When I start writing, particularly when I’m beginning something, whether it’s a new story or a new chapter, I create a sensory hook that the reader can latch onto. It’s also my expectation that the hook provides a vehicle to move further into the story. These opening lines to a new novel of mine establish a few things about both the scene and the character that appears in it. The questions they raise move the story forward.

“The sun, hours from casting direct rays on the narrow, cobbled streets of the merchant district, raised feeble distinction between walls and doors, barrels and streets.  Shark, already there, stood in a closed doorway, seeing everything, with the glow of his pipe, a deliberate sign of his presence, warning away the unwary and signaling the invited.”

People readily identify with the situation. They understand that there is little light, things are indistinct, and like a Dutch angle in film that their perception is being manipulated. The character “Shark” focuses the reader and makes them ask the questions: “Why is he there?” “Why is he giving his position away?” The reader must consider that he belongs in this place where most people’s senses are untrustworthy. Now the reader is ready to follow to see where Shark leads them.

As we proceed into The Empire’s Edge podcast, I’ll identify how I utilize elements from the game as inspiration for developing intriguing fantasy writing.