InsaneJournal

10 signs writing meme
Lots of my fanfic flisters are doing this meme for their fic, but since I don't have a great body of fanfiction work to plumb for it, I'm just going to use my original writing.

10 Signs You're Reading a Story by Zephre

1. This one is rather iconic, actually: "It takes place in the desert, and everyone suffers and dies."

2. Religion, and often a priest, priestess, or avatar of said religion, is very well-developed and important.  Sometimes more developed than the plot.  ;)

3. Slavic, multi-syllabic, or otherwise bizarre and possibly unpronounceable names.  (I've gotten better! ... A bit better! ...  I'm working on it!) 

4. There are helpful maps.  Country maps, regional maps, planetary global maps, and street maps.  Possibly even building floor plans. 

5. Even in the fantasy stories, events tend to take place in urban centers rather than in a great epic journey through the wilderness.  Man, I am not a good camper.  Very little wilderness.

6. You might need a cast list or a (gasp!) family tree to keep track of Who's Who.

7. Total Magical Apocalypse!   (Or at the very least, Extreme Magical Cataclysm!)

8. Shapeshifters.  'Nuff said.

9. Somebody of mixed ethnic heritage has an identity crisis; OR somebody is the "last survivor of their race."

10. It's not finished yet.  (I'm working on this, too.  ;) )