Inspired by Animal Speak by Ted Andrews, this story series invites the reader to travel to a new world and meet someone special to them - their own Endless Forest deer. Each story will be different but will be considered the same 'world'.
Sometimes your deer will ask you a question. Other times maybe there is danger nearby. The ideas are endless.
I was thinking about maybe writing a story once every couple of days or so, or maybe once a week. I'm always open for ideas and suggestions too.
Alright peeps, after the next story (VI) is written, I'll need help coming up with ideas for new settings.
I've done a golden meadow, a beach, a dark place with a street lamp, a snowy forest, and some ruins. VI will have a night forest with a star-filled sky, and after that I can take this any direction.
Please feel free to suggest anything you think would be cool, like "Your deer does yadayada" or "This happens eventually." Since this series really is about all of us (as individuals with their personal deer), I would love for it to be a community-inspired project.
These sound so very amazing by the idea and the few phrases I flew over, that this certainly needs my track so I can read it all completely later. <3 It's just too late now and I'm very tired and it was a long day, so I really have to go to sleep now...
Hmm! Maybe as a sort of comparison to the old civilization of Part V, the next part could take place in a large modern city. Or for more peaceful settings with a human influence, a city park, museum, cemetery, hedge maze.. I think I've mentioned the Chartres labyrinth before, but it'd be neat to use if you ever take a Gothic theme for one of your chapters.
Or just natural settings we haven't explored yet, a barren tundra or desert (or maybe an oasis there), open marshland or dense swamp, tropical forest, prairie (maybe in the middle of a storm, they're pretty impressive looking on the plains ), a mountain summit, canyons, prehistoric caves... I'd better stop now xD
ah geez, Ephra, you totally gave me some great ideas!
Well I know one of the ones I wanted to do that wasn't what you listed was a river/waterfall. Might do them separately or combine them. I've definitely got some really cool ideas now, thank you!
Actually, let me throw out an idea while we're kind of 'developing' this series:
What would you think if you slowly start to lose yourself as a human and find yourself becoming more and more like your deer with each visit? I had a plan for the next chapter that introduces this concept. So your deer ultimately helps you find the deer within yourself...if that makes sense?
I think it's an interesting idea, although I wouldn't want to entirely lose my human nature! To me the deer seems to be helping us sort of reconcile our self-centred humanity with the world of nature, showing us how to appreciate the earth. Maybe they'll help us find some balance or perspective in our life or even just help us overcome some problem... maybe I'm getting a little clichéd here. If you're already working towards a particular theme then go for it! The only things I know are what you've written for us here.
The idea I had was that you become the fawn that the pregnant doe births, and you go through their life with your deer. You're still yourself, just when you go to the natural world you become a deer.
I came up with a different idea so I'm gonna rewrite the end to Story VI. Thanks for the imput.
Story VI has been updated, and I have an idea for Story VII thanks to Fayne and Fledermaus.
Now I wanted to see what you guys thought of a different direction for this series:
What if, going with the doe and fawn thing like I originally planned, you watch the birth of a fawn and protect them during your travels as their guardian, paralleling how your deer protects you? So you go through a different appreciation for nature. Let me know what you guys think.
I've just lost interest since someone complained about the way it was written. It's impossible to write it in a way where everyone's abilities, customs, and so on are taken under consideration.
I guess I just don't really like criticism. I'm not an artist, and I know a lot of you guys are and that's what you get used to is constructively criticizing each others work, but to me it feels more like I'm being told that everything in the story is wrong. And I just feel like if that's the case then why bother writing it?
It's true that you can't please everyone, but a lot of people enjoy these. I know I do. And if you enjoy writing them, then just ignore any criticism you get.
Stupid random idea, but what would you guys think if one day I livestreamed writing one of these, and got people to throw out ideas and stuff? I thought maybe one or two of the stories could be partially "written by readers, for readers". Like I'd write the story but would have you guys be like "This would be cool next" or "Have that happen!"
Or would you guys rather this just be completely my writing and direction? Totally up to you.
Where do you think would be the most likely place for you to see a fawn being birthed? I've got a lot of different ideas from Ephra for places I could write about in this series, such as a tundra, an oasis, mountain trail...I've also always loved the idea of a crumbling old church that animals use for shelter, but I've done ruins so I don't really want to do too much of the same thing.
Or is there another place you think would be a suitable 'birthing grounds'? Maybe a cliffside that overlooks the ocean, or a lovely moor where other animals can watch the miracle of life (sorry, may be too Bambi-ish there). Maybe a wildflower field? It isn't limited to just these, if you have any ideas please feel free to share! The possibilities are pretty much endless.
Thanks for the input! I was leaning toward the wildflower field myself, but I wanted to see what others seemed like good places before I wrote the story.
I might try to get Story X written (or at least started) tonight after I come home from work. I think it will be an effective turning point in the story for the reader.
I gotta admit, I really love how these stories have turned out. I started off with a few ideas, then after getting them written, came up with a little more. These are not at all planned out, I have a few ideas but never really know what direction I want to take with them. I don't even know how many stories I plan to write XD
But in any case, thank you all for your suggestions and for reading!
I had a few other ideas for birthing grounds, maybe ones with a little more of a human touch:
Mhmm, I thought it would be a neat continuation since in the previous chapters it is mentioned a few times that Nature tries to reclaim what was taken from her. Still not sure what I want to do yet, but thanks for the vote! Still looking for votes on where I should have a fawn birthed! Check the links in the previous comments to see where I had in mind, still don't know which one to choose.
Looks like the ones with the most interest are the Mountain Trail, Wildflower Field, and the Abandoned Warehouse. Any more votes? I might have to use my 20-sided dice to decide XD
Alright I'll go with the Wildflower Field for Story X. I think it fits really well, too.
Maybe Stories XI and XII can involve the mountain trail and abandoned warehouse. I think I have a neat idea for what could happen next...or maybe XIII should be the abandoned warehouse because it's unlucky...
I can't decide what direction to take Stories XI and XII to:
Option A - In Story XI, you and your deer take Vito to an open place where they meet a great stag and learn from their ways. Possible places would include the Tundra, Mountain Trail, Moor, or maybe the Abandoned Warehouse. Then in Story XII you are tossed into a place of danger and must protect Vito from harm. Possible places would include the Desert/Oasis (heat), Plains (lightning), and Marshland (gators/crocs).
Option B - The reverse of Option A. In Story XI you are tossed into a place of danger and must protect Vito from harm. Possible places would include the Desert/Oasis (heat), Plains (lightning), and Marshland (gators/crocs). Then in Story XII, you and your deer take Vito to an open place where they meet a great stag and learn from their ways. Possible places would include the Tundra, Mountain Trail, Moor, or maybe the Abandoned Warehouse.
I like the flow of option A better, I figure the stag would probably teach you a little how to defend the fawn in preparation for the 'trials' of the next chapter?
Mhmm, I think that would work better too. Now I just need to decide which settings for both stories. I think I want to use the plain for a later part, so as far as XII it'll be between the oasis or the marshland.
I think I want to save the Warehouse for later. So I'll probably do the Moor, Mountain Path, or Tundra next. Moor wouldn't be too bad, really.
I think the supplements have really become more of places I personally would like to see. I've visited a zen garden before but would love to see another one, especially right now, and sII is inspired by Angel Falls in Venezuela. The next supplement will most likely be in the western US, probably exploring one of the state parks in the desert.
Sorry guys, but while everything's going on about Dad, I'm gonna have to wait to continue these stories. I am not quitting this series, just have had less time due to people coming over and stuff.
If I get the time, I'll write the next one, but it won't be as often as I had been writing them.
Alright so maybe tomorrow (or tonight if I feel like it) I'll get Story XI written or at least started. I decided to go with the mountain path for it and have a great speech from the stag you meet there.
On a related note, I have a few ideas for how to end this series (won't be anytime soon, don't worry!!) but I don't know what direction to take. I'll make these options really vague but wanted to get some feedback from you guys:
#1 - Your deer gives you a shocking discovery concerning your existence.
#2 - Your deer asks you what you have learned, and then later you see them appear in your own daily life.
#3 - This series ends with the reader being asked to do what they can to save the planet (...links to environmental charities?)
#4 - A combination of #3 with either #1 or #2
#5 - #1, #2, and #3 combined *may be difficult though*
I hope that doesn't spoil anything, but any feedback is greatly appreciated.
I hate that I'm procrastinating on this series, just can't seem to get my inspiration back since everything going on with Dad. I'm not abandoning this series at all, just need to get back into the rhythm.
One more edit - Laruna suggested writing a few stories through the eyes of a deer. She said maybe one of a deer in captivity. Will have to look into that.
Gosh I'm not sure which ending to go with! =( I like #2 for the closure it would bring to the series' end, #3 wouldn't be bad either. One of those two, I guess.
Mhmm, I think that's a good direction to go too. I wasn't so sure if I was going to be too preachy with #3 though, but as Ghandi had been quoted, "Be the change you want in the world". I'd like a few more opinions before I make a decision though.
I also added another story under a new theme called Perspectives, which will feature stories in the eyes of different organisms other than humans.
Quad, these are absoloutely amazing. I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed them <333 Your storytelling makes me so envious of your wonderful skills ;A; -cling-
Dannii - Pssh I don't have any skills. The people who have skills are the artists on here like Ephra, Pega, Corg, and countless others who make this community awesome.
Plenty of people here have skills, but trust me Quad, you're one of them c: No lie, your writings are definitely in my favourites. That sentence made no sense but its 7am and I haven't slept 8D <3
I didn't want to come off sounding snobby or pompous, but I thought it would be nice/fun to make a 'writing tips' topic, mostly just to help someone who wanted to write but might have a hard time finding inspiration. I just wanted to share some of my techniques for finding a muse *shrug*
Should I make a topic like that, or would I look like a snob if I did?
I know I shouldn't, but I'm
*tracking* I love these
Alright peeps, after the next
I've done a golden meadow, a beach, a dark place with a street lamp, a snowy forest, and some ruins. VI will have a night forest with a star-filled sky, and after that I can take this any direction.
Please feel free to suggest anything you think would be cool, like "Your deer does yadayada" or "This happens eventually." Since this series really is about all of us (as individuals with their personal deer), I would love for it to be a community-inspired project.
So any ideas for Story VII?
These sound so very amazing
Hmm! Maybe as a sort of
Or just natural settings we haven't explored yet, a barren tundra or desert (or maybe an oasis there), open marshland or dense swamp, tropical forest, prairie (maybe in the middle of a storm, they're pretty impressive looking on the plains
ah geez, Ephra, you totally
Well I know one of the ones I wanted to do that wasn't what you listed was a river/waterfall. Might do them separately or combine them. I've definitely got some really cool ideas now, thank you!
Actually, let me throw out an idea while we're kind of 'developing' this series:
What would you think if you slowly start to lose yourself as a human and find yourself becoming more and more like your deer with each visit? I had a plan for the next chapter that introduces this concept. So your deer ultimately helps you find the deer within yourself...if that makes sense?
I think it's an interesting
The idea I had was that you
I came up with a different idea so I'm gonna rewrite the end to Story VI. Thanks for the imput.
So far so good. I just
Nice idea, Quad!
Story VI has been updated,
Now I wanted to see what you guys thought of a different direction for this series:
What if, going with the doe and fawn thing like I originally planned, you watch the birth of a fawn and protect them during your travels as their guardian, paralleling how your deer protects you? So you go through a different appreciation for nature. Let me know what you guys think.
I am of course quite partial
Sorry guys, but I don't think
Why, Quad...? :/
:/
I've just lost interest since
I guess I just don't really like criticism. I'm not an artist, and I know a lot of you guys are and that's what you get used to is constructively criticizing each others work, but to me it feels more like I'm being told that everything in the story is wrong. And I just feel like if that's the case then why bother writing it?
It's true that you can't
Yeah...I guess I was just
I'll try to get VII written tonight after I get home from work.
Stupid random idea, but what
Or would you guys rather this just be completely my writing and direction? Totally up to you.
I kinda like not knowing what
/tracking Such a lovely
Such a lovely idea, pitty I didn't catch onto this earlier.
No worries, I've only been
Hey guys, if you don't mind, check out this topic and let me know if there's any music that seems to make you think about this series.
Hey quick question for you
Where do you think would be the most likely place for you to see a fawn being birthed? I've got a lot of different ideas from Ephra for places I could write about in this series, such as a tundra, an oasis, mountain trail...I've also always loved the idea of a crumbling old church that animals use for shelter, but I've done ruins so I don't really want to do too much of the same thing.
Or is there another place you think would be a suitable 'birthing grounds'? Maybe a cliffside that overlooks the ocean, or a lovely moor where other animals can watch the miracle of life (sorry, may be too Bambi-ish there). Maybe a wildflower field? It isn't limited to just these, if you have any ideas please feel free to share! The possibilities are pretty much endless.
I really like the wildflower
Thanks for the input! I was
I might try to get Story X written (or at least started) tonight after I come home from work. I think it will be an effective turning point in the story for the reader.
I gotta admit, I really love how these stories have turned out. I started off with a few ideas, then after getting them written, came up with a little more. These are not at all planned out, I have a few ideas but never really know what direction I want to take with them. I don't even know how many stories I plan to write XD
But in any case, thank you all for your suggestions and for reading!
I had a few other ideas for birthing grounds, maybe ones with a little more of a human touch:
An old Native American burial mound
A graveyard (would be kind of ironic since it's a place of death where a fawn is born)
An abandoned warehouse, symbolizing Nature retaking places where humans have built on.
Maybe on (or under) a stone bridge
Previous ideas were:
Tundra
Oasis
Mountain Trail
Old Church
Cliffside
Moor
Wildflower Field
I personally like the idea of
Mhmm, I thought it would be a
Looks like the ones with the most interest are the Mountain Trail, Wildflower Field, and the Abandoned Warehouse. Any more votes? I might have to use my 20-sided dice to decide XD
Found a lovely picture I took
xx
Hey thanks! Where was that
I'll totally use it for one of the stories.
Definately the Wildflower
Deviantart|Bio
Signature/avatar are WIP.
I was actually in eastern
Glad I could be of help c:
Alright I'll go with the
Maybe Stories XI and XII can involve the mountain trail and abandoned warehouse. I think I have a neat idea for what could happen next...or maybe XIII should be the abandoned warehouse because it's unlucky...
I can't decide what direction
Option A - In Story XI, you and your deer take Vito to an open place where they meet a great stag and learn from their ways. Possible places would include the Tundra, Mountain Trail, Moor, or maybe the Abandoned Warehouse. Then in Story XII you are tossed into a place of danger and must protect Vito from harm. Possible places would include the Desert/Oasis (heat), Plains (lightning), and Marshland (gators/crocs).
Option B - The reverse of Option A. In Story XI you are tossed into a place of danger and must protect Vito from harm. Possible places would include the Desert/Oasis (heat), Plains (lightning), and Marshland (gators/crocs). Then in Story XII, you and your deer take Vito to an open place where they meet a great stag and learn from their ways. Possible places would include the Tundra, Mountain Trail, Moor, or maybe the Abandoned Warehouse.
I like the flow of option A
Mhmm, I think that would work
The "unlucky" or bad one
The warehouse or the moor sound good for the lucky story. 83
I think I want to save the
I think the supplements have really become more of places I personally would like to see. I've visited a zen garden before but would love to see another one, especially right now, and sII is inspired by Angel Falls in Venezuela. The next supplement will most likely be in the western US, probably exploring one of the state parks in the desert.
Sorry guys, but while
If I get the time, I'll write the next one, but it won't be as often as I had been writing them.
gah, late track. Praying for
Praying for you, Quad.
Alright so maybe tomorrow (or
On a related note, I have a few ideas for how to end this series (won't be anytime soon, don't worry!!) but I don't know what direction to take. I'll make these options really vague but wanted to get some feedback from you guys:
#1 - Your deer gives you a shocking discovery concerning your existence.
#2 - Your deer asks you what you have learned, and then later you see them appear in your own daily life.
#3 - This series ends with the reader being asked to do what they can to save the planet (...links to environmental charities?)
#4 - A combination of #3 with either #1 or #2
#5 - #1, #2, and #3 combined *may be difficult though*
I hope that doesn't spoil anything, but any feedback is greatly appreciated.
I hate that I'm procrastinating on this series, just can't seem to get my inspiration back since everything going on with Dad. I'm not abandoning this series at all, just need to get back into the rhythm.
One more edit - Laruna suggested writing a few stories through the eyes of a deer. She said maybe one of a deer in captivity. Will have to look into that.
Edit #2 - I wrote Supplement III today. It features the Chartres labyrinth that Ephra suggested.
Gosh I'm not sure which
Mhmm, I think that's a good
I also added another story under a new theme called Perspectives, which will feature stories in the eyes of different organisms other than humans.
I was going to say #5, but I
I'd say #4.
Have a nice day.
Deviantart|Bio
Signature/avatar are WIP.
*nodnodnod* I'm starting to
Also... I badly need a muse to get back into writing the actual story. Someone send me a muse please! I'm desperate here!! XD
*mails a muse?* XD
Quad, these are absoloutely
Pega - I didn't mean
Dannii - Pssh I don't have any skills. The people who have skills are the artists on here like Ephra, Pega, Corg, and countless others who make this community awesome.
*wide awake, gonna work on Story XI I guess...*
I was kidding. XD I don't
And I'm not exactly a literary artist, so... XP It takes me forever to write anything. Bastilion and Triston's writings are the exception.
Pff! Pff! Plenty of people
Plenty of people here have skills, but trust me Quad, you're one of them c: No lie, your writings are definitely in my favourites. That sentence made no sense but its 7am and I haven't slept 8D <3
Out of curiosity... I didn't
I didn't want to come off sounding snobby or pompous, but I thought it would be nice/fun to make a 'writing tips' topic, mostly just to help someone who wanted to write but might have a hard time finding inspiration. I just wanted to share some of my techniques for finding a muse *shrug*
Should I make a topic like that, or would I look like a snob if I did?
Do it!
It's not snobby to give tips