u/Redbeardwrites

Hello, all!

I’m getting my hands on an excess of wild mustang grapes. They’re in season, and some jelly already made by the land owner has been great. My father used to make solid wine out of them, and I’d like to make a mead.

I’ve been looking for some quality recipes using them, but can’t find much outside of that it tastes good once it’s set a long time.

Does anyone have a wild/red pyment recipie you like a lot? Or a wine recipie I could add honey? I don’t have a ton of grapes, so I definitely want bang for my buck!

I’ve never even tried a pyment, and I usually like a sweeter wine, so I really am not sure where to start.

Thank you for your time!

Hello all! I’m brainstorming an idea about using gods in my fantasy series. As a whole things feel rather low fantasy in it, magic is a rarity in general, but I have gods intervening and playing their own games. My problem is that’s a big build up and trying to figure out where to go with it.

Here’s what I have:

“Old Mages” (ancient magic users who basically have surpassed being mortal) - they act as their own agents and tend to have a connection to a god of some kind, almost like an avatar or conduit. These mages would even have a sphere of influence that determines their course of action and desires due to being so ancient. Not necessarily good or bad, just the physical representation of things (ambition, war, fate, etc), but some can be “free agents” and are far more interested in their own thing. These mages could be killed, but even death is more likely to just set them back in the long run

Gods - these are far more abstract, and perhaps almost “dead.” The old mages that have attached themselves to them are tools, but their almost near absence has allowed those mages to run wild. Their influence over the mages are the compulsive need to enforce their sphere of influence while the god themselves are more hands off due to their inactivity. Gods could be “woken up” if an old mage or event causes this.

I have thought that the avatar with “free will” seems to allow me to have a more immediate danger/driving force for a “big bad.” I don’t necessarily want a world ending, god issue, but also like the idea that they exist but frankly don’t care the Old Mages are just the unfortunate souls who flew to high to the sun and got caught up in things they did not understand despite their power.

So far I have several “gods” involved who would honestly I think work better as these Old Mages in theory. I like the idea of gods entering the world being a major event that could be world ending, but I also like the concept of “sleeping” or out of touch gods such as those found in Elder Scrolls lore or GoT (although I know not every god in those franchises are necessarily hands off)

I’m at a loss and obviously changes happen after first draft, but what do you think? Do you prefer lower fantasy or are you in the high fantasy camp?

Thanks for your time and I look forward to discussions!

Bonus points: What other spheres of influence would you think a God of Ambition might have?

Hello all, I am nearing the end of my first draft. I plan to dive into editing while working on a second piece (not related). I have tried to figure out the best way to present my story, and I keep coming up short. I have thought about this a few ways.

My story started with 5 distinct point of views. I have since split it into two books, 3 pov in one and 2 in the other. I have tried to think of a way to best mix the 3 in a logical order as they happen at the same time in the same location with the same events involved. My question is: would you prefer to read less POVs in one book where a second book is a companion, or is it better for those POVs to happen at the same time?

Essentially: Two characters are opposites working against each other. The third character ends up in both camps, ultimately on the side of Character A as Character B is their enemy (C was captured in the shake up). My concern is that things could get confusing if I split A and C into their own story while B references C throughout their own telling.

So my question is this: 3 POVs that are essentially different view points for the same events, or split this story again to focus on the relationship of A and C while allowing B’s more independent story is shown and is highlighted in the portions where C is stuck among his group? I hope this makes sense!

Thanks!

I’m nearing the end of my first draft, so I’m looking at Amazon’s formatting and requirements as I start considering marketing.

My question is about what Amazon allows. I definitely want to make sure I am not breaking rules, but I’m not sure about what is allowed as far as content. I’m not writing descriptive scenes about assault or anything like that, but I want to make sure my books aren’t kicked off! Blood Meridian and Outlander are available, but obviously those far more established and not indie, but not writing anything nearly that aggressive.

I’ve seen some dark fantasy on there, but where is their line?

Thank you!!