  Fantasy
This week: Happy Holidays? Edited by: Storm Machine  
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Except... What does happy holidays mean in fantasy? It might be easier to figure out what might or might not be politically correct during December than to create new holidays for your fantasy (or science fiction) world. But it is very important to figure out what those holidays might be and why the people are (or are not) celebrating. What is it that has become important to the citizens (or whatever word you use for the residents) to remember?
Take a few minutes and think about what is important in the recent and distant past of your society. Is there a kind of Thanksgiving celebration when they almost died after reaching a new world? Is there a godling that requires a sacrifice, like a fast or something more stringent, at a certain time of year or when a set of conditions apply? Have the people gotten accustomed to not believing in something greater than themselves? Are there pieces of those older religions that still pervade their society without them realizing it?
Many stories begin with our current world. We have a large population with many beliefs that have spawned all kinds of holidays - many of which have one which occurs this time of year. What's so special about the year's end? Maybe we need to have something to keep us occupied during winter (in the northern hemisphere, anyway) so we can make it through until spring.
Your fantasy world might have taken a different turn somewhere in history. Perhaps belief in one god didn't develop in your fantasy world, but something else might have flourished. Is it love of fire? Is there a fear of dark places? Is there a primary deity with several underlings, or just two central figures to all the worship?
Your science fiction world might have turned away from religion, but pieces of our theocracy might still survive. Another religion might have cropped up in the place of the familiar. Perhaps they have science as their central pillar, and that would change many things in the daily life.
Don't forget to give people something to believe in. The religion might be as alien as the creatures from the next planet, but it is what they believe and need to observe. The reader may not share the beliefs (or you could be like other science fiction authors and spawn new religious movements), but the characters could require it. Listen to them when they pray, celebrate, curse, despair, swear. These will give you hints to their larger world and create a more fulfilling world for your reader. |
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|  | Time Out (18+)
New High School, time keeps taking a holiday, cute girls. I don't know which is scarier.
#1885209 by Mage  |
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Joshiahis 
Lots of great sites listed this week. thanks for the insight on how to use the advice of those general review forums (especially the ones that don't have a lot of respect for us "sub-genre" writers). Even in this instance, all feedback can be useful.
You're welcome. Sometimes sub-genres have to respect themselves first. 
Quick-Quill 
Reviewing-When someone reviews my work and shows me I have a reoccuring problem I work on it right away. I don't keep writing like I did. I have been reviewing a person's book and it's so boring. It's in a narrative style but worse, its 3rd person so there is no voice, After the first 2-3 chapters I don't know what to say anymore. It's all the same. How can I review a book when the author isn't learning, listening but continues to plow on. Reviewing is hard when the one you are reviewing has built a stone wall along their path and won't change. You can't even find anything positive to say except they sure put out a lot of words!
It's great to approach your writing with things to learn when you find your issues. Unfortunately, you can't force another to do the same. Do the best you can without harping too much on the same things chapter after chapter, or find it within your words to decline to read the rest until the writer is able to address the issue.
Pepper
An in-person writing group can be a great resource for writers. However, I would caution other writers to give yourself permission to gracefully and tactfully leave the group if it is wasting your time. My husband & I joined just such a group, but found the members were only interested in discussing politics and religion. Half-the-time, no one else brought any writing for review. Ugh. I stayed way too long.
Yes. Feel free to try it out and do not commit until you find a group that meets your needs. You might not know what that is at first, and that is okay, too. Keep an open mind but re-evaluate regularly to see what you're getting out of the group.
brom21
I remember a while ago when I created a story with an evil unicorn. One person asked how can a creature of purity and innocence be evil. Another reviewer said she like the idea of an evil unicorn. I tried to please both of them by creating a sort of cousin of a unicorn that is evil called a Euriclydon. The two individuals never told me what they thought about my little spin on the classic white horned magical horse. For me I know that advice that is reiterated by others are the ones to apply.
Evil unicorn? WRITE ON! |
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Fantasy: December 25, 2013 Issue [#6059]
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