McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft

Perhaps an odd request.

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Darkshore:
In my free time I love to Read/Write as I'm sure almost everyone else here does aswell. I really like to have a sort of "backbone" or a solid realistic basis for my ideas and creatures or what have you that I put into my stories. That being said I love to read mythology and legends because to me that is my solid "realistic" basis for the contents of my stories. (I do change them to make them my own though of course.) Anyways I was wondering if anyone else does this and well where do you find your information? Can you recommend any books or other sources? I'm beginning to put Magic into my stories or at least a form of it but I'm not sure where to start the search for a solid basis of semi-realistic information on the subject. Thanks. Heres hoping that I worded my request correctly. Cheers.

Sean 'Bjørn' Blackstone:
Wikipedia. Everyone says it isn't a viable source, but, people honestly dont mess with it much. Its all collected info, and theres link after link after link to more detailed info on the details of the subject. I <3 Wikipedia.

Shecky:
Wikipedia is an incredible starting point. You tend to get good general information, which can then steer you towards more informative, reliable sources; oftentimes, the References links are all you'll need.

Starbeam:
The validity of Wikipedia generally depends on what you're looking for and how much citation you have.  There has been a study that shows it's quite good for scientific sources, but the writing is very dry.  But like Shecky said--it's definitely a good place to start.  I can't use Wikipedia to verify stuff at work, but I do go there and follow the links to more legit places.  Though sometimes those links are just as unreliable as Wikipedia can be.

As for the OP, the best thing to do is to go to a library or bookstore and browse through the books in sections for religion, mythology, metaphysics, and similar.  I've found several decent dictionaries/encyclopedias of creatures, and that's where you'll find books about things like paganism, wicca, kabbalah, etc.

Darkshore:
Thanks everyone. Wikipedia did seem to slip my mind lol. Now that you mention it though I do think I have seen some Wicca, Paganism, and other types of "magic" books in some local stores. I may get a few weird looks for having them but it's purely for resource material on my part :D. (Not that there's anything wrong with people that practice said things.) Anyways again thanks everyone. I would still really love to hear of any specific books if there is anyone out there that knows of any, just makes it easier to find them on my part heh.  ;D

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