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This week: The Fantasy Family Unit Edited by: Dawn Embers  
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An Elf Fantasy Newsletter
Family is a common topic during this time of year and it's something that people should consider within their fantasy worlds as well, both for character and conflict. |
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During this time of year, family is often a key focus and it’s something that also can be a part of world building or writing in speculative fiction. Family members are also easy to overlook in some drafts of these stories because one can focus so much on the main character, world and situation, that having family involved just might slip the mind. However, while the worlds may vary, one can incorporate characters that are family members in order to both add conflict and create depth to their world, along with some additional assistance for the reader to relate to the characters.
First, let’s talk briefly about parents. Some stories do better when the parents aren’t around and it’s common (young adult in particular) for the author to use the absence of a parent or two in order to add conflict for the main character. Having them out of the picture also creates a level of freedom to do certain tasks that might not be possible to get away with if there is a parent around. However, one can also include parents in a story and in turn, use them as part of the conflict. It can be like the Incredibles, where the family is a team of super heroes, including the parents. Or, the parents might be used as leverage against the main character. A parent might even end up as an antagonist in a story. There are many options available along with the option of their absence (which I will talk more about in a future newsletter).
Siblings and grandparents, the often closer relatives on the family totem pole and sometimes close based on geography too, are something else to consider. While it can be easy at times to go with the single child, no close relatives aspect, there are other situations where these types of family members will add much to the story. In a royalty situation, for example, siblings can be a deep part of the conflict. Is it always the first son who is the heir to the throne? What happens to the other siblings? What if the world involved a different lineage rule for gaining the throne? Options to consider. Then there are grandparents. I don't know of as many, but there was an interesting fantasy middle grade story that included one grandparent getting turned into a chicken.
Then there is the rest of the bunch. Does your story include cousins, nephews or any other more distance branches of the family tree? What about non-genetic families brought together through unions and other methods? What would an alien family unit include?
Point is: there are many options for not only what qualifies as a family in speculative fiction, but also how they can be used in creating conflict. It's not just the crazy family at holidays, though that one still works too. It's all a matter of how you write the story.
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What family members are important to the conflict in your story?
Last time I discussed the sense of smell and here is the one comment sent in on the topic.
Comment by Cubby 
Yes! I loved reading about smell. And I do try to incorporate senses into my writing, now more than ever. It really makes a difference. I haven't quite mastered it... and it usually takes a revision or so to do it well, but I love the results. I write mainly for children, and what better way to connect to kids than with smell, taste, sound, and touch. Great newsletter. Wonderful advice!
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Fantasy: November 11, 2015 Issue [#7318]
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