How are birthdays celebrated on your fictional worlds?  Do all species celebrate them or only some?  What are their reasoings for this?  We celebrate with food (especially cake!), drink, music and so on.  What would your characters celebrate with?

Or are birthdays seen as irrelevant?  Is your world a tyrannical one where any kind of celebration is banned because the powers that be feel threatened if their subjects gather together for any reason?  Could there be "underground birthdays" where people find a way of getting together regardless of any ban?

Is age something that is seen as a good thing in your society or something to be feared?  Are certain birthdays (1, 18, 21, etc) particularly commemorated?  If age is something to be feared why is that?  For example, are people only allowed to live to a certain age, lying about your age is a criminal offence, and the day after reaching a certain birthday, you are killed by the state for having "outlived your usefulness"?

So you see it is possible to take a cheerful subject and write some quite bleak stuff around it!

Characters can speak in all sorts of ways, sometimes by not speaking at all!  Silence as part of a story can be very powerful.  A character usually happy to chat who suddenly clams up - I would want to know why, what happened to trigger the clamming up and so on.

Characters can always speak through "their" writing - diaries, letters to others and so on.  Characters can also speak in the way that they talk.  For example, L'Evallier, the Queen's Chief Elf, will never use contractions and as a result his speech is far more formal than even his boss's.  Even the Queen will occasionally use an apostrophe, he will not!

Characters can also speak through how they treat each other.  Eileen treats Brankaresh with contempt (he returns that compliment!) but generally treats others with politeness and, where she feels it is merited, respect.  Eileen is considered to be the snob's snob as a result!  Hanastrew is down to earth with all and is more liked as a result.

So what are your characters telling you and your readers?  And are you aware of what your characters are saying or do they surprise you (sometimes)?  One of my favourite things as a writer is when I write a line and just know it is exactly what that character would say, but I also relish the "out of the ball park" moments when my characters surprise me.  I like to explore where that takes me as I nearly always discover something more about my characters. 

The obvious magical technology would include crystal balls and magic wands but what about the not so obvious?  What equipment have you invented for your worlds and what does it do?  Equally what could  you invent?  (I quite like the thought of the magical equivalent of Doctor Who's sonic screwdriver!).

Who came up with magical technology in the first place and what drove them to do so?  Are magical inventors treated with respect or seen as mad geniuses?

The Fairy Queen in my magical realm is keen to bring her spell books and other volumes up to date and to store information in a better form.  Magical accidents as a result of misreading some ancient calligraphy is increasing and, while there have been no fatalities to date, Her Majesty feels that is only a matter of time.  So what needs up dating in your magical world and who will do this?

What counts as important concepts in your fictional world(s)?  No one world would have exactly the same as another so that can be exploited. Things like justice, tackling criminality (and what counts for that in your world by the way?), should be common to all worlds but what would be unique to your setting?

My fictional Fairy Kingdom values magic (so those with less magical powers are the ones most despised, no surprises there!).  What does your world value?  How does that affect the population?  There are always winners and losers when some concept or talent is valued about anything else.  After all some people will be good at that talent, others won't be.  How did your world come to value that concept/talent above others?  What happens to those who aren't so good at the concept/talent?  Are they considered to be a kind of slave class for those who prosper?

Can the valued concepts be challenged?  Eileen does not go along with the Queen and her Council's  official policies when Eileen feels she shouldn't.  Naturally her individualism is not valued at all!

Further to my post on phone scams yesterday on Chandler's Ford Today, fellow CFT writer and YA author, Richard Hardie and I will be posting a joint item as a follow up article concerning other types of scam.  This should be on site in the next day or so.

Fairytales are often full of scams.  The classic one that springs to mind when thinking of this is the story of Rumpelstiltskin.  Never my favourite character (is he for anyone?!), I remember being glad he got his just desserts at the end of the tale.  This is one of the things I do love about fairytales.  The villains don't get away with it.  So unlike life!

And maybe, just maybe, two of the Three Little Pigs didn't try to build their houses out of weak materials because they weren't intelligent enough to use brick.  Maybe some con artist persuaded them the straw and the twigs would be enough and they were daft enough to fall for that!

The Little Mermaid is scammed by the sea witch given the latter knows full well having her voice would make all the difference to the mermaid's chances of winning the heart of the prince. 

So what scams do your characters fall or (or spot in time and walk away from)?  What happens to the scammers in your fictional settings?

In response to recent posts about scams, I thought I'd turn to the other side of the coin and write about honesty.

My rebellious fairy godmother, Eileen, is as honest as they come and it lands her right in it.  Honesty is not always welcome by her cousin, the Fairy Queen, and it certainly isn't by the Queen's Council.  For Eileen this is added reason to keep on being honest - it annoys people who she thinks deserve annoying!

So how could honesty land your characters in it?  The lack of honesty could do so as well of course.  Is honesty expected in the world you write about or are honest characters the awkward ones who stand out like Eileen does for not going with the flow just because everyone else is?

How does your world's media react to honesty?  Is it broadly honest in itself or does it toe the official line?  That doesn't mean the official line is dishonest necessarily but just how honest is it? Would your world's media lie to help the ruling parties or only do this if threatened?

Hope you can get some interesting stories out of those questions - honest stories, of course!

My latest Chandler's Ford Today post, Phone Scams, talks about some of the nasty frauds doing the rounds and I hope the advice given helps prevent some falling victim to these things.

The post led me to think about crime in the magical world.  What kind of scams could happen in your magical setting?  What would count as magical power abuses?  My fairy godmother Eileen often protested at magical power abuses (defined by her as using too much magical strength that the occasion warranted, she has always hated any form of bullying). 

The obvious misuse of magic would be to use it to try to enslave the world in your stories (e.g.  Sauron from Lord of the Rings and Voldemort from Harry Potter) but what about more subtle misuses?  Could magic be used in such a way people are not aware they are being controlled?  Who would detect this and stop it?

Who carries out the scams you've set up?  What do they hope to gain?  How are the scams stopped and who are the law enforcement agencies in your world?  Ironically my last post for Chandler's Ford Today was called Watching the Detectives so I have written on both sides of the legal fence in the last two weeks!

I know - cheery title not!    But I see no reason why topics like this should be excluded as you set up your fictional world.  Even in a magical world, there will be sickness and disease. 

Maybe some of these come about due to curses being inflicted, using too much magic in one go and so on, but you could explore what diseases would exist on your world.  Then there would be stories in how such diseases are treated, what are the equivalent of doctors and nurses in your fictional setting, what would be conventional and alternative medicine and how people react to these sicknesses.  (Is your fictional world a compassionate one or not?)

Could sickness and disease be imported from worlds your main world has contacts with and how does the populace react to this?  (It could easily lead to racism, a wish to become isolationist etc).  If your world is, somehow, sickness and disease free (really?  No bacteria anywhere then?), how does your society maintain that?  What bodies do your main characters have - are they like human ones with a need to have friendly bacteria resident inside or are there systems like an exoskeleton type and perhaps when illness comes in, that's it, no treatment possible.

How do people/magical beings etc react to when they are ill/loved ones are ill?  A lot of character can be revealed in reactions.

It isn't just Maria in The Sound of Music who has favourite things.  We all do so why not your characters?  Favourite things can be a good way of ensuring each character is unique in their likes and dislikes given we all have different favourite things.  (Yes there will be some overlap but not on everything.  Even identical twins have different tastes at least some of the time).

So what are your characters' favourite things? Why do they like these things?  Is there any one thing they could not be without?

My magical Fairy Kingdom is quite happy to pinch ideas from other worlds that it likes and adapt them to its own use.  So do your characters collect things from other worlds or stick strictly to their own planet/universe etc?  Do your characters look down on the cultures of other worlds or seek to learn from them?

And for those characters allowed to explore other worlds,  what do they make of these places?  Do have have favourite places to visit?

Fairytales matter because they are usually amongst the earliest forms of story we all come across,  They're usually the stories we have read most often to us as youngsters.  As a result they are the stories we remember most.

Fairytales go back centuries.  Hans Christen Andersen was a genius because he didn't just compile fairy stories based on folk lore and myths, he went on to write his own.  It is also thanks to Charles Perrault and the Brothers Grimm we have so many of the classic tales written down as we now know the stories.

Fairytales can be adapted.  They can be spoofed.  They can form the base of longer, more dramatic stories.  They can be dark or light.  And I love them because, unlike life, justice will prevail in some form.

One of the great joys of being human is the wide range of humour we enjoy.  Everything from one liners to comedy plays and books with sketches and favourite comedians somewhere in the middle.

Historically in the UK there were court jesters and fools so even in ancient times, humour was appreciated (and a safety valve.  It was recognised that a court jester and/or fool could say things to their monarch nobody else would dare though I would be very surprised if a certain amount of self editing didn't happen here.  Anyone with some sense would try to work out in advance just where the boundaries were to avoid that scenario of being carted off in chains to, at best, a dungeon and, at worst, a horrible death).

So what role does humour play in your fictional world?  What counts as humour in your settings?  Is it the same as on Earth?  If not, how does it differ?  Do all of the species on your world enjoy humour or does it bypass some species?  What kind of humour lands your characters right in it (and who is the one offended enough to do that)?

Less is more when it comes to description in stories.  I've always found the most effective descriptions have been the odd line or three at a time (but generally no more) put throughout a story so I build up a picture of what the fictional world is like that way.   A world to me is more effective when it is built up in layers.

Eileen is a great believer in less is more too.  She hates fuss and just gets on with the magical task in hand (usually slaying some foul fiend somewhere).  Building up characters I think should be a question of not overdoing it.  Writers are better off showing their characters in action (which can include dialogue) so they reveal what they are like in an active, rather than a passive, way.

Fairytales are great for the less is more principle.  Generally there is not that much in the way of description.  Even with a longer tale such as Hans Christen Andersen's The Snow Queen, he tells you what you need to know but no more.  We see enough of the Snow Queen's Palace without knowing every single detail about it.  We never find out how the Three Little Pigs came to develop building skills (!), the story hinges around the fact they can build but their choices of materials is open to debate.  It is how the big bad wolf is dealt with that is the story.

So the lesson from fairytales then is to work out what the story is and only provide that information which tells that story.

Most beings in my Fairy Kingdom don’t take much interest in life outside of their own realm.  Not only are they getting on with their own lives, humans are considered warlike, polluting and greedy.  So when Eileen defects to marry a human, the entire Kingdom is shaken by it. 

Fairies visit other worlds regularly and have been known to deputize for the angelic squad, when sending them in would be considered too frightening or a case of  overkill.  Eileen is the only one who wants to stay on earth though!  Fresdian (Rose) comes to love life on earth (though naturally it’s the wildlife she’s most interested in). 

There is no question of the Kingdom having its own “space programme”.  Any world the Kingdom wants to visit, well it sends representatives and usually the world in question does not realize.  Another reason for the lack of interest in other worlds is the Kingdom has been at war at some point with practically all of them!  And most in the Kingdom relish the relative peace and calm now and don’t want anything rocking the boat.  If that means ignoring the neighbours, so be it.

So how do your fictional worlds related to others within your equivalent of the solar system?  Equally if you write about the one world only, is there any thought within that world of seeing if there are other universes to explore? Does your world look outwards or inwards?

My latest Chandler's Ford Today post is called Watching the Detectives and I share my thoughts about An Inspector Calls (J.B. Priestley).  I also name some of my favourite fictional detectives and there are clips of some classic theme tunes too.

What passes for entertainment in your magical world?  When magic is a powerful force in a world, do your characters continue to use it for entertainment purposes or are they keen to switch off from magic and find alternative forms of amusement instead?

Are there professional entertainers and what do they do?  Does your fictional world have its unique forms of entertaining its peoples?   Or do they copy what other worlds do (including Earth)? 

MyFairy Kingdom has lifted the idea of television wholesale from Earth and renamed it fairyvision.  The magical realm does not show our programmes but arranges a schedule deemed suitable for the magical world.  (All shows have to be approved by the Queen and her Council though This Week's Royal Gossip Show does seem to have slipped through the royal net.  It has been pointed out to the Queen to ban it now would only fuel interest in the show and she was advised to let the programme die a natural death.  She's still waiting for that to happen).

Are there official bodies responsible for ensuring entertainment is all it is meant to be?  Who do they answer to?  Does anyone try to challenge this?

Every part of our civilisation has its own high days and holidays.  Many are unique to the countries concerned.  Others are truly global events.

So what does your fictional world(s) have in the way of high days and holidays?  Are these celebrated by all?  Is it compulsory to celebrate and what happens to those who refuse to do so?

Within your world, what countries exist?  What are their unique celebrations?  What triggered the commemorations being an important part of the culture you've set up?  Each commemoration should have its own history which the residents of your worlds will know but where you may need to drop a line or two so your readers know what these events are all about.

How are holidays celebrated?  Is there bunting and food or are more sombre means used?  And how many holidays are held in a year?  Do people/beings of choice look forward to these events or dread them for the disruption?

My name, Allison, comes from Alice, which means "noble" from the German, "truth" from the Greek and "of noble birth" from the Irish.  Quite a bit to live up to!

How are beings/people/foul fiends etc named on your fictional world(s)?  What are the meanings behind their names?  Can people change their names or is this banned?  My rebellious fairy godmother, Eileen, had an original royal fairy name of Deamadrell but changed it to the human Eileen in protest at magical power abuses and as she knew it would upset and annoy her cousin, the Fairy Queen.  Eileen was right - it did.

In your fiction, are there rules to be followed when naming a child?  Are species limited to names usually associated with their own groupings or can any name used on your worlds be used by anyone?

Do people live up to their names (for good or bad)?

Are there such things as christening ceremonies (or equivalent)?  Who conducts these?

Are names treated with immense importance or not?

 Famously First Impressions was Jane Austen's first title for what would become the fabulous Pride and Prejudice.  But first impressions are important for an author and their characters.

One of the great joys of writing is being able to play God with your characters.  They are your creation.  So what are you going to do with them?  Are the first impressions they  have of other characters in your story going to be right or wrong?  If the latter, how badly wrong?  Do they stick with their prejudices or are they "man" enough to admit they did get it wrong?

What are the first impressions your characters give to your readers and are you sure these are what you want them to be?

Fairytales are often direct with first impressions.  It is usually easy to tell who the hero/heroine will be, likewise the villain.  Their directness is part of their appeal (certainly for me as a child and I still like this directness now.  I also like the direct matter of fact approach about villains always getting their comeuppance).

The Fairy Kingdom has its own language and definitions.  Some of these include:-

1. Eileen = Trouble Personified.  If she doesn't cause it, she'll land you in it.  Not a good companion if you want a quiet life.
2. Dragon = Big Mean Killing Machine.  While quieter, smaller, less threatening dragons are found throughout the realm, the general public take dragons to mean huge great big beasts that will flambe you to death if they don't just bite your head off first.
3. Witch = Someone Not to be Crossed Unless You are Eileen.  Eileen is one of the few who can challenge any witch and win.  Most witches are very strong magically so would need someone like Eileen who could hold them to account.  This was a major part of Eileen's job prior to her defection.
4. Wizard = Male Equivalent of Witch.  And again needs someone like Eileen to challenge them where necessary.  Eileen never regretted challenging the treacherous Brankaresh.
   
5. Magic = Amount of Power You Possess.  Not just magical power in itself, magic is held to mean how influential you are.  People in the magical realm are judged by their magical prowess.
   

My fictional Fairy Kingdom is governed by the Queen and her Council. Officers such as Eileen and Hanastrew with the fairy squad carry out law enforcement. But it is also recognized that a great deal of effective government can be carried out by getting the different magical groups to control themselves.

For example, the wizards generally don't want one powerful figure ruling them all and this became even more true after Brankaresh's treachery.   So the wizards watch each other and Brankaresh's successor as Chief Wizard, Abstar, ensures his fellow wizards are answerable to him but at the same time he is answerable to them.  So far this approach is working and he hasn't upset anybody much.  This is the sign of a wizard likely to stay alive long enough to collect some kind of pension later on!

So who carries out good (or bad) governance in your stories?  Who are they answerable to?   What happens if the system goes wrong?

My current Chandler's Ford Today post is called History:  News From Agincourt, which some may feel is a little on the late side given the battle of Agincourt was just over 600 years ago!

The post led me to wonder what historical commemorations could be held in a fictional world.  Yes, there could be anniversaries of great battles but what if your world is generally a peaceful one?  What does it find important enough to commemorate?

Are there civic events the entire realm/country remembers or just local ones?  Your fictional world must have some history behind it which has shaped how and why it is the way you've written it.  So bring some of this into your stories. 

What people/beings lead historical commemorations?  Do these unite people?  Is history deadly serious or fun (or a bit of both?  I love serious history but also appreciate things like the Horrible Histories series, which can be a great way of getting youngsters into history at all).

I had the great joy of going to see An Inspector Calls (J.B, Priestley) at a local theatre today.  Great story brilliantly acted,  And it was great to go to see this with a friend. 

What would be the equivalent in your fictional world - i.e.  where do your creations go for a cultural night out?  What do they do?  Is the cultural event or outing accessible to anyone? 

What kind of cultural event/outing unites the different species in your fictional world?  What do the different species see as their  culture, different from the others?

What historical events are commemorated on your fictional world?  Is there such a thing as high culture/low culture? 

The Palace has several “lives” going on inside it.  There is the Queen and Council and their roles, the Household as it carries out its duties and the “outside staff” (mainly gardeners) who are looked down on by the Household. 

The working day is continuous - there is always someone on duty - and the Lord Chamberlain oversees it all.  Nothing must mar the running of the Palace.  Everything must go smoothly. 

The Palace is richly decorated throughout as you’d expect but the staff quarters are furnished as per the relevant staff member’s tastes and magical abilities.  Sprites like Wes have basic staff accommodation.  L’Evallier’s quarters are like a mini-Palace in their own right. 

Every species is represented in the Household too so the Palace is like the Kingdom in miniature.  Again it is down to the Lord Chamberlain to ensure staff relations go as well as can be expected.  This mainly means stopping fighting between the sprites and that the dwarfs and trolls don’t wind each up so much rioting breaks out.

Downstairs life has its own hierarchy in the Palace which I hope to explore in later stories and books.  The Lord Chamberlain rules the downstairs world but his daughter, Floxanna, can run rings round him.  She’s the only one who can, even the Queen treats “dear Rosker” with respect. She knows she needs him to run her Palace for her. 

Various members of the nobility seek places amongst the Household staff, even as maids, as it is considered an honour to work there. 

Whether you have a malfunctioning Tardis or a sudden storm hits you in Kansas and you end up in a different world, you need to know for sure whether this new world is magical or not so you know to be on your guard.  Some classic signs you really are in a magical world include:-

1. It doesn't take long for you to meet your first witch or wizard.  They've usually got a wand or other magical implement aimed at you.
   
2. It doesn't take you long to come across your first mythical beast.  If you're lucky, they're friendly and may even help you explore the world you've landed in.  If you're unlucky, you're about to be dragon fodder.
   
3. Villages are eerily silent (which ought to tell you immediately there is a monster of some sort in the vicinity).
   
4. Food and drink do strange things to your height.  For more on this see Alice in Wonderland.
   
5. You soon spot that everyone else around you accepts talking animals are normal.