/Bai Hu/Baekho/Bach Ho

A giant white tiger.

Raiju

A creature composed of lightning either in the shape of a wolf, a fox, a cat, or a weasel. Sometimes they are described as being fully white.

Ahool/Vampire

A giant bat.

Gargoyle

A large stone like creature sometimes bat like or reptilian like. During the day it is normally stone while at night it comes alive.

Chimera

This creature has many, many different forms. The most notable being a lion with a second head of a goat and a tail of a snake.

Cerberus

A large dog with three heads. Some describe it as having a snake for a tail.

Orthrus

A dog with two heads.

Wurm

A massive serpent like creature that lives within the earth like a worm. It has no eyes and some describe it as having a more circular mouth with rows of teeth.

Manticore

A massive lion with a somewhat hard shell on some parts of the body similar to armor. A scorpions tail and webbed wings. Some describe this creature with no wings.

Kraken

 

 

This creature, like the basilisk, has been changed throughout the years. Some describe the creature as being a massive sea serpent. Others it is a massive squid. Lastly there is the more reptilian humanoid type with arms and fangs.

Questing Beast

A creature with the neck and head of a snake, the body of a leopard, the haunches of a lion, and the feet of a hart(deer).

Phew! As you can see there is a lot of mythical creatures out there, and I haven’t even posted all of them. Your story can be the most fantastical of worlds or the most terrifying. It all depends on what you have in mind for your characters to face or trust.

If you guys have any questions about what I just went over please feel free to ask. I hope you liked my little insight on mythical creatures, I honestly can’t wait to hear some of the other creatures I have missed. If your favorite is not on this list please let me know so that I can add them as soon as I can. Please stay tune for next Wednesday for another post. Thank you all so much for reading and please have a wonderful day.