Every now and again, I want to write a fun story that has no real purpose. No world-changing events or dastardly deeds. Something to bring home the fact that real people live in Windemere. I’m never sure if this is a good idea. Who would read a fantasy story without an evil wizard or monsters?
Still, this led to the creation of a stand-alone book called ‘Yum-Tum Tavern’. It revolved around a dwarven woman named Ranga Torunn. She has opened a tavern with the goal of becoming the most famous tavern in all of Windemere. After an adventure in another series, she owns the decanters of Eporwil, goddess of drinking, and the imps that had once stolen the decanters work for her. Her cook has magical pots and pans, her hostess is a seductress, her entertainers are all unique, and her bouncer is a half-troll who wants to be a singer. Yes, whacky and odd is the flavor of this one.
I had a small story going through this with somebody trying to sabotage the tavern and get it to fail. That sounds rather standard, which is why this particular idea has stalled out. I made some great characters with personal stories and was going to write it like a set of short stories. The question is can I think up an overall plot that brings some level of suspense in the stories and a sense of closure at the end. Maybe a magical deal that she has a year to make a certain amount of profits or something bad will happen?
Legends of Windemere 
In cases like this I just start writing with no plan in mind and see where it goes. Nine times out of ten I end up with a plot twist or an ending that surprises me, which is for me 3/4 of the fun of writing in the first place. 🙂
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Thanks. I’ll try that when the time comes. I have a lot of trouble doing the ‘no plan’ writing. I tend to wander after every idea even when I have a plan.
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I actually like the idea of a collection of short stories revolving around the Inn. It would be like Tales from Jabba’s Palace.
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It could act as a fun reprieve from grand adventures too.
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I love the idea! I was just about to ask when this book would become available.
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Many years. I take a break from novel writing by planning other books. It’s a vicious cycle. Thanks to 10+ years of playing the ‘submit to get a rejection letter’ game, I have about 40 series in various stages of planning. This week I’m peering into the least touched ones to see if they have merit.
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Years?? What??? Nooooooooo!
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Sorry. Still got Legends of Windemere to keep you occupied.
Think I’m learning to keep my mouth shut of future projects.
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Well, your projects are always exciting to hear about. So keep talking them up!
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idea cloud: dwarf tavern strippers gold coins
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Gold coins in g-strings would be painful. Diamond spheres would be worse. Windemere might have to move on to a paper currency to allow for strippers.
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But those dwarf wenches could rock it. So much to jiggle.
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Not sure it’s safe to keep going with this conversation.
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maybe Charles could write the character of a fantasy creature stripper for us…since we are in dire need of strippers! lol
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Female orc?
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Now that would be one interesting post!!! Lol
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Windemere orcs are a bit different, but the traditional one would be funny.
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I would love to read a collection of those stories. That tavern sounds like my kind of place, Charles!
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It’ll be a fun story to write up when the time comes. Maybe I’ll get to it earlier than expected since Range debuts in my 3rd series.
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Although I know you have a gazillion projects to look forward to, it’s always nice to have the option to have something else to think about.
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My mind jumps all the time. I still hope to finish another chapter section tonight and then prep a blog post for tomorrow. Busy, busy, busy.
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Very busy – good luck!
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Thanks. If I start posting gibberish, you’ll know I’ve gone too far.
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🙂 We’ll all be on gibberish-alert for you, Charles! (thank heavens for varying definitions of gibberish, otherwise I’d be doooommmmed!)
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I’m sure D would bail you out of trouble. 😀
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Maybe 😉 If he felt like it!
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I just realized out of all the fantasy races, ‘jobs’, and beings ever, I never put druids into Windemere. Not saying your Druid, but the nature worshiping priest version.
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He started out that kind, I mean that was his training way back when – with a touch of natural magic/trans-dimensional teleporting thrown in for good measure. They’re actually kind of boring – as in they’re more the gatekeepers of knowledge or the natural world (that’s how it always seemed to me). Sorcerers and other magically-inclined jobs can do that just as well (I think? I’m probably not as well-versed in fantasy jobs as I should be).
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They definitely had a smaller role. Rangers and barbarians had the wilderness combat that druids didn’t have. Priests had the better holy magic. The only thing druids really had was the animal shape-shifting ability, but that got limited to specific forms. Not as useful if you had to pick carefully from a list.
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Sounds good to me as it is but if you want you could overcaricaturate the characters and create a kind of parody!
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I was thinking of having a few out there characters, but Ranga is a rather stable character. She debuts in another series, so I can’t make her a joke. Maybe the eye in the tornado of wild personalities.
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I’m all in for the tavern stories…the sooner the better…just saying!!!
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I’ll make it next on the planning list and maybe it can be my stand alone book between Darwin and Sin.
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That sounds good!! We are going to keep you busy writing 🙂
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The voices sure are getting a lot of backup from everyone.
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Heehee…that should tell you something. Listen to the voices!!!
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I do, except the one that keeps threatening me with squirrels and another that threatens me with my nemesis.
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You need to get Bradley to talk to the voice threatening you with squirrels. In his family his totem is the squirrel…he can probably stop the voice!
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Nothing can stop that voice. I’ll send him after the one that torments me about the nemesis who can’t be named in public forums.
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Hmmmm…I will help him with your nemesis! I’ve got a mean right hook! lol
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Great. I’ll behind you. 😀
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I have a killer wind up…so you might want to take a step back! lol
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I’ve got good reflexes and I’m short. Ducking takes less effort.
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lol…just remember you were warned! 🙂
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“Basil! Basil Fawlty!”
’nuff said.
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Thanks for the laugh.
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Of course, I love a good short story…how about giving us one little tiny teaser of a story – one of these days…
Ellespeth
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If I can ever find the time to write one, I’ll definitely give it a shot.
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You know, I am going to take out a day and read ALL of your blog posts. It will be really fun! 😀
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Thanks. There’s a lot to get through though.
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And I hope I get through all of it and enjoy it on my way! 😀
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