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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/3428-.html
Fantasy: December 09, 2009 Issue [#3428]

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Fantasy


 This week:
  Edited by: Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon
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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

Everybody celebrates a holiday, a holy day, or both.


Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor

Where did the word holiday come from? According to wiki.answers.com, holiday is derivation of holy day. Originally, a holy day meant a day off work to attend worship services. Today a holiday does not mean attending worship service, in many cases it is a day with family or a day of shopping.

What is the difference between a holiday and a holy day? Since holiday comes from holy day, there may or may not be a difference between the two depending on the religion or the culture. A holy day is defiantly a sacred day on which work is suspended and one attends worship services. On a holiday, a person takes one or more days off work and plans the itinerary as he or she would a vacation.

Every religion has holy days, which its followers observe by taking the day off work (if possible) and attending spiritual service of some type. Every nation has holidays on which government offices and schools are closed. These types of days are common to every culture and religion on Earth.

How does a writer use these special days to enhance and carry the plot of a story or novel forward? An author cannot put one of these special days in a story without using it as a plot device. Writers can use these special days to enrich a story while revealing character traits of the antagonist and protagonist. In addition, these days can disclose something about the culture in which the story is set.

In America, we celebrate the Fourth of July by the closing of government offices and schools because we consider that the day the country came into existence. In many western countries, we celebrate Christmas, originally a holy day, in a similar way because it is now a part of the culture. Therefore, a colony planet will commemorate founding day, the first day the colonist set foot on that world. In addition, in fantasy stories containing temples holy days are celebrated.


Editor's Picks

Stories and Poems


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#1618607 by Not Available.


 Thy Will Be Done Open in new Window. (E)
What constitutes life? What of the future?
#1559009 by Wally Setter Author IconMail Icon


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#791128 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1574903 by Not Available.


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This item number is not valid.
#1603828 by Not Available.


 The Black Hole Chronicles Open in new Window. (E)
a genius scientists develops the technology to enter and travel through black holes
#1620340 by Beryl Greene Author IconMail Icon


Christmas and Holiday Stories or Poems


Santa Claus is coming to town Open in new Window. (13+)
He's making a list, and checking it twice, a christmas tale for grown ups
#1622237 by drboris Author IconMail Icon



Contests and Review Forums


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#1618129 by Not Available.


 Anti's Review Center v2.0 Open in new Window. (ASR)
My review forum for free, honest, in-depth R&Rs.
#1613847 by Anti Author IconMail Icon




 
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Ask & Answer

Half_Baked Author Icon writes: Thanks for the newsletter it was informative.

LJPC - the tortoise Author Icon writes: Hi Prosperous Snow! No, I don't use wormholes in my stories I use 'hyperspace.' And no, I don't know how it works. When you flick the light switch, can you explain the physics theory of how electricity gets to you and then lights the bulb? Do you know how the fridge works or the micro-wave? When I use those in my non-sci-fi stories I don't have to explain how they work. (And thank goodness, because I don't have a clue!) Great newsletter! Really good points, but I don't feel guilty because I'm a dunce who doesn't understand wormholes. I'll continue to write sci-fi and fantasy for other dunces who don't know either.

Laura
I am not sure how electricity works, however, that is a good subject for research. I will have to find out.
Prosperous Snow celebrating Author Icon

How do you use holidays and holy days in your stories?
Prosperous Snow celebrating Author Icon


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