Topic Research: Mythical Creatures

Belvedere Sphynx (Wikipedia)

- My first, and perhaps favorite, story idea is to write about a 19th century explorer who is out researching and hunting for various legendary creatures. He is certain that they exist, so he is out looking for proof. He ends up at a temple that is being guarded by a sphinx. The sphinx forces the man to answer several riddles in exchange for its help (and the man's life), and each riddle centers around a different mythical creature, leading into a story about them. Just about any creature could be plugged into the story, but I'm most drawn to the unicorn, phoenix, and griffin.

(Flickr)

- Another story idea that I liked revolved around the day to day goings on at a dragon zoo (not Jurassic Park style, much more boring and prosaic). The framework story might follow a zookeeper and his new trainee. As the somewhat jaded zookeeper teaches the newbie about the different exhibits, he tells stories about their origin and/or temperament. As he passes along this knowledge, he is reminded of how remarkable the dragons really are. I could include a Chinese dragon, a Japanese dragon, and a European dragon (perhaps based on Beowulf).

Loup-garou (Wikimedia)

- My final story idea is about a grizzled, alcoholic, retired werewolf hunter with an eye patch. I don't know why, but the eye patch is important. He is hired to help and protect a young lady who has been cursed, and is being threatened by various supernatural creatures, while she attempts to end the curse First, she tells him the story of the ghost that haunts her and wishes to possess her. There is later a run in with a vampire and a werewolf. I suspect that this story would end in a twist.

Topic Brainstorm: Narrowing Down the Overwhelming

(Pixabay)

Legendary Creatures - The first topic that I became interested in, during my brainstorming session, is legendary creatures. Of the ones that interest me, this is perhaps the one that I'm most drawn to, because it allows for so much variation. My story could lean towards the fantastical and incorporate unicorns, a phoenix, or griffins into my story. I could explore the darker, gothic legends and focus on vampires, werewolves, and the undead. Then, there is a cryptozoological approach that incorporates things like bigfoot, chupacabras, or Nessie. In addition to offering an immense range of possible topics and approaches, this topic is the one that I am familiar with, but would enjoy digging deeper.

(Wikimedia)

Irish Ghost Stories - I like the idea of focusing my project on Irish ghost stories, particularly on a sort of survey of haunted locations throughout Ireland. There is a sort of gloomy ambiance in Ireland that I think amplifies a romantic, somewhat forlorn way of looking at the world. This provides an ideal setting for ghost stories to flourish.

Celtic Creatures - Focusing my project on the topic of Celtic creatures has a lot of the same appeal that the ghost stories had. However, it has a bit more room for variation. The frightening aspects of a banshee story can either be balanced by a mischievous leprechaun tale, or highlighted by a more morbid version of that same legend. It also allows a wider geographic pool of stories to pull from, including Scotland and Wales, rather than a more specific focus on Ireland.

(Wikimedia)

Japanese Ghost Stories - The topic of Japanese ghost stories piqued my interest for two reasons. The first, I simply like ghost stories of all kinds. The second is that, unlike the others that drew me, this is a topic that I am almost completely unfamiliar with. It allows an opportunity to dig deeply into something that I have no casual knowledge about, thus providing a blank sleight. During my initial research, I particularly liked reading about Onryo, or vengeful spirits. Such stories would provide excellent inspiration for a darkly atmospheric storybook.