About 5 years ago (maybe a little more) a fun idea for a book came to me in a dream. I may have even written a page or two in my journal, but I’ve never been able to write more than a chapter or two of a book. One summer I got halfway through a Northanger Abbey contemporary YA, but other than that ideas have always ended pretty much at the idea board. Besides which, I don’t think I’m a particularly good writer, and this idea is too good to waste on bad writing. So I’ve not ever done much other than dream about it.
But recently something I said offhand on twitter made my husband say something to me which got all kinds of lightbulbs going on this story again. I now have a bare-bones outline and ONE character name! But it’s still mostly living in the idea realm.
Most likely this story will never get written. As I said, it’s too good of one to waste on my poor attempts at writing fiction. However, I am officially not giving up on it. Instead I am leisurely pursuing it. No actual writing yet, just jotting down ideas as they come to me. However, I am starting to run out of ideas and need some inspiration.
That, bookish friends, is where you all come in! I want to read some books or watch some movies in a similar vein. Not for ideas, so much as to get more familiar with the genre. In particular, I’m not very funny and I would like to absorb some good humor, and I am not very whimsical and need to find my inner-whimsey.
So!
Recommendations for fantasy books/movies/TV that are of the action/adventure variety, especially if they are funny. Bonus points if they’re really just for fun and not especially serious. Examples include: The Princess Bride, The Neverending Story, The Pirates of Penzance, Hook, Dragonheart, and Stardust (movie or book, they both get the idea).
Thanks guys! Looking forward to adding some stuff to my to-be-read and to-be-watched lists! ❤
Never Not Reading 
Hi Never Not Reading.
My name is Ichabod Temperance. I have a series of themed, whimsical adventures. One of them is my high fantasy saga epic! {Please pardon my being so crass as to post this, but you asked!} Here is a link to ‘A Journey of Temperance’:
My books have no graphic sex, violence, nor strong language, but Miss Plumtartt says that I accidentally sprinkle them in mild innuendo.
Good luck in finding some appropriate material and good luck in finishing your book!
Cheers!
Your pal,
~Icky. 🙂
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Apologies. I did not know a big display would pop up. I thought it would just be a url text you could click.
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Haha, that’s okay! WordPress can be funny like that, can’t it?
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Haha, I don’t think it’s crass to post it since I asked! I’ll look forward to taking a look once I’m done with Percy Jackson!
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I’m not sure if you’ve read The Wee Free Men by: Terry Pratchett? It’s the first of a series. I read it many moons ago, but remember that it was quite whimsical and amusing.
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I didn’t even think of Terry Pratchett! Thanks!
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I’d add Terry Pratchett’s discworld series as a good place to look. I’ve only read one of the novels, but I suspect that you might find some that would be helpful.
Hmmm…seems like a lot of other stuff I’ve read could potentially be helpful, but it’s been so long that I’m not sure if they were any good, or just garbage. 😛
Oh! “The Once and Future King.” It’s a classic, so that’s a plus, but it might also help. I quite enjoyed it when I read it a few years ago.
For shows/movies, all I can think of are older ones. There’s “Bedknobs and Broomsticks.” Haven’t seen it in AGES, but maybe it would be helpful? (Please don’t hate me if it actually sucks. When I say ages, I really do mean two decades). There’s also “Time Bandits.” It’s a pretty odd movie, but has some neat ideas. I think if you appreciate Monty Python, you might like that one.
Okay, that’s probably enough bad recommendations from me for one day. 😛 Except this one, I suppose: You could try working on it with someone. It doesn’t suit everyone’s creative style, but some people benefit a lot from co-drafting/plotting. Even co-writing. Just a thought!
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I actually saw several articles on the internet recommending Time Bandits for lovers of the Princess Bride. I’d never even heard of it! But it looks like exactly what I’m looking for, so we’ll have to watch it. I HAVE read The Once and Future King, a couple of times, but I was just telling someone else that I didn’t even THINK of Terry Pratchett! I’ll definitely have to give him a try.
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I think you’ll like Time Bandits. It’s just silly, campy fun.
The Once and Future King isn’t too lighthearted–I suppose that’s mostly just at the beginning. Sir-what’s-his-face and the Questing Beast. That was probably my favorite part of the whole book. 🙂
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I didn’t really GET The Once and Future King I don’t think. Just the stuff with Wart turning into animals kind of made sense to me, but the rest of it was all so … strange.
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Important question: have you tried Pratchett? I know a few people are suggesting it here, so I don’t want to overload you, especially if you’re already familiar with his work, but if you haven’t… then you *must* at least try it!! (and again, if you haven’t read it, the best places to start are either Equal Rites, Mort, or Guards Guards) For shows I can only think of the obvious like Buffy and Firefly off the top of my head- sorry!
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I feel like such a dummy for saying that I didn’t even THINK of him! I’ll have to make a trip to the book store next month to browse his massive selection and see which one catches my fancy.
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Brilliant!! So glad!!
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this one is so basic but your description made me think of this movie- National Treasure! the sherlock holmes movies. good luck! -dux
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I DO love National Treasure!
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Daughter of the Pirate King and the Jackaby series come to mind. I can’t remember if you have read those. Also, Etiquette & Espionage (The Finishing School series).
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Ooo, I forgot about Daughter of the Pirate King! It was good, then?
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Not sure if you’ve heard of the Wax and Wayne books from Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series, but I thought it has a lot of good humor in it. The first one is Alloy of Law, I think.
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