New Religious Figures & Ideas for Plot
by b
(USA)
Question: If one were to write a fiction novel, do you think it would be acceptable to create new Gods (author-created ones) and merge them with the Gods that already exist? For example, I could make a "lost" brother of Zeus, who was originally intended to rule the sky- but was pushed off a cloud and Zeus (as we know him) became the king instead. The great-great-great-great-and-so-on grandson of that "dead" Zeus, who really isn't dead would team up and go beat up Zeus or something. Also, this novel tries to introduce coexistence in the modern world- which explains all the abnormalities of the mystic world. Through breeding with different religion's deities is how we got our vampires, werewolves, faeries, etc.
But I thought that maybe it would be better to flesh out Gods, and simply make them more complex to fit my needs without the need to change something that some people might consider sacred. But honestly it seemed more lame. But then again, my original plan sounds too complex. Help!
Answer: The great thing about mythology is that it is in public domain, which means you can do whatever you like with it.
Of course, since many of the readers who will be interested in your story will be lovers of mythology, you may not want to disappoint them by completely re-writing the myths.
On the other hand, a new twist (like giving Zeus a brother) is fine, as long as many of the other details are true to the original. It's about striking a balance.
Either way, you should write the story that excites you, because that has a greater likelihood of exciting your readers. Or, to put in another way, if you think one version is lame, other people will probably think it's lame too.
Besides, it's very difficult to write a novel you're not interested in.
As for offending something people think is sacred, I wouldn't worry about that at all. Getting people to think critically about their beliefs is part of a writer's job, and giving a different take on a myth does just that.
Best of luck.
- Home
- Plot Questions
- New Religious Figures & Ideas for Plot
Search this site...
|
||
| site search by freefind |
100% Human Generated Content!
All
articles on this website were written by a human being -- one possessed of flaws and limitations, but also with a personal perspective and a desire to help fellow
writers. No article on this site was written by or with the aid of artificial intelligence (AI).
Popular Articles
Mini-Course
Never be stuck for a great story idea again! This online mini-course will show you how to create simple ideas for original characters and build a plot around each character that contains the essential elements needed for a compelling story.
Recent Postings
-
Writing thoughts and diary entries.
Question: This is my first time trying to write, I constantly imagine fictional scenarios, so I decided to write a novel with them, but in my idea, we -
Synopsis Format
Question: Hello! Thank you for answering my question about how many characters to add in a synopsis! I should have included this question with my last -
How many characters to include in a synopsis
Question: Hello! I'm new to your site, and I love it! I didn't see a question and answer page for synopsis writing, so I wasn't sure where to post this
"I've read more than fifty books on writing, writing novels, etc., but your website has the most useful and practical guidance. Now that I understand how a novel is structured, I will rewrite mine, confident that it will be a more interesting novel." - Lloyd Edwards
"Thanks to your "Create a Plot Outline in 8 Easy Steps," I was able to take a story that I simply just fooled around with and went willy nilly all over, into a clearly defined, intriguing battle where two characters fight to keep their relationship intact, and try to find a balance in control of themselves and their lives. Thanks to you, I'm not ashamed of the poor organization of my writing." - Nommanic Ragus
"I am so glad I found your site. It has helped me in so many ways, and has given me more confidence about myself and my work. Thank you for making this valuable resource, for me and my fellow writers. Perhaps you'll hear about me someday...I'll owe it to you." - Ruth, Milton, U.S.A.
"I never knew what to do with all the characters in my head, but since discovering Dramatica I am writing again in my spare time. Thank you for making this available. Yes, it is a bit complex, and it does take time, but I love it because it works." - Colin Shoeman
"I came across your website by chance. It is a plethora of
knowledge, written in a simplistic way to help aspiring writers. I
truly appreciate all of the information you have provided to help me
successfully (relative term) write my novel. Thank you very much!" - Leo T. Rollins
"I
can honestly say that this is the first website that is really helpful.
You manage to answer complex questions in relatively short articles and
with really intelligent answers. Thank you for taking the time to write
these articles and sharing them so generously." - Chrystelle Nash
"...had no idea that a simple click would give me such a wealth of valuable information. The site not only offered extremely clear and helpful instructions but was a very enjoyable read as well. The education from your wonderful site has made me a better writer and your words have inspired me to get back to work on my novel. I wish to give you a heartfelt thanks for How to Write a Book Now, sir." -- Mike Chiero