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Fantasy Dictionar
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Fantasy Dictionar
Fantasy Dictionary
Writing a fantasy story often involves world-building: creating the setting in which your story takes place. Physical location is an important part of this phase—the house, cavern, mountain, forest, town, ship, island, or any other space your characters inhabit. But it is more than just a place. Building a world may mean thinking about the history, art, music, language, clothing, and customs of the story’s people—how they earn a living, what they do on holidays, and what everyday objects they use.
Of course a writer can’t design every aspect of a culture. If you did that, you’d never get around to writing the story! But here is the key: you want to think carefully enough about these things so that the reader believes your fantasy world goes on beyond the edges of your story. You want this imaginary world to feel real. And you do that with some well-placed, clear, creative details.
So let’s do some world-building! Please come up with objects, places, words ... any ideas for a fantasy story’s world. Tools, animals, types of clothing, dwellings—any of these and more may become necessary elements in our story! You may suggest as many as you like, or even post a strange word and let others suggest meanings. If you want, you can also write a sentence using the word or describing the fantasy place. Here are two examples:
haloris – a lantern that gives off both light and a pleasant scent. It is used by people who live near the swamps to counter the odors of mud and decay.
“Quill’s boots sank into the moss, deeper at each step, and ahead she could see a swamp, moonbeams glittering on pools that lapped around the tree roots. Catching the stench of stagnant water, she pulled the haloris lamp from her pack and set it alight.”
gnawk – a large, black bird with a raucous cry and uneven feathers that always look ruffled and untidy. Gnawks have a fondness for pecking and chewing on rope, and they are notorious for setting free dogs and farm animals tied with ropes. They unmoor boats tied to docks, and have been known to free certain fortunate prisoners.
Can you see how story ideas practically ooze from your Fantasy Dictionary, once you get your imagination going?
submitted by Fred Durbin
(April 23, 2014 - 10:11 am)
(April 23, 2014 - 10:11 am)
I just came up with this idea: How about we have a definition contest! You have to create the best definition for this word:
sadaastervel
Who creates the best definition wins! By the way, only one entry per person, please.
(November 22, 2014 - 8:31 am)
Ok sounds fun, let's do it.
sadaastervel--a kind of oyster that has a pearl inside but if you grind the pearl up and add milk and herbs then drink it it will make the drinker go into a trance and when the drinker wakes up the drinker invisible.
How is it pronounced ?
(November 22, 2014 - 4:48 pm)
You pronounce it like two words: sada and astervel. The "vel" part is pronounced "vale," and the third "a" is emphasized. "Sada" is pronounced normally. Make sure not to break apart both words too much, or else it will sound like these two words:
sadah- a sort of fish that lives in the bottom of the ocean. It smells.
asztrevlael- a sort of lollipop that tastes like whatever it's described as
Put it together and it makes:
sadah asztrevlael- a lollipop that tastes like fish
That would be disgusting.
(November 22, 2014 - 10:32 pm)
Ok thanks. When are we choosing which definition is better? And who will choose ?
(November 23, 2014 - 10:51 am)
I'll decide in three days. I'll wait for more people to vote.
(November 23, 2014 - 5:24 pm)
Sadaastervel-a type of small, egg laying mammal. It has soft blue and black striped fur, has a serval-like face, and lays green eggs. This creature is very rare. It's said that whoever sees one will have great luck for the next twelve days.
(November 23, 2014 - 9:18 am)
Sadaastervel: A slightly curvered instruments used to measure destiny. To use, lie on ground and point telescope-like point upwards. Replace glass with one coated in kyvn and re-insert. Gaze upon stars and try to interpret their meaning.
" Every time the kyvn bends the stars in a different way. The ones that stand out, the names of which you must write down. Then, use this book "- He placed a thick but little book down- "to research up on the meaning of that star and the other things you see- be it clouds or shooting stars."
(November 24, 2014 - 10:40 pm)
I have decided...Indigo wins! The prize: she gets to change my name for a day!
(November 30, 2014 - 3:39 pm)
When are we doing the next word?
(December 2, 2014 - 8:59 pm)
Maybe you can do it.
(December 3, 2014 - 7:50 am)
Ok here is the next word - shanderineis. It is pronounced shanderineisted though. If you like it you can use it.
(December 3, 2014 - 3:13 pm)
Nice one!
I've thought of one too.
Dulesion (due-less-ee-on) - a magical quill-pen that will bring dangerous events if picked up. Or a tracking device for Khaos
Anyone can use this.
(March 18, 2015 - 6:27 pm)
Hey Admin! Where do I put ideas for advice on personal stories?
I'm not sure exactly what you mean, Will. If it's a story you've written, then Inkwell would be the place. If it's advice about something in your real life, then it would be Down to Earth.
Admin
(November 23, 2014 - 4:27 pm)
Efflenumu- clothes worn to be protected from dark and devilish doings.
Torn- a word used by sorcerers to undo a spell used casually.
Emeral -the launguage off most sorcerers, and first people on earth
Borrdñu- thanking someone of higher rank. (Like Wizard)
(November 23, 2014 - 7:44 pm)
Admin, umm, yeah, uhhhh...(nervous giggle) could I ask just one more question? How do I start new sheets on inkwell? (Sorry. I'm am sooo confused.)
Go to: http://www.cricketmagkids.com/chatterbox/inkwell/
Look for the pale green box near the top left of the page. Click where it says "Click here to talk" etc. That will take you to a page to start a new thread.
Admin
(November 27, 2014 - 6:58 pm)