\"Writing.Com
*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12725-Birthdays-and-Aging-in-Fantasy.html
Fantasy: September 04, 2024 Issue [#12725]




 This week: Birthdays and Aging in Fantasy
  Edited by: Dawn Embers Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn

With the site birthday bash full of excitement, it's fun to think about other types of birthdays. Considering the different creatures found within fantasy, it's plausible that birthdays and even aging might look different in your fictional world.


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B083RZ2C5F
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.


Letter from the editor

While birthdays haven't been the most exciting thing for me, over the years, it's something that could look very different within a fantasy world, which gives me something to ramble about here. Sure, 40 might seem like a big deal to a human if they might live to 100 or so at the most. However, when the character lives hundreds or thousands of years, a number like 40 is very young or not even a big deal. How a character ages and their cultural viewpoints will have an influence on different developments within a story. It can be used to showcase something about the character, whether it's something they even notice or not, for example. The societal viewpoint on aging has the potential to be an element that really showcases the difference in the fantasy world, giving something interesting for the reader to notice.

What approach do you take with aging and birthdays in fantasy?

I will admit that I hadn't put in too much thought for the matter. This might be one of those things where it helps to be a plotter instead of someone who just writes. I have an epic fantasy story that includes: humans, elves, dwarves, other creates kinda like orcs/trollocs and dragons. There are going to be different life spans and cultures, which means they are bound to have different viewpoints on things like aging and celebrating a single year. What are those differences? I have no clue. I haven't written a scene that involved a birthday nor has the topic of aging come up in the attempts I've made over the years with the story, so I haven't figured out this part of the world. I should probably do something about that.

Do they have a birthday party or celebrate their date of birth? Could it be a somber occasion?

There are some fantasy stories that take a particular birthday as the most significant. Sort of like the quinceanera or coming of age birthdays in different cultures. Coming into powers is one example, since it's common place for someone to reach a certain birthday then they get powers or a mermaid's tail, or something like that. Whether they know about this upcoming change is also an important factor because in movies, it often is a surprise even though someone might have known in advance that something could happen. Others will be expecting it and waiting to find out how it goes on that fated birthday.

However, one could take a more macabre approach with the aging milestones as continuing down of a path of entropy and decay leading to the eventual, which is death. You could have a community that mourns the loss of a decade or age instead of viewing it as a cheerful celebration.

This week is a good time to write about a fantasy birthday bash. There are plenty of places to share your approach to the topic of a birthday in a fantasy world. Try to write an unsual, fantastical approach to the birthday with a nod to thoughts on aging. Have fun writing!


Editor's Picks

STATIC
Princess Willow, Dragon & Mermaid Open in new Window. (E)
Coral, the mermaid gets swept away in a tidal wave and meets a Princess and Her dragon.
#2326051 by Princess Megan Snow Rose Author IconMail Icon


  The Warlock & The Cat People, Part 1 Open in new Window. (18+)
The adventures of Rthen, a Warlock summoned by cat people to aid them in their war.
#2326221 by Rthen Author IconMail Icon


 Shadow and Stone Open in new Window. (13+)
A village witch must find the source of a child's nightmares.
#2326243 by Jessie Toft Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#2325952 by Not Available.


 The Curse Open in new Window. (ASR)
A ruler is devastated by something that will bring him to his knees. Will anything help?
#2325859 by brom21 Author IconMail Icon


 
SURVEY
Quotation Inspiration: Official Contest Open in new Window. (ASR)
Use the quote provided to write a story and win big prizes!
#1207944 by Writing.Com Support Author IconMail Icon


FORUM
Merit Badge Magic Open in new Window. (E)
A magical way to inspire your Muse! New themes to write about every month. Not a contest.
#2293943 by GeminiGem🐾 Author IconMail Icon





 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B07YJZZGW4
Product Type:
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
Not currently available.


Ask & Answer

Does aging or birthdays have different meaning or connotations in your fantasy world?


Last month, I wrote a little ramble about the use of sports or activities within fantasy stories. Here are a couple of comments sent in response:

Comment by NaNotatoGo! Author Icon:
Speaking of sports in speculative fiction, in the movie Tron they have something resembling sports and gladiatorial combat in that movie. If Nascar is a sport then so is that weird glowy motorbike thing with the lines. And so is that weird game that they play in Tron that kind of resembles Hi-lai .

Plus wasn't there archery in Robin Hood stories? Nobody knows if he was a real historical character so I think his story counts as Fantasy.


Comment by BIG BAD WOLF is Howling Author Icon:
Sometimes games in fathasy and sci-fi are based off of real ones. I made a story a while back where a game was played by four teams, two teams of giants, two teams of smalls, with each team of giants is allied with a team of smalls. The game - some kind of football.


*Cat*

*Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet* Don't Be Shy! Write Into This Newsletter! *Bullet* *Bullet* *Bullet*

This form allows you to submit an item on Writing.Com and feedback, comments or questions to the Writing.Com Newsletter Editors. In some cases, due to the volume of submissions we receive, please understand that all feedback and submissions may not be responded to or listed in a newsletter. Thank you, in advance, for any feedback you can provide!
Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight (Optional):

Send a comment or question to the editor!
Limited to 2,500 characters.
Word from our sponsor

Removal Instructions

To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.


Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/12725-Birthdays-and-Aging-in-Fantasy.html