A Thousand Questions that Need Answering

  Tiger! I promised you that I would give you a thousand questions about Kanadia, so, here you are. First, the questions. Then, some suggestions. Then...various things.
  Are we ready? Here we go. Remember, the questions are there for your benefit. Some of them I have a definite opinion about, but I just want you to answer the way you think.
  What is a possible different name for Kanadia? Does the name Kanadia really spoil the mood of the entire book? Will readers be annoyed at the name?
  Why does the reader like Wendy? Why is she likable? (Or not likable. She could be a real brat, and then change by the end of the story. If that's the way you go, why does she change?) Why is she so important to the story? If she is the main character, she must solve the conflict. How does she do this? What IS the conflict, anyway? Is she anxious to get back home, or does she like Kanadia better? Why or why not? Also, in every story, the main character has to grow and change. How does Wendy's adventure change her? What about it affects her and her life back home?
  Why does the reader like Xanu? Why is HE so important? Is he purely heroic, or does he have some villainous qualities? Does he like (like like, not friend like) Wendy? Is this at all hinted? Is he seduced at all by the thought of power? Is he suited to rule Kanadia? Would he make a good ruler? Was he the one chosen instead of his much older half brother, Gandan? (Assuming Gandan is his half brother, and not his uncle. You mentioned that this was what you wanted, so I'm assuming your mind hasn't changed.)
  What happens in the story? What is the conflict? How does Wendy solve this conflict? What are some more minor characters, and what roles do they play? What are some MAJOR characters, and what roles do they play? Are there any heroic villains, or villainous heroes? (Such as a villain who actually cares about people, or heroes who are stuck-up and selfish. Since human beings are all evil, there is no such thing as a true villain or true hero, at least not with humans and our own power. Humans are not black and white "good guy or bad guy". We are all bad guys...but some are helped by God and He does some goodness through them.)
  What is Gandan like? Is he convincing? Why do people hate him? Why would it be horrible if he gained the throne? If he wants to wipe out the human race, why? Does the reader simply hate him, or feel sorry for him? Is it a matter of the type of reader? Is he shallow or deep? How complicated is he? (For example, a complicated villain would be one such as Adria in my book: You feel sorry for her, you enjoy her awesome fighting scenes, you like her, you dislike her, you hate the fact that she's manipulating Micenah, and you REALLY like the reason that she can so easily manipulate him. You feel many different things toward that villain. Although Adria does not remain a villain, her time as one was complex. Voldemort is another example of a complex villain, although you don't particularly like Voldemort. He simply has so much back story and so much evil that while you hate him, underneath that current lies a level of interest. He is interesting and complicated. Characters are very complex without being villains, however. My best example of a complex character would be Snape. Definitely. There are also entirely uncomplex villains, such as Kronos, who are not very deep or interesting. You simply hate them, and want them gone and dead. These villains are easiest to write, but generally become the least important and interesting characters in the story. Complicated villains cause more thought and conversation amongst readers. Here it is, in Italics: The best character can be, and has been many times, the villain.)
  Alagin: Why should he remain on the throne? Is he worn out? Would he actually be better off retired with someone else on the throne? In that case, is Xanu a possible replacement? Is Gandan better suited to rule than Alagin is? Why or why not? Is Gandan at all an able king? Is he a good ruler, and a bad man, or a bad ruler and a bad man, or some other combination? Would he bring prosperity to Kanadia but misery to individuals? Is Kanadia in fact better off without the human race?
  Okay, those were my questions. Here are some suggestions:
  Suggestion Number One: Take hints from other books. It's okay to borrow an idea or concept. Stay away from more obviously original ideas. For example, how many times have you seen the dwarves portrayed as drunken fools? This appeared in my book, and your dwarves were based off of this idea. However, it's probably a better idea to stay away from dwarves being drunk idiots, because it's a more original idea. (Not claiming that it's mine. Caleb came up with it. It's just the first example I thought of.) However, the idea of a human and dragon becoming friends and partners is better, because it has been used in many books, including Eragon and Dragon Rider.
  Suggestion Number Two: Write out some scenes from later in the book that you want to be in there. This makes it easier to know what direction you're headed, anyway. If you know where you're starting and where you'll be about halfway through, all you need to figure out is how to get there.
  Suggestion Number Three. Here is a Fact of Life: Romance is natural. Completely natural. Even healthy, as long as it's a Biblical, well-done romance. Romances do NOT have to include "snogging", as you call it, or "mushy stuff". In fact, romances are fun to write because they can be playful, clean, and uplifting. Love and marriage are both designed by God, and both gifts given to us. We can spoil them, like most gifts, but if a romance is written well, it can show the right side of things.
  I don't particularly think romances between thirteen-year-olds are very authentic or interesting, but when it comes to older characters, romances can work very well. Especially in a serious fantasy story where humor is appreciated.
  Suggestion Number Four: Think of some roles in fantasy stories. For example, a mysterious stranger. Then think of an interesting character who could fulfill that role of the black-cloaked man who stalks you throughout your journey. Or the wizard: Think of an interesting wizard character; perhaps a wizard who acts nothing like the traditional wizard. This will provide character ideas and, if nothing more, "food for thought" when it comes to the book.
  Suggestion Number Five: You don't need an outline, but it may be helpful when plotting out the book. There are two ways to do it. One is to know where you are at the beginning, the middle, and the end (also knowing the conflict, climax, and resolution) and to simply make it up, knowing where you have to be at certain points. Another way is to ignore beginning, middle, and end (but not conflict, climax, and resolution. You ALWAYS need to know those) and to write down a short summary of the book (like the Text to Save the World summaries).
  Suggestion Number Six: There are elements used in almost every fantasy book, including (a) the standard fantasy map, (b) a prophecy, (c) the elves, dwarves, humans, and dragons, and (d) the different cities, types of magic, etc. Variation is good, and the old elements are also good. Just do your best to put a twist where you can, and tweak where you must.
  Suggestion Number Seven: If you take an idea from somebody else, (especially a name or a creature), ask their permission first. ESPECIALLY if they're interested in writing and publishing. Problems could arise. Inform them how much you want to use it, and stuff like that.
  Suggestion Number Eight: Borrowing ideas is not the same as stealing them. For example, in my book I used a similar idea to the Eragon's mind breaking idea, but there are completely different rules and purposes. Don't be afraid to simply use concepts and ideas, but don't steal them, either. The name "Saphira" is off-limits, as is the name "Ramcol". It's a fine line, knowing what's stealing and what's borrowing and what's referencing, but it all comes in the end.
  There. I'm done for now. I hope to hear my Thousand Questions from you soon, and I bid you good morning, good day, or good night. ("Not sure when this is going up." -John Watsonburger, The Ceiling Fan)
-President Fantasy