Wenn & Wolf Tales
Writer's Resource

I derived this map from an isle/peninsula of Wales and just dressed it up for the genre. The real name is the Isle of Anglesey. Tempting to go for 'Angel Sea' but it doesn't really fit our context. There's a modern map here. It's loaded with Welsh names I can't pronounce. :) It appears to me to be about the best land formation in the area to have lots of water access, especially to Ireland (west) and the Isle of Man (north). I also like it because it's part of that highly-concentrated european world we're playing in BUT it's an island and sticking out there sort of on its own. Seems right for Camelot being a focal point in the Western world at that time. Also right for Wolf being in the thick of things, yet a bit off to himself? There's no demand that we use a real world model for our realm, but... why not? If we're going to stick to using real places like France, then I think we need to make it all part of the same world. This isle is significantly separate from the 'mainland'. Many benefits of defense and just plain old separation from all that stuff going on 'out there', when desired. It is Wolf's primary focus of responsibility, but also his retreat. Stream of consciousness ensues... :) We've talked about changing names to something else, like changing away from 'Camelot' although retaining the flavor of the legend. Well, Tolkien came across a word I really like. He changed it to Middle Earth, but I think I'd like it something closer to its original form, perhaps with less hard/German sound. Per a Tolkien bio I read, "'Middangeard' was an ancient expression for the everyday world between Heaven above and Hell below." That description seems just about right to me, as it obviously did to JRR. We could play with the word? Not Midden, it means 'refuse heap' hehe. Middlegard has been used in fiction as a synonym for Middle Earth. Whatever. Needs more thought. Maybe digging around in Latin or Norse lingo would provide interesting prospects. Okay, I feel that we have a world to name, that is, the whole concept world in which we're writing, akin to Tolkien's Middle Earth, but mixing it with places existing in the real world today? (I'm still not sure about that.) Anyway, Middle Earth isn't/wasn't a 'place' so much as a possible time frame and state of mind, as well as a state of magic and the races, etc. Ya? So, I think we need a name for our designated world too. Then we have an isle to name, presumably this one attached to Britain/Wales. Then the alternate name for Camelot, which is of course the main kingdom/city/focal point of the tale. Do I have this right? Looking at the hierarchy and philosophy as we're writing it, also taking from discussions Daniel and I have had, our world is constructed something like this: The magical medieval world in which W&W exist is the Earth, perhaps in a parallel or other iteration of Today. :) The isle with 'Camelot' and Wolf Keep is close to the point of Origin, which I take to be the Isle of Man (could also be Manx). Maybe we keep England as is, and Wales as is, except for the Isle of Angelsey. Name ideas, in no particular order, just notes and words and thoughts: 'middle' seems important, being the median between Above and Below. Maybe even 'balance' in some other form or language. Possibly 'among', 'amidst', 'between'... balance - Welsh/clorian, MedievalLatin/pondera, Gaelic for 'dwell apart' which is 'cartuinnich' - would need something esthetic, of course Maybe 'Ainwillow' or 'Aynwillow'? Very loose conversion of a Welsh word for cherished or beloved - anwylo/annwyl. 'Ain' is also from Old Norse, meaning 'own'. (Scottish too) Another Welsh word with similar meaning (cherished/beloved) is 'cariadus' sea in Welsh - cyfanfor... maybe Cyfanore? / sea or torrent in Welsh - gweilgi / seashore in Welsh - beiston or tywyn... Tywinds? Would sure like a replacement for Camelot that rolls off the tongue like Camelot *sigh* There's a town in the middle of the Isle of Angelsey, about where I've placed Camelot, which is called Rhosmeirch. Maybe use Rosemarch?