This week: Past, Present or Future for a Story Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn
There are many options for when to set a story for speculative fiction. Some hold onto less modern elements, others are a little more current and still more find their way into the future. |
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There are many options for how to write a fantasy or science fiction with the different types of characters, what conflicts to create and the in depth challenge of creating entire new worlds when the story requires such. One thing you may have to consider is what time frame to set the story. We can look at this topic from a few different angles but let's bulk them into three categories for this round: old times, modern and the future.
Often when we think of classical fantasy, it's found within what feels like an older age or era. There is less technology involved, no internet or cell phones and even transportation looks more like the olden days. This is a common choice for some who write fantasy. It can be in a variety of settings but there tend to be less cars, more horses for transportation along with other past or less tech focused types of civilizations.
Then there is the modern era. Maybe you're writing urban fantasy, for example. It's common to pick a time a little closer to the present, though it doesn't have to be the same exact moment or years that we are living in during the time of writing. These types have a little bit more technology depending on the elements of what are involved in the story. Some YA speculative fiction can be in this range like the teens who discover they are mermaids or getting to go to magic schools, though obviously not limited to those examples.
Finally, some stories find themselves taking a more futuristic approach. A common connection will be science fiction for these types because we often place sci-fi as stories of potential futures. This can have many different looks or results depending on what happens to bring the world to the point of the story being created. Post-apocalyptic type stories would also fall into this category even though they may have less technology depending on what happened before the time of the current story.
This is just a quick rundown of some options for speculative fiction and they represent much wider ranges for what can be used to create a story. With so many options, it can be a challenge at times if trying for a specific focus or type. Or if you're like me, the shiny idea comes in a way that does the picking for you and in writing the details get figured out. Either way, options are out there for the types of stories we can create within the genre.
Now, the question becomes what works best for your story and what do you want to write. Think about it a little, then write a story.
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Earth encounters an alien species seeking cultural progress by any means.
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Do you prefer to write a modern fantasy, something futuristic or settled more in the past?
Last month we looked at vaccines and medicine with speculative fiction. Here are a few of the comments sent in from that topic:
Comment by Quick-Quill 
Great Questions. We have a classic movie with an epidemic in it. The Holy Grail. Bring out your dead!! You can have comedy in a tragedy.
Comment by s 
How do you approach disease and the medical world within your spec-fic stories?
I use a book about herbal remedies, and this knowledge is restricted to certain pockets of the population, and invented a plant that can be used to promote healing, but, basically, for the majority of the population in my fantasy world, if it could have killed some-one in the Middle Ages, it's going to kill you here.
There is some healing magic, but it is restricted in its efficacy. Despite my world having magic, I have restricted its power because too many books I have read have all-encompassing magics that are just not used and are insanely strong; I try to ground (as much as I can) in a sort of realism. Genuine magics take years and years of study, with healing magics just one branch, and use of magic has negative effects on the practitioners. And no, my world does not have resurrection spells. Dead is dead.
And I think I've gone off track here. Sorry.
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Fantasy: March 24, 2021 Issue [#10682]
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