[ SECRET POST #6259 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #6259 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.


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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 45 secrets from Secret Submission Post #895.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

02. https://i.imgur.com/QcX61av.png

[(Anonymous)]

So you like low stakes fantasy but have to make it high stakes?

[(Anonymous)]

That's not what the secret says.

[(Anonymous)]

It's funny I was just reading an article and discussion earlier today about how reading comprehension and understanding is at an all time low. The skills aren't there for a lot of people, but then so many others just don't even try to stop and think about what they've read, they just jump to a conclusion and go for the argument or discussion. It's one of those things that once I read it I'm suddenly seeing it everywhere.

[(Anonymous)]

I see this on fs frequently. Sometimes it's people deliberately misinterpreting the text just to start drama, but poor reading comprehension is definitely a big problem, too.

[(Anonymous)]

Not OP but low stakes fantasy isn’t no stakes fantasy. There is always some sort of conflict and resolution and you’d be surprised how high stakes some of them are, at least I was. Life and death doesn’t seem low stakes to me but compared to traditional fantasy where it’s always the fate of the world or a whole race or culture at stake, the low stakes fantasy stuff really is the inconsequential stuff even if it’s a big deal to the MC.

[(Anonymous)]

Well said. I think "low stakes" could be called "personal stakes" as well. It's all about it mattering to the individual, not world or galaxy shattering stakes.

OP are you me?

[(Anonymous)]

I had the same reaction! I love Travis Baldree's stories and aspire to the same level of calm cozy yet keeping the pace steady and going and the plot that balance of interesting and "high enough" stakes but still low key. But I just can't for the life of me come up with a plot that isn't just a rip off of his. It's really pointed out how my own creativity and imagination has atrophied to the point of non-existence. Which then made me sad.

Re: OP are you me?

[feotakahari]

I struggled with something similar while writing erotica. I wanted to write cute happy couples, but all my ideas were for darker stories. Trying to write those ideas put me in a bad place emotionally, though.

I ended up going weird to go cute. Stuff where the conflict isn’t as much of a focus as the strange world (and strange sex.)

[(Anonymous)]

I think it's really difficult! You have to be really good at the characters I think, because the characters have to be interesting and compelling enough to carry the reader through even when there's no obvious driving motivation or action going on with the plot.

And, my personal opinion: I don't think Travis Baldree actually succeeds at it.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm curious, do you like any other authors in the 'cozy/low stakes' genre or is it just not a genre you've seen done well yet? I ask because I think Baldree is the only author I've read that has succeeded at it. No judgement though! We all like different things.

[(Anonymous)]

NAYRT but just agreeing that Baldree has a great balance. There are a lot of cozy fantasy books that have no stakes, and I've noped out of those.

[(Anonymous)]

DA I also think he’s succeeded at it. I laughed at myself a few times in the beginning of Legends and Lattes because nothing was happening and I was still so engrossed.

[(Anonymous)]

Any recs for authors you think succeeded?

[(Anonymous)]

Well, you could go for a mystery, say someone stole a crystal/medallion/figurine that’s important, but not, like, world-changing, or maybe there’s a curse, but not a really harmful one, just annoying or frustrating. Or there could be a quest for someone to prove themselves (as a adult or to move from apprentice to journeyman). Or there could be a tournament or a treasure hunt. Maybe there’s a Beltane celebration that has to be planned.

[(Anonymous)]

+1

Issues within a community's daily life in a fantasy setting are great for this type of story, and can be very fun to read about.