African WildCat

uh....*scratches head* im writing this story called the zodiac missions, actually, the title is still pending, im trying to find a better one, but anyways, the story is about a troubled teenager who discovers he is "leo" and is forced to save the world. though i really want to turn my story into actual book someday, im afraid of something, and i need your advice:

can i use the zodiac signs as the focus of a fantasy story or is it risky? i ask this because i want to choose a theme that hasnt been used in fantasy yet, harry potter deals with wizards, star wars dealt with space, but the zodiac deals with real life, real people....does it matter?....do you get what im saying? i dont know.......i could really use some opinions, or if you have questions, ill be glad to answer them

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phurst

Check out the Zodiac Killer. My feeling is although we all agree there are zodiac signs, most people believe that they are meaningless and powerless. If you could put some weird twist to it (because there are plenty of Leo's) that makes this guy special then it works. Writing is about carrying the audience and the topic is really secondary except to bring in that Genre of reader. IMHO

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CroZ

There's no problem with using zodiac figures. It really all goes back to that chosen here of ... etc ... story.

The theme is fairly abundant in Japanese anime, most magic spells you see cast by those teenage hero archetypes are supposed to be drawn from the stars, so to speak. Think Sailor Moon. Then there's 'Fruit's Basket' whose characters are drawn from the Japanese version of our zodiac.

You know, zodiac readings aren't in the newspaper for a laugh. Lots of people really do follow this stuff. A large portion of westerners can't start their day without a morning reading. Mystic arts are undergoing something of a revival right now, just try get a booking with your local fortune teller and you're likely to find yourself on a waiting list. They also play a major role in many modern pagan and Eastern religions.

2.0

I don't really think many people put much stock in fortune telling per se, but I personally have known quite a few people who are really gung-ho about astrology, stoners and hippies mostly.
I'd suggest if you want to go the zodiac route, do some studying of astrology. Having your hero be a hero because he is a Leo seems to me to fall short. I mean, how many Leos are out in the world? Now if he was born a Leo with Saturn and Mars in the fifth house of whatever with Pluto accenting in whatever place and a star dying and such, that would explain it a little better and probably gain the interest of the astrologically inclined.

Edit: Ok, I didn't notice at first you were going to have him born the actual Leo. =P
Go for it.

phurst

I missed it too but that sends me places I don't want to go. Go for.

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aspiretowrite

I don't see why not - if the story is good and you tell it well.

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African WildCat

thanks guys, i really appreciate the advice, and im so going to continue writing my story, and i happen to be researching astrology, wikipedia has been a help. thanks again.

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People are afraid of what they don't understand.......