03-07-2024 |10 Minute Writing – Fortress Fiction
In this 10 minute writing session, MJ writes A Grobug Tale Chapter 15 – Part X.
#author #mjmunoz #writer #fantasy #storyovereverything #Grobug #GrobugTales
Crafting Playful Banter to Introduce My Chimeric Fantasy Creatures
Rewritten from transcript by Claude (https://www.anthropic.com)
As an author chronicling my writing journey, I love sharing snippets of my works-in-progress to give readers a behind-the-scenes peek at my creative process. In this 10-minute writing session from March 7th, 2024, I focused on a scene from Chapter 15 of my middle grade novel-in-progress, A Grow Bug Tale, where my insectoid protagonist Hopper meets more of the fantastical Critterbot Guardians.
With 100 minutes of writing time invested in this chapter so far, I’m starting to find the voices and dynamics of these hybrid creatures. In this excerpt, we meet WavRex, a lumbering tentacled dinosaur, and TimberTail, a spry monkey made of wood and leaves. Their playful banter as they approach the newcomer Hopper sets a lighthearted tone for the encounter.
One of the challenges in writing animal characters is conveying their unique anatomy and abilities without bogging down the action. I tried to drop in telling details like TimberTail’s prehensile tail anchoring her to WavRex’s neck to give a clear picture of their physicality. These little touches help make the creatures feel grounded and believable even in an imaginative context.
I also focused on having the Guardians’ dialogue reveal key information about Hopper’s arrival in a natural way. By having TimberTail refer to him as “the intruder,” I’m able to reinforce his outsider status and the Guardians’ role as protectors. It’s a small bit of exposition tucked into an otherwise character-driven exchange.
Of course, writing is rewriting, and even in this short scene, I can see opportunities for revision. Catching the repetition of “merrily” is a great example of how reading your work aloud can surface clunky phrasing. Those are exactly the kinds of details I’ll polish in subsequent drafts.
Moving forward, I’m excited to dive into Hopper and CinderStripe’s reactions to the new arrivals. Balancing multiple character perspectives can be tricky, but it’s so rewarding when their personalities start bouncing off each other. Dialogue is a fantastic tool for showcasing relationships and power dynamics while keeping the story momentum going.
I’m curious how other writers approach ensemble casts and creature characters in their own work. Do you have any favorite examples of authors who juggle multiple points of view successfully? What about stories that feature memorable animal or fantasy characters? Let me know in the comments!
If you enjoyed this glimpse into my writing process, be sure to subscribe to my blog for more behind-the-scenes content. I’ll be sharing story excerpts, worldbuilding tips, and general musings on the craft of fiction every week. Let’s keep those creative fires burning together!
Until next time, happy writing and imagining! May your characters surprise and delight you on every page. And remember, even if you only have ten minutes a day, you can make magic happen. Just keep showing up and trusting the process.
MJ Muñoz 