What do you look for in a storybook?
Question of the Week: Week VII
6 posts in this topic.
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I've always been a big fan of writing stories that have magic involved, and storybooks aren't an exception to that. My perfect storybook would be a high fantasy adventure, with a lighter tone and freedom with how we write our characters. There's some wonderful, darker storybooks and novels out there that highlight some of the more dangerous/detrimental parts of high fantasy societies and worlds, but I'm still a big fan of the wacky, kids' lit adventuress I read and wrote growing up.
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If I read the intro, and immediately have inspiration for a character, I know it's one that I'll really enjoy. I also join most of the ones started by my friends
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I look for something that sparks my interest for a character. I usually enjoy worlds that have solid world-building behind them and some lore/backstory. I also admit that I love the dark or complex themes and FANTASY FOLKS, can't live without it.
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I look for something that I would enjoy writing for. My attachment to an SB (and my motivation to participate in it) depends largely on two things: how much I like my character, and how much I like the story. The character is mostly up to me, so I'll talk about the DM's story.
If the SB takes place in the past (or is based on past technology/cultures), that's an instant plus for me. If it takes place largely in nature, another plus. I've enjoyed post-apocalyptic SBs because that genre usually depends a lot on action/adventure and has nature as an antagonist.
I shy away from magic in SBs and those that have a whole bunch of fantasy-leaning info that I need to understand. It's just not my genre. If the world has magic but it's possible for me to make a character that can't use it, great! I'm all for that. Then the character can be an extension of me as I try to figure out the lore and what the other characters are up to. But I'd rather just stay out of it and let the pros handle it.
That being said, it's good to get out of my comfort zone. From all the SBs I've been in, I think I've covered all the main genres at one time or another. Through those that I wasn't as comfortable writing for I learned a lot and discovered certain things I didn't think I'd enjoy. And again, my character matters a lot for how much I end up enjoying the SB, potentially influencing my future taste for the genre. -
I look for scenarios that would be challenging for the characters I already have. That said, whether or not I'm invested in an SB depends a lot on the dynamic between my characters and the others involved. At the end of the day, that's what it really comes back to for me, character dynamics that make the story keep flowing in interesting directions.
Aside from that, I tend to stray away from magical worlds/characters due to my own tendency to make any magical character I create just a little too weak (just enough that the fact that they're still alive can only be chalked up to plot armor) or WAY too strong (to the point where every challenge is more of a mild inconvenience).
Other than that, it's mostly about who else is involved. I'm never really the first person to join an SB (more by coincidence than design, but let's ignore that) so I typically get to get a glimpse at the other characters before I decide to hop in, and if I have a character who would clash really well with someone else there, I'll usually join in.
But if it's just the idea I like and none of my characters would be really fun to add in, I'll make one. Though that's kinda a rare occasion.
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