Writing needs inspiration! Let’s discuss the sequel to the epic adventure game The Legend of Zelda, also known as Zelda II: Adventure of Link. It was released in 1988 by Nintendo. It marks the beginning of a new quest in Hyrule. Another journey full of challenging bosses, mischievous enemies, a dense uncharted map, and puzzles to unravel. You play as Link on another adventure.
What will we find navigating the Adventure of Link?
4 more storytelling tips from the Legend of Zelda
(Previously we explored the first Zelda game. To keep it simple, from now on I’m only calling it Zelda, but know I’m talking about Zelda II every time in this article)
The story begins with your ultimate goal.
Link’s Adventure begins with a quest to save Princess Zelda. (A different one from the first game. Although, all the princesses in these games are called Zelda.) You start in the same location each time you play; inside a vast fancy palace, with columns, red carpet and a sleeping princess on display. She is always sleeping. Link’s quest is to save her by finding the Triforce of Courage. You are reminded of this goal every time you lose your three lives and must start over.
This is no time for sleeping, Princess!
Alas, she will not wake up unless you beat the game.
You must continue your quest, or else Ganon returns. He laughs at you on the game over screen. (The only appearance of the evil Ganon in the game.)
The fact you constantly return to this same spot is both frustrating and sends a powerful message. As artists, it is easy to get distracted from our own goals. (Mine is finishing one novel before you start a new one. Seriously, we’ve talked before about my unfinished novels. I’m still trying to break this habit!)
Writing goals
It is easy to get caught up by life and overwhelmed by the details. In novels there’s the grammar to worry about, the layout of particular chapters (or do you break the story into parts) Did you make the structure follow the 3-act rule? Is there a second plot point? Is this a spiral story after all? Then you wonder, what genre am I writing? Is this book sellable? Marketable? How will I make a shiny cover so everyone will buy the book? What keywords should I use?
With so many things to do and the story can get lost. The writer loses their momentum. They lose track of their ultimate goal. (Ultimately, my goal is about sharing my stories with readers. If you don’t finish them, it’s hard to share them. And if no one reads then, I haven’t reached my goal!)
What can you do? Define your ultimate goal and put it out there. Put it on a piece of paper and stick it on your wall or on your desk. Move the clutter away and give it a space of honor. Decorate with fun reminders. Every time you sit down to write it will be there. This is why you’re here today. You’re going to tell this story AND HAVE FUN! (I mean it, if you don’t have fun… how will you ever get to the ending?)
Watch out! Roadblock ahead!
Yes, like in Zelda there will be roadblocks. Literal, giant boulders blocking your road.
The world map in this Zelda sequel is bigger and expansive. Puzzles connect between the towns and the caves. In one town you are warned, don’t go south without a candle. In one of the palaces (dungeons in this game) you find the candle! Ah ha!
However, there is also a boulder sitting as a roadblock. In the town nearby, a man says, “You need a hammer.” Remember this. However, I’m sorry to say, you won’t find the hammer for many many hours. It is hidden inside a labyrinth deep in Death Mountain. Until the boulder is broken, it will remain blocking your path.
(When I was little and playing Zelda games for the first time, that boulder haunted me. I just wanted to smash through. The game would be so much easier if it just went away!)
Instead, you travel the long way around, through the southern cave with your candle. You master the high jump to reach the tall ledge. Then, you muddle your way through a deadly swamp of monsters. In the swamp you move slower and the enemies jump at you. Only by reaching a road can you escape them.
This is how creating works. It’s not always easy-peasy-smooth roads. Sometimes there are boulders. Sometimes, to get around them you take a long journey. There are days when you inch along, rather than having speedy fingers clicking along the keyboard. There are days when you’re completely blocked. Your artist self hides in a hole. You need a break. You need to rest and recover.
Writing is a journey
Writing always has challenges and puzzles along the way.
There is a character in Zelda who says “I am Error”. Strange, you think. Is this a glitch? Is there something wrong with the translation, or with the game perhaps? No, this is a puzzle. You don’t realize this until much later, but the strange encounter sticks with you. Remember Error. Remember.
Later, someone gives you a letter to give to Error. That was his name. Good thing he introduced himself.
My writing is often like a puzzle. Sometimes just like a jigsaw. Sometimes I introduce something and realize later its very useful! Often the challenge comes from my own head. I start to think “Look at this. It’s terrible. It’s not good enough. Would my character do that? Is this an error? Oh, now I need to fix EVERYTHING!”
Wait, though, is it? Stop for a second.
Give your work space. Leave it and come back later. (This is always great art advice. Rest your eyes and come back fresh!) Give your writing time. A few hours, or a day or two. Work on a different project. Take a walk or a shower. Eat. Cook. Go on an artist date. When you come back, you might realize there is a solution, or maybe it didn’t need fixing.
This is called rejuvenating your artist spirit. Physical movement, jogging your body, allows your brain to come up with a solution. It’s all connected. Running and walking improves your mood, after all.
So, have faith in your project. Know that you do need a break from time to time and allow yourself to take one. Remember that ultimate goal. Remember that having fun is as important to finding solutions, and realizing an error might not be an actual problem.
The Shadow Boss Appears
The game ends with a long gauntlet. First, you play through the endlessly long palace, navigating a labyrinth of rooms with lava floors. At the end stands a difficult boss: the thunderbird ready to zap you. BUT THEN, after defeating this boss, you face a second stronger final boss: Shadow Link. Your own shadow rises up, coming to take you down right at the most critical part, right before you achieve your goal.
I have not beaten Zelda II, although I’ve fought Shadow Link several times. Honestly, I may never beat the game and I’m okay with that.
As an artist, sometimes my own shadow self fights me. The saboteur ruins my artist creations. We dance. I’m on to your tricks, you trickster. She can be merciless, mean and constantly throwing barbs at me.
What do you do with the shadow boss? Face them and overcome that final challenge. The novel must be finished if you are ever going to show it to anyone.
My Writing projects
I wrote an episodic story for Kindle Vella, called The Thorn Path. It is about the difficulties that Lucianna faces, first in the terrifying Thornwood, and later at her new school, Westred Academy. The thorn path is a metaphor for the entire book. It is a challenge to her and to me. I wanted to finish the story, one episode at a time. Once I posted an episode, I never went back. I had to stay consistent with character names, double checked what someone said and made sure the rest of the story stayed true. Most importantly, I kept moving forward until I had all 65 episodes ready.
The Artist Way describes the frustration and how easily creators are disheartened and discouraged (such as trying to figure out artist dates or confronting the saboteur in your life.) It is a wonderful book and 12-week program created by Julia Cameron. I highly recommend it. The Artist Way has been a guide as much as Zelda games. They are the influencers in my life.
Here are the key lessons we’ve learned from the video game that gave me so much grief as a child.
4 Best Storytelling tips from Zelda II: Adventures of Link
- Make your Ultimate goals. Write it down. Post it. Share it with others.
- Roadblocks will happen. Learn how to recover your spirit.
- Errors are not always errors, sometimes they are just puzzles
- The Shadow Boss is out there. Beware! But know the challenge is worth it!
I’m continuing my exploration of the Legend of Zelda series as inspirational and influential. Have you played Zelda? Have you ever gotten stuck behind a boulder, in life or in a game?!