Have you ever read an entire fantasy novel in third person present?

It's probably a terrible idea.

Wrote another 750 words tonight. I'm doing something weird that I'm very unsure about - I'm writing flashbacks in present tense and the main book in past tense. I might just switch the whole thing to present tense. Or put the flashbacks in past tense.

Outlining has always been a challenge for me. I hate how lost I feel like I can get when I free write; I know an outline can help; but something in my brain just does not like the process.

Almost 23,000 words written, the most I've done on a single project. Roughly sixish chapters. Excited but nervous. The middle is the hardest part for me.

Of course, saying all this and making a compelling story are two completely different things. Who knows if I'll ever get the thing written. I like writing sparsely, and that doesn't jive well with fantasy.

But important ideas. We should feel discomforted by the injustice around us, but it is so easy (even for myself, and I've made a career out of working with disenfranchised folks) to turn away from injustice and focus only on our own comfort.

I want to play with the idea that just because systems feel good and can even be helpful, does not automatically mean that they are ethical or moral. I want the reader to feel comforted by the establishment before realizing how destructive it is beneath the surface. Not new ideas, I know.

So the magic system is hierarchical, but obviously there will be some quirks. It's not as simple as it seems. I want to focus on the idea that the Faith did bring a lot of stability and even hope to many people - but at the expense of many others.

Magic is tightly controlled - Targoth the Godman is considered to be the ultimate Source, and all magical ability flows from him in a hierarchical manner. The lower in the hierarchy you are, the less you're able to do and the more often you need to 'check in' with your superior.

The novel I'm working on follows Wren, a young priest in a monolithic magical theocracy. The idea took shape when I asked the question - if magic were real and sufficiently rare, what would seperate magic-users from gods? Why would anyone believe in invisible gods if priests can perform miracles?

If anyone would be interested in my custom heritages for their own games, let me know and I'll post them here. They also work as a sneak peak for the novel!

I'm writing a fantasy novel, and Dm'ing a dnd campaign, both set in the same world I created, Ellandra. The dnd version of the world is set on an alternate timeline than the novel. The DndEllandra has trad 5e heritages inserted into the world as well as unique heritages I created abilities for.

@erinmevans.bsky.social @aboutdragons.bsky.social wanted to thank you guys for giving me a kick in the butt and getting my writing started again. I figure 40 is a good age to get started!

I'm reading (well, listening to the audiobook of) The Sleeping Car Porter by Suzette Mayr, and it's gotten me jazzed on Thurs person present tense. It feels so immediate and grounded. I've been frustrated with my writing style lately, and this might be the juice I needed to kick-start my creativity!

I write fantasy, promote healthy spirituality, and dm a D&D game whenever we can actually get our shit together to get around the table. Oh, and I hate social media, so I probably won't be posting too much. Hi!