Hi all! Here is the promised Steampunk and Spec Genre inspo and research list.

I’m sure this is not a comprehensive list of movies and authors of the era we’re talking about with Steampunk, but a lot to explore here.

All of the originals of these are public domain, so you could adapt these stories however you want:

“Anything made before 1923, no matter what, will be definitely in the public domain. After that you can check out this chart because determining whether something is in the public domain by the date gets a lot harder than that. Most times, it’s impossible to determine whether something is in the public domain just by the date.”

The Victorian Web 

Victorian-Era Hobbies

Victorian-Era Slang

Wild West-Era Slang

Different story structures briefly explained

Book I recommended first day about temperaments: Please Understand Me

ANNOUNCEMENT: I would like to do a post on this site featuring your Six-Word Stories. To be included (can be anonymous – up to you) submit sometime in November by email.

 

Homework for third week:

1.) Find an object you are drawn to, feel emotionally attached to, are curious about or have a somewhat antagonistic relationship with – could be large like a refrigerator. If you can’t physically bring it to the next class, take a picture.

2.) Optional writing exercise/s: “Be the Tree” by John Smolens from Now Write! Fiction, “Setting as Character” by Louise Penny from Now Write! Mysteries, and “Leaping into Landscape” by Wendy Mewes from Now Write! Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror:

Get in the habit of observing landscape and your own reactions to different environments. How do your moods relate to your surroundings?

  • Write down where your story or a sequence in your story is set. What era. What season. Close your eyes and see it, feel it, hear it, smell it, touch it.
  • Write down headings for each of the five senses, then a series of adjectives under each heading that describe the sensations of your setting and/or the season.
  • Write a one or two paragraph description of this location using all the senses except sight.

  • You find yourself in a forest with a thick canopy that blocks out most of the light:
    1. What do you see? Write down a physical description.
    2. How does what you see make you feel? Describe.
    3. There’s a mysterious sound and movement. What can it be? What do you fear it is? Describe.
  • If your setting was a character, what would be its “character”? Describe it as if it were a human – what it looks like, how it feels. Is it happy, sad, angry, guilty?
  • Conjure up a (fantasy) character that represents the setting. Some of the same questions we explored last night for your antagonist/villain:
    1. What is their anatomy, physical appearance (including dress and possessions)? Does it have any scars or wounds?
    2. How does he/she/it behave and take up space?
    3. What is their physiology – how does he/she/it energize or stay alive – what it eats, drinks, absorbs. Does this character need sleep?
    4. What is their psychology like – for ex. do they feel superior or inferior to others? Do they have a psychological wound?
    5. What are he/she/its’ special skills or powers?
    6. What is the weakness or vulnerability? What can harm or kill it?