Anyone ever set up a fantasy writing workspace?

Mark Moore · Apr 19, 2015

Something that I decided to do for fun while writing my medieval fantasy stories was to create a virtual tavern. I added an old parchment background image to OpenOffice Writer and installed an "Olde English" font to type my stories in. I've downloaded videos of fan-made medieval tavern music and background ambiance from YouTube, and I play them in various combinations through two or three players. I find it inspiring. It puts me in the right mood.

I was wondering if anyone else has done anything similar.

rwm4768 · Apr 19, 2015

I don't think I've ever gone quite that far, but I do listen to fantasy-inspired power metal while writing my epic fantasies. It especially helps when I get into the battle scenes. It gets me into the mood.

kristin724 · Apr 19, 2015

Sure. For me it is with objects, not so much virtual. Leather bound volumes and tomes that are really just fancy notebooks, quill pens, hefty mugs or goblets.

I don't suppose you would be wearing corsets or circlets?

Filigree · Apr 20, 2015

Nope. My main criteria for 'writing space': dim room, backlit keyboard, at least two monitors, printer nearby, food and drink in nearby room, enough memory, and stable broadband. Anything else is just a distraction for me.

waylander · Apr 20, 2015

I find the barrel of ale ultimately counterproductive.

Forbidden Snowflake · Apr 20, 2015

rwm4768 said:
I don't think I've ever gone quite that far, but I do listen to fantasy-inspired power metal while writing my epic fantasies. It especially helps when I get into the battle scenes. It gets me into the mood.

Could I get a few band names? Sounds great. Please?

Also, I just have playlists to set my current mood. Nothing else.

waylander · Apr 20, 2015

Forbidden Snowflake said:
Could I get a few band names? Sounds great. Please?

Also, I just have playlists to set my current mood. Nothing else.

Sonata Arctica, Hammerfall, Nightwish

Forbidden Snowflake · Apr 20, 2015

waylander said:
Sonata Arctica, Hammerfall, Nightwish

Thank you

Hammerfall is not on my list yet, will check it out.

waylander · Apr 20, 2015

Dragon Lies Bleeding is a great track for an imagined cavalry charge

Maxx · Apr 20, 2015

Mark Moore said:
Something that I decided to do for fun while writing my medieval fantasy stories was to create a virtual tavern. I added an old parchment background image to OpenOffice Writer and installed an "Olde English" font to type my stories in. I've downloaded videos of fan-made medieval tavern music and background ambiance from YouTube, and I play them in various combinations through two or three players. I find it inspiring. It puts me in the right mood.

I was wondering if anyone else has done anything similar.

I'm writing about 18th century France much of the time so the music is from that era, but I have Don Quixote on my desk and Sterne's Sentimental Journey somewhere near by.

I also have some Auric from Cocteau's Beauty and the Beast and a tendency to say "La Belle, je suis la port a votre chamber" every 5 minutes.

rwm4768 · Apr 20, 2015

waylander said:
Sonata Arctica, Hammerfall, Nightwish

All good bands. I'll add Blind Guardian to the list. Their style's a bit different, but they are probably the most heavily fantasy-inspired band out there. They've had countless songs influenced by fantasy books (ASoIaF, Wheel of Time, Lord of the Rings, and many others). They did an entire concept album of the Silmarillion.

Mr Flibble · Apr 20, 2015

I have a dragon's "skull "over the PC and a bat'leth on the wall, oh an a unicorn and a guy casting fire balls and....

But not because I am writing fantasy.

I have that room anyway. I don't need to change it for a book

atombaby · Apr 20, 2015

All I need is a comfy chair to sit in, some Werthers or a hot drink, and lately, silence does the trick for me to get to writing. The program I use to write, Focuswriter, lets me pick whatever background image I want. But most of the time, I use a dark background with light text...reminds me of the DOS days. I know, I'm a bore.

CrastersBabies · Apr 20, 2015

Many RPG video games have amazingly beautiful soundtracks and environmental music. Here are a few:

WoW - Ashenvale (More ambiance)
WoW - Eversong Woods (Ambiance)
Wow - Lich King (More emotional/epic)
WoW - Warlods of Drawnor (Battle)

Other RPGs as well. Look up "best RPG music" and you'll find a lot. Different types, tones, emotions.

Or, you could just jam old-style with Smooth McGroove and his acapella video game tunes of the 90's and beyond.

Zelda/Link

kristin724 · Apr 20, 2015

Gaming wise I go by my husband. He loves Crusade Kings and they have several different expansions for different eras and soundtracks available for each. Nice, epic ye olde sounds. Also, I think someone else mentioned, the Skyrim music is great, too.

rwm4768 · Apr 20, 2015

CrastersBabies said:
Many RPG video games have amazingly beautiful soundtracks and environmental music.

Now I'm thinking back to the soundtrack of the classic Super Nintendo RPG Chrono Trigger. A lot of those songs still go through my head when I'm dreaming up plots.

Anyone ever set up a fantasy writing workspace?

Mark Moore

rwm4768

practical experience, FTW

kristin724

Filigree

Mildly Disturbing

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Forbidden Snowflake

I'm quite put out.

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Forbidden Snowflake

I'm quite put out.

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

Maxx

Got the hang of it, here

rwm4768

practical experience, FTW

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

atombaby

nice & cynical

CrastersBabies

Burninator!

kristin724

rwm4768

practical experience, FTW