  Fantasy
This week: Fantasy Pets Edited by: Satuawany  
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| A couples of years ago, a friend of mine and I realized a peculiarity in our writing. Neither one of us had any characters with pets. I've had random bouts of obsession over the subject ever since. |
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I've seen fictional pets that offer comic relief, ones that turned out to hold the key to some major plot point, and a whole lot of them that are just downright annoying. In fantasy, you have the opportunity to come up with something truly interesting.
Don't waste it. Sci-fi and fantasy are riddled with pets that are silly without being entertaining. Some of them even get in the way of what we want to see from the characters. You have to put as much effort into the pets as you do the supporting cast---they are members of the supporting cast.
It's almost certainly not important that readers know the entire life story of a particular pet, but you should. You should know where your character got it, and if that's how most people come to have that kind of pet. You should know how much care was involved with it in the beginning versus where they are in the story now. Especially if your character raised this pet.
Don't forget the animal's average lifespan, and its current age, as well as the behavioral changes that might affect it during that lifespan.
Details that are more likely to shape the story include the animal's diet, how easily it is for its owner to accommodate that diet, and what sort of diseases are common for it. You can build a whole plot arc out of a beloved pet getting sick or injured.
You'll also need to have a wider view. How common is it for a person to have this particular pet? If it's comparable to a dog or cat, then the reader should see other people with the same kind of pet. And speaking of dogs or cats, if it's a common companion to your people, it's likely there would be different breeds. People have bred dogs for a wide range of purposes from herding sheep to pulling sleds. After all our fiddling around, dachshunds and pit bulls don't even look like they're the same species.
Now you're adding to the richness of your world, as well as the depth of your pet-owner character. Think about your pets (if you've had any), as well as those of friends and family. How many people do you know who have dogs, cats, rats, snakes, fish, hamsters, etc.? Is the popularity of your character's kind of pet more on par with sugar gliders or mutts?
Now for the big characterization question; why does she have this pet? It could have been an animal they longed for, but did they buy it? Is it the kind of thing people give away for free on the side of what passes for roads in your world?
Perhaps it wondered into the character's life, a stray she just had to feed. Maybe her grown son ran off on an adventure and she was the only one who could take it in. (Why are you writing about the one who didn't go on the adventure, by the way? Hey, if you have a good answer, I'm all for it.)
Lastly, what sort of "purpose" does it serve? I have cats. I'm pretty sure they serve no purpose, so we'll call that sort of pet a "companion." Your character's pet might be a dragon-tracking snittletaluporus, or something that's meant as ornamentation.
Now. How does your character see that pet's purpose? If the people of your world have some pretty bird that's become fashionable to wear in their hair, does your character do the same?
Thinking on these kinds of details makes the pet---both as a fantasy creature and as an individual---believable. Whether or not the details make it into the story, they will still color the way you write. I've said that of other subjects in previous newsletters, and you can bet I'll say it again in the future.
With fantasy, you can never have too many details in your notes. It's figuring out how many to include in the story that's the hard part. I can't help you with that part; I'm still trying to figure it out myself.
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Fantasy writers, this month's official site contest is calling your pen:
And try this rewarding and challenging contest:
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Finally, here are my three newest favorite stories:
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#1902552 by Not Available. |
And I would love to see your fantasy pets! That is, if you have sci-fi or fantasy tales with pets not-of-this-world, I would be most eager to take a look at them. If I like them, they'll go in my Editor's Picks for next month. You can email me a link to your story or novel, or type the item number in the box next to "Writing.Com Item ID To Highlight" at the bottom of this newsletter (just above the feedback box, which is just above "Removal Instructions.")
Don't forget, we editors are always eager for submitted items of any kind, even if they don't have pets in them.  |
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
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Feedback for "Top Five Reasons to Read" , my September newsletter.
JACE  writes:
Wow! I have the honor of writing one of the Fantasy newsletters and was looking back to make sure I didn't write about a topic already discussed ... and found your NL. Excellent advice! Your article can be extended to pretty much every writing (and reading) genre.
Fantasy is still a rather new outpouring for me; I look forward to exploring the possibilities. Keep up the great writing, my friend.
And you as well, Jace.  Thanks for the kind words.
Feedback for my previous newsletter, "After the Apocalypse"
Quick-Quill  writes:
Thanks for using my "creating" article.
It was my pleasure. 
Jeff  writes:
I loved your article about post-apocalyptic stories this week! It's one of my favorite settings because there are so many possibilities after a cataclysmic event. You could write dozens, if not hundreds of stories without ever treading over the same world vision twice.
One of my all-time favorite post-apocalyptic settings is a tabletop RPG called RIFTS by Palladium Games. The premise is that a golden age of science and technology leads to an apocalyptic event that rips through the planet, kills almost everyone, and creates a resurgence of latent magic energy, including the opening of "rifts" (portals to different dimensions and alien worlds). The Earth becomes a central hub of supernatural/alien activity, and as humanity rebuilds itself there are factions who focus on new technology to defend themselves, while others develop latent psychic and magic abilities for protection. It's a fascinating setting that I've loved since I first started playing the game as a teenager.
That is so true, of post-apocalyptic tales. It's one reason I love to read them.
I've been through a few tabletop role-playing games, but I've never heard of that one. It does sound pretty awesome, though. Such a cool premise!
PartyBee  writes:
I love the premise of this new show called Revolultion where the world was decimated by an EMP. The show can be a bit "houky" at times, but I'm willing to see where the apocalyspe will take me.
I've missed two episodes and feel like I now have to wait until I can see them before I go on in the series. But I was really digging it. If the EMP interests you, you might try out One Second After by William R. Forstchen. There were a few things about that novel that got my goat, but the EMP element completely fascinated me.
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Fantasy: November 13, 2012 Issue [#5367]
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