If you are like me and ever wondered about the werewolf genre within fiction and whether it was classified as horror or fantasy you want to read this post now because this is the post for you.
First before finding out what genre werewolves are classified under let’s look at the difference of what the fantasy genre and horror genre in fiction is defined as.
Fantasy Genre:
The fantasy genre within novel writing and literature features both magic and supernatural elements that evolve around made up and imaginary worlds , timelines and creatures . It usually has at least 8 sub categories
High or epic fantasy.
Low fantasy.
Sword and sorcery.
Dark fantasy.
Fables.
Fairy tales.
Superhero fiction.
Horror Genre
Horror genre is focused more on mood. In order to work it has to create an unsettling atmosphere and give its intended reader a sense of fear. Even though it may have fantastical elements within its genre, the setting is usually entirely realistic.
So I found an article called 144 Genres and Subgenres for Fiction Writing by Tonya Thompson and in the article werewolves are classified under monsters which is a subgenre of Horror.
But did you know there was another sub-genre that is considered in the realm of the fantasy genre?
It is called the paranormal genre or speculative fiction and this genre is a subgenre of fantasy. The paranormal genre consists of all of the monsters that go bump in the night which includes werewolves.
Whereas wikipedia has defined the werewolf genre and classified it as being a genre that can be categorized in both horror and fantasy
Just by looking at these two definitions of where the werewolf genre is categorized under we can assume that the werewolf genre is used both in fantasy and horror and can be used in an exceptional and varied storylines and plots because of the ancients roots the werewolf folklores stem from with its various re interpretations of the genre.
Thus a writer can draw from previous folklores and myths of werewolves in order to create a fantastical and horrific tale.
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow and share that is important . THEN LET’S START A DIALOGUE
Are you a writer who writes about werewolves in the horror or fantasy genre?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
A creepy prayer and a race to survive . This is what my main character Sirena faces in this 3rd scene of my 13th chapter . Yup . I’m not finished quite yet with the chapter but I ‘m getting there and it feels great .
So all last week and the week before I had writers block( you can read more about that in the post WRITERS BLOCK IN THE 13TH CHAPTER. And as you know writers block is not great tohave or let alone healthy . But I managed to pull through for now. I got a lot written as far as the scene goes.
The scene that I finished is called This Shiny Relic ; Safyral . It’s not a new scene as it was in my 1st draft . The only difference is that I switched it around where it is in a new chapter and I added Sirena’s friend Eli to the scene.
WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS SCENE ?
Scene summary :
In the last scene Sirena had to make a choice to run from the werewolves . So she ran . In this scene she comes back to save her friend Eli but is suddenly approached by her mother’s fiancé Anthony.
Anthony a doctor in the town is really not who he appears to be but in fact a Castus Healer werewolf Hunter . He tells Sirena he didn’t know at first she was a werewolf but then realized that she was one after she became attracted to the a shiny relic called a safyral that was hidden away in his desk in a previous scene.
He then attacks her with the Safyral telling her that he will try to save from being a beast , her so her mother, him , Sirena and her sister can all be a proper family .
WHAT IS THE SHINY RELIC CALLED A SAFYRAL?
The shiny relic called a safyral; the sword of burning hearts, a healing dagger that has been blessed to cut through the stomach which is poisonous to the caninruh after it has been blessed. is a dagger sword that when blessed is used to exorcise or cut out the heart of the werewolf in order to heal them so they will be able to be mortal.
Are usually natural healers and exorcist priest who believe in curing the caninruh of their evil spirits by cutting out the heart, through their stomach in order to cure them. Afterwards they sow the stomach up. They live and hunt in the FOREST mountainous regions of RED SILVA MOUNTAIN . They are perceptive and possess very strong tracking skill , using the luring, and calling method of hunting and usually The CASTUS men are the only ones who can perform the exorcism and the woman are usually the ones who trap and hunt the caninruh. At the Castus ceremony they say a prayer and bless the dagger sword and the soul.
WHAT IS THE CASTUS PRAYER ?
The castus prayer to bless the Safyral relic is called THE VOICE OF ABOVE . This is the prayer:
” Oh Isohel,Oh Isohel. THE VOICE FROM ABOVE .I offer you this reaping. This cutting, this oath of banishment from evil by the Safyral, the sword of burning hearts so you can deliver a rebirth of a fallen messenger and finally grant us salvation for this weak one. oh Isohel, cut, bless, curse and cast away the beast within this weak soul! Throw it upon the Rigel and Star of Eridu. Eridu , oh celestrial Isohel .I summon you and all the father and mother Isohels. All the celestial forces of Eridani. All the travlers of time itself. Arcus Auroria , PSI Tau. Ori . from Valgrind to the realms of Camara. Pulṓn. the sanctums of Eridanus.Grant salvation ! Banish this Evil! Oh celestial Isohel Eridu benedico maledire sacrum dominus. Oh Isohel,Oh Isohel. THE VOICE FROM ABOVE.”
I do not necessarily put the prayer within this particular scene but I do in the next and briefly in a scene in the upcoming chapters.
Anthony is the only Castus that the reader will see through this first novel and I will continue to explore the Castus society throughout future novels between Sirena and the other characters.
As for whether Sirena will survive in this scene.? Well yes of course or there will not be a book . The real question is how and that is what I continue to explore in the next scene of this chapter .
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow and share . THEN LET’S START A DIALOGUE
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
I wasn’t’ going to add them but guess what? I did . Yup I have just added two more character boards to my Pinterest .
These two Pinterest character boards are of the two main antagonist/ villains of the During the Blue Hour novel . Xavier and Mary . You might want to view the boards because guess what? There are hints and reveals of who they are. And these character pins I would say fit them to a T .
I’m loving it.
I haven’t found pictures quite yet to reveal their powers . However these boards reveal mostly who they are , their attitudes and their style . But I will keep on searching for the ones that do reveal their powers.
Xavier celestial power is to turn your brain to mush and basically confuse you.
Mary’s power is a little different where she can do rather a lot . She can make you forget everything or anything and she can also see your past thoughts like a rewind videotape .
So yeah somewhat harder to find . But I’ll get there.
Take a look and let me know what you think .
XAVIER(VILIAN CHARACTER IDEA)
MARY(VILLIAN CHARACTER IDEA)
If you haven’t already you can also take a look at the other character boards that I made.
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow , Like , share . THEN LET’S START A DIALOGUE
WHAT IDEAS DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR VILLAIN CHARACTERS?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
When I was in film school I was always told this about writing. A writer is like an architect . A script and manuscript is the blueprint for the story; the schematics.
Within the schematics there are what you call the structures or foundation of the stories that you build or create. Usually the beginning , middle and end . Within novel writing and screenwriting this is called act structure. Act structure is always important when writing your novel or screenplay. Without it or done incorrectly as the writer you have no story. The foundation or the blueprint breaks apart entirely.
There are many ways to build a structure for your story and it all boils down to how you plan the blueprint of your story within your novel or screenplay.
My many years of learning about writing has taught me there are close to over 7 different types of act structures.
I was only taught and experimented with 5 and so those are the act structures I will discuss and then I will tell you what my favorite act structure is and why.
The very first structure I’m going to talk about is a structure I’m sure every writer has heard of before. It is the most basic structure of them all . And you learn elements of this act structure when you are in grade school. This act structure
is called the THREE ACT STRUCTURE
THREE ACT STRUCTURE
Like I said the three act structure is the most basic one of them all . This act structure goes back all the way into antiquity. The Ancient Greeks made it prevalent and Hollywood took it and ran with it making it the most popular, simplest and favorite writing formula of them all.
The three act structure has this formula .
ACT 1 The Set-Up
Where you introduce your character and establish the setting of your story
ACT 2 The Confrontation
Where the problem of the story arises and becomes bigger and even more dangerous by the page . There is no clear resolution.
ACT 3 The Resolution
Where all the problems and conflicts of the story is tied up in a neat bow and resolved .
See this act structure is very simple . But the act structures continue to get a little complicated . The next act structure sort of close to the three act structure is called Snowflake Method
2. Snowflake Method
The snowflake method is more for if you’re the type of writer who outlines. So for outliners . It was created and first used by Randy Ingermanson and has 10 steps . Basically you start with a central idea and build upon it with paragraphs. If you want to know more about it visit here…..
The next act structure that writers can use to write their novel is the
3. The 7-Point Story Structure
This act structure gets a little bit more complicated but with patience it turns out well . With this act structure you have to start at the end with your resolution and until you get to the beginning. Basically you go backwards . This is to reassure that you start strong with your main character arc and only build upon the core instances of your story. It involves these 7 points :
Hook — Where your character starts out .
Plot turn 1 — The event that sets your story in motion and moves you from the beginning and introduces the conflict where your character’s world changes. This is basically when you character sets out on his/her journey.
Pinch point 1 — where the antagonist shows up
Midpoint — your character will make a decision about what to do with the antagonist
Pinch point 2 — everything gets worst for your main character
Plot turn 2 — your character findds new information to stop the antagonist.
Resolution — The climax of the story. The ultimate show down between the main character and the antagonist.
If you think the above two structures are harder you going to hold your breath for the next one . Because it involves the HERO’S JOURNEY.
HERO’S JOURNEY
The hero’s journey can be similar to the 7 point structure but it involves a much greater writing formula. Created by and first used by Joseph Campbell. The heroes journey is most commonly used by fantasy and sci-fi writers and is created for your main character to come full circle in his journey but show their apparent change in the end . The formula of the hero’s journey includes 12 steps inside of 3 stages instead of 7 points :
1. The Departure : your hero emarks on a journey away from their ordinary world .
1 — Ordinary World – your hero’s everyday life .
2 — The Call to Adventure- hero’s world is turned upside down and can never be the same again
3 — Refusal of the Call- your hero hesitates . The refuse the adventure
4 — Meeting With the Mentor- A mentor helps them see the light at the end of the tunnel . Usually at this point encourages to take the call to adventure.
5 — Crossing the First Threshold – your hero gets the courage to go forward with the adventure. They can’t turn back at this point.
Initiation: Your hero comes across their real and very first obstacle . And is highly challenged.
6 — Tests, Allies, and Enemies- the hero meets the ones they trust and faces trials and tribulations
7 — Approach to the Inmost Cave – the hero intercept hidden dangers and must them head on.
8 — The Ordeal- the hero faces their darkest hour
9 — Reward (Seizing the Sword) your hero finally defeats their enemies
Return : the hero enters their normal world again. They can come on home finally. The end .
10 — The Road Back- The hero is tricked and deceived. The battle is hardly finished .
11 — The Resurrection- Since the battle is not over the hero faces the most horrifying threat yet
12 — Return With the Elixir- the hero has changed . Their ordinary world is not so ordinary anymore. They have made it back home triumphally.
Whew ! That was a long one and most writers might find it the most difficult structure to use but there is one more act structure . This structure is called In Medias Res
In Medias Res
In medias Res means in the mists of things and it usually used in film as a film technique. In a novel that means just jumping into the action of things.
The formula consist of :
Rising Action
Explanation (backstory)
Climax
Falling Action
Resolution
So these are the five act structures I have learned and experimented with over the years . My favorite act structure is the hero’s journey. Can it be any obvious . I write scifi and fantasy. I like the hero’s journey because it has so many in ‘s and outs to the creation of a story. And I love the fairytale aspect of the structure where you have all the archetypes there to use and take from.
I use a combination of the three act structure and heroes journey in my work in progress novel During the Blue Hour. While writing my novel the hero’s journey can be seen within the overall book series that I have planned for and set up but I use it in smaller pockets within the first novel where it concerns my main character Sirena.
Book 1 DURING THE BLUE HOUR – is the departure
Book 2 DURING THE TWILIGHT HOUR will be the Initiation
Book 3 DURING THE GOLDEN HOUR will be the Return
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow , Like , share . But first LET’S START A DIALOGUE
What Act structure do you use or have used to write your novel?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
While looking over my chapters in my 2nd draft of my work in progress novel, I widely considered lately that I might have to go back and combined and condense the chapters . I’ve done this like once or twice so far already that is why in my 2nd draft I’m on chapter 12 . But I really think I’m not supposed to be on chapter 12 right now because in my 1st draft I was on chapter 7 at this point in my novel . But I don’t know we will see . This is what it might all come down to in the end . I might just finish this draft of the novel and then go back and combine and condense afterwards and just make it a 3rd draft. That is what revision is for right?
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow , Like , share . But first LET’S START A DIALOGUE
How do you or how did you revise your draft ?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
Ravens are the most bad ass animals besides wolves in the animal kingdom . They are intellectually the strongest of animals and that is why it is said that they are tricksters and also that they are called wolf birds because they hang out with wolves . Yup I said it . Wolves and Ravens are old chums and always have been . So ordinarily what’s a werewolf story without a raven in the mix? I’m sure every novel about werewolves has one, right? Well I do .
Three days ago I posted about talking animals . Did you know that in fiction and mythology the raven when considered a talking animal represents prophecy and insight?
In stories they are usually psychopomps.
Psychopomps are creatures, spirits, angels, or deities in many religions whose responsibility is to escort newly deceased souls from Earth to the afterlife. Their role is not to judge the deceased, but simply to guide them.
Ravens are often considered as a mediator animal of life and death.
In North American mythology among the Inuit , Tsimishians and Haidas ravens are known as either the creator of the world or as a trickster. Another mythology says that the raven comes from the land of spirits.
Within Haida mythology the raven is frequently seen as a trickster and has been described as the greediest, most lecherous and mischievous creature but also helps humans with the spiritual world.
In Sweden folklore the raven was thought of as ghost who were murdered .
In some cultures the raven was a harbinger of death.
As you know ravens are scavengers whether it be human or animal they can find food anywhere. They know how to take advantage of any other animal to help get food. They can learn to imitate different sounds, including the human voice. In nature, their calls include guttural croaks, gurgling noises, that also include a sharp, metallic tock. And this is where the wolves come in the picture . Being around other animals make the raven accessible to food. The raven follows packs and are usually seen flying over or beside the wolf.
Because of this wolves interact more with the raven than any other animal and like I said are best buds with them . The raven in actuality protects the wolves by calling out if there is danger near. They are also said to draw other animals such as the elk near so the wolves can tear and eat through the meat and then the raven goes ahead and eat.
IN MY WIP NOVEL
In my work in progress novel During the Blue Hour I use the raven as a trickster but also as a Psychopomp . They are beings called earth divers, a type of celestial beings and a type of Viators of Caelum . They are powerful celestial beings who have the power to manipulate time and shapeshift. The ravens in my novel are guardians to the werewolves. They help protect them and they watch over them. But they are also tricksters who are also tired of werewolf politics. And so even though they protect the werewolves they give them a difficult time by having a little fun and tricking them. They are very warrior like and clever when it comes to a battle.
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow , Like , share . But first LET’S START A DIALOGUE
Do you have a raven in your novel?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
I’m sure all writers have experienced the complications of creating their fiction novel world. Worldbuilding is complicated. It takes time planning , crafting and organization. Apart of worldbuilding especially for fantasy and scifi writers is map building, map making , map creation , whatever you want to call it.
Usually you see the gamers using maps to create their worlds and they have a whole bunch of software and sites for it. But did you know map creation is also a useful worldbuilding tool for writers?
I love creating maps (and also family trees but that is another post for another day.) No. I don’t draw. I can’t draw. Even though I went to art school my drawing ability is crap (that’s what my teachers said loud and clear) So what did I do? I use the computer of course .However, creating maps takes time and can get a little complicated especially on some software and sites.
My journey with creating maps started while I was planning my first draft. Remember if you listened to my first podcast episode I planned my book for a whole year before writing anything.
I still see places in my head that I have to figure out for my novel since things drastically changed in this 2nd draft . Like the overall structure in my world .
In my first draft the world was an alternative universe of Canada with a made up town that mirrored Nunavut in some instances. So for this I used google maps . This was around 2011 and so I wasn’t sure if there were any good map making sites or software then. I t was hard because using google maps I tried to create a mountain that wasn’t there and it became frustrating to play around with google maps.
I remember that if you were signed up to google you could have private maps and at the time on latest writing forum it was popular with most fiction writers to use google maps to create their worlds.
So now it is 2021 and I’m finally in my 2nd draft of my work in progress . So I’m still creating my worlds by using maps and I finally found a good free website to build maps . In this 2nd draft there are no alternate universe instead I created a whole new world called Neoera .
So far I’ve created two maps HERE IS ONE.
MAP FROM 1ST DRAFT
I’m still not finished but with just those two maps it took more than two whole weekends to complete.
Not that I didn’t know the cities and states of my novel it was like I didn’t know the many rivers and mountains I wanted – the terrain . And then I had to account for the scenery and what not I didn’t mentioned in the novel so far. So I had to research. Because in my novel I don’t mention the population or what not .
It wasn’t perse complicated but more time consuming. I mean it was fun . It wasn’t boring . I didn’t even want to stop playing around with the map making tools. While experimenting with the map making it allowed me to get more story ideas , story plots and see clearly the routes where my characters are traveling in the story and will be traveling in the future yet to be written novels.
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow , Like , share . But first LET’S START A DIALOGUE
What maps have you created for your novel’s world?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
Happy fourth of July . Unlike most people who are out BBQ and celebrating our country’s freedom with fireworks, unfortunately I will not be one of those people this year. Not that I don’t want to. I’ve celebrated a many 4th of July’s. But this year on this day I have the inspiration to write and get my chapters written.
I just want to continue a routine that I don’t break so I can try to reach my goals to finish the 2nd draft by the end of the summer. And I kind of find this day a stress free day to write . Most holidays are for me though. Although I may take a rest later on. But writing for me is my escape. My rest. And I never get tired of doing it. Sometimes I write with music and the words just come flowing.
I Can’t think of no other day like today to write and work on my novel.
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow , Like , share . But first LET’S START A DIALOGUE
Do you work on your novel on the 4th of July or other holidays?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
I’m back with solely talking about werewolves again. I know. I know you’re tired of hearing me go on and on about werewolves. But I can’t stop because my work in progress novel and hopefully my future sequels is about , you guessed it. WEREWOLVES!
Okay so you know how in pop culture werewolf mythology werewolves when injured would automatically , miraculously heal themselves.
Well you want to know a secret? My werewolves don’t heal.
WHAT!!??????????
Yes I know .Crazy ,right ?
Like I said in all my other post I like experimenting. I wanted to try something different and take away that one trait that makes them the conventional werewolf . Matter of fact I do away with most of those conventional traits.
No ! But that’s not a werewolf . You might say.
Yes it is . My werewolf. My werewolves use healers to heal them with Saliva .
You want to know more about it? Okay let me tell you a little bit more but first let me delve into some Real world Research
REAL WORLD RESEARCH
WOUND LICKING & SALIVA
when injuring themselves you normally see dogs tending to attempt to heal themselves by licking their wounds , hence the saying, ” lick your wounds “ which is an expression which means to recover from a defeat or a rebuke .
Wound licking however is rather real and is an instinctive response in humans and many other animals to lick an injury.
Oral mucosa is said to heal faster than skin. And saliva contains tissue factor which promotes the blood clotting mechanism. This forms a protective covering which turns into a scab . Saliva also has antibacterial properties which can heal a wound
(this is a amazon affiliate link. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.)
Dog saliva has been said by many cultures to have curative powers in people. This belief it said to have gone all the way back to Egypt where they allowed dogs to lick the people to heal them. As time went on and this got around within other societies they started training dogs to heal people with the saliva.
Even though other animals such as cats, primates and rodents all lick themselves to heal
There are six components in a canine’s saliva which are said to have healing properties:
Lysozyme
Lactoferrin,
Opiorphin
Thrombospondin
Nitrate
Protease
IN MY WIP NOVEL
The world of the Blue Hour, my werewolf , the Caninruh are vulnerable to anything and everything even though they are still rather powerful creatures.
There are a set of Caninruh who are simply healers of the packs who has the celestial power to heal other beings and other Caninruh with the Saliva of their tongue and they practice the act of wound licking .
One of the main members of the yearling pack in my work in progress novel is one of those Caninruh healers.
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow , Like , share . But first LET’S START A DIALOGUE
Did you know that dogs Saliva had a healing property?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
(This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
I mentioned in recent post how good it is to be a writer and read outside of your written genre while working on a work in progress novel. Its summertime. And you know what that means? Work on our novels ! Yes that is true but I don’t mean just that. Summertime is the perfect time to read as a writer. Yes . It’s time to pack up not just your writing pad and pen but also a good reading book and head on to the beach. I sure am.
I mentioned the current book I was planning on reading . Well I started the book but I still have books I want to read and I have compiled my current summer reading list . So here are the books outside of my written genre I’m planning on reading for the rest of the summer.
(this is a amazon affiliate link. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.)
Okay so I kind of wrote 2 post on this TV show/ book already . If you have read my other post you know how I critiqued the show so far . So I bought the book and started reading it the other day . Even though I’m only on chapter 2 . I will hopefully be finished with it soon .
( this is a amazon affiliate link. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.)
My next summer read after Outlander involves a humorous science fiction space fleet story about the 81 century and genetically modified lemurs . This book was referred to me and sounds very interesting and fun and I can’t wait to read it.
( this is a amazon affiliate link. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.)
This is a book that delves into the world of watchers , fae and magic .
I read this book years ago but will reread it this summer because the last time I finished the book the sequel wasn’t out and so I forgot about the book all together . So it would be a refresher before reading the sequels in the series.
So these are only three books right now that I’m reading and planning on reading this summer . But there will be more because I haven’t finished my own novel yet and I need more inspiration outside of my genre of writing about werewolves.
If you liked this blog post and you want to see more content involving my work in progress During the Blue Hour Follow , Like , and share . But first LET’S START A DIALOGUE
What books are you planning on putting on your summer reading list as you write and head on to the beach? Or what books are you reading already this summer?
I want to know so let me know in the comments below.
You can also interact with the podcast on Gab @duringthebluehour
