Ask the Author: Shawn Johnson
Answered Questions (2)
Shawn Johnson
A lot of inspiration comes from video games, namely, the world building and the magic systems. There are so many wonderful fantasy worlds, in Rpgs especially, that really help you think about how expansive and immersive your own worlds can be.
The same goes for reading. I think one of the best ways to be inspired to write is to read. If you're having trouble finding inspiration to write, I would highly recommend picking up a book! Try a new genre if you're in a slump. If you don't normally read Romantasy, you should definitely try it. Or if you don't normally read Dark Fantasy, I would highly recommend giving it a try.
I also really enjoy playing guitar, and sometimes improvising for 20-30 minutes can really help with creativity.
The same goes for reading. I think one of the best ways to be inspired to write is to read. If you're having trouble finding inspiration to write, I would highly recommend picking up a book! Try a new genre if you're in a slump. If you don't normally read Romantasy, you should definitely try it. Or if you don't normally read Dark Fantasy, I would highly recommend giving it a try.
I also really enjoy playing guitar, and sometimes improvising for 20-30 minutes can really help with creativity.
Shawn Johnson
I really like anime and video games, and when I was a kid, I used a program called Rpg Maker after school every day to work on my own games. I always loved games like Final Fantasy and Secret of Mana. I always thought it would be really cool to write a story for a video game like that.
Originally Cryo Zyphos was meant to be a story about twin brothers Lucius and Leo who compete for their father's throne. Over time I changed the idea to have Lucius be a woman, Lucy, and I noticed that there was much more opportunity in the story for expressing themes like sibling rivalry, overcoming obstacles presented by misogyny, staying resilient in times of strife, and overcoming insecurity. It's a fantasy adventure that is very emotionally heavy, with a lot of drama and tons of over-the-top magic. The story is very close to me, and I hope that you will enjoy it!
Originally Cryo Zyphos was meant to be a story about twin brothers Lucius and Leo who compete for their father's throne. Over time I changed the idea to have Lucius be a woman, Lucy, and I noticed that there was much more opportunity in the story for expressing themes like sibling rivalry, overcoming obstacles presented by misogyny, staying resilient in times of strife, and overcoming insecurity. It's a fantasy adventure that is very emotionally heavy, with a lot of drama and tons of over-the-top magic. The story is very close to me, and I hope that you will enjoy it!
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