Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
One Writer's Random Thoughts
10/18/2021 8:00:55 AM
October 18, 2021
Sometimes people need a fresh look at something, or to lighten up a little bit, or a way to express some of those “pet peeves”, or a good tip for everyday life, or a quote that makes them think, or . . . So those are the pigeon holes this blog will attempt to fill.
At other times, I’ll use passages from some of my books to demonstrate for readers and authors how writers us various techniques to “show” a good story rather than simply “telling” it.
This is the final part of the "World Building" series. Back to other topics next month.
Happy reading.
World Building Part 6:
I had several new challenges when writing The Chronicles of Henry Roach-Dairier: The Inception of the Combined Colonies. The first was I that wrote it fifteen years after I had completed the other three. (My characters “bugged” me into it.) I also wanted it to stand on its own, not dependent on the other three for understanding. Besides bridging the two cultures, it took place in two eras: grandson Henry’s own time, and the “antstory/roachstory” he was writing about. So he was writing “nonfiction” within his world, which was in the fantasy world I’d created. Still, it had to have enough backstory so that my readers didn’t get lost. But I could have a bit of fun I hadn’t had before—I could let Henry editorialize on “their” past, and on what his world had come to know about the human world which preceded their civilization. I also had to work out finer details concerning the ant/roach calendar because the season cycle/year of events had to be “accurate” for the “nonfiction” part. I could also let Henry explain things that I could only hint at through context in the other parts of the series.
Here is a section where I let Henry state his thoughts on time, measurement, etc.:
“Measuring Time and Distance: My great-great-grandmother, Master Henrietta, the first to understand the writings of the extinct Duo Pods, unraveled some rather unusual things about the measurement systems of those highly-intelligent creatures. While they, like we, found that a season cycle had 365 days and divided those days into fifty-two quarter time frames of seven days each, their beginning of each new season cycle has always seemed a bit odd to me. Their time frames varied from twenty-eight to thirty-one days each, and they had just twelve such time frames. Ours makes much more scientific sense: thirteen time frames of twenty-eight days each, and then Last Day, which is Winter Solstice. It is not part of any time frame, nor is it part of a quarter time frame. Last Day simply is. Then we begin a new year on what the Duo Pods called December 22. Our Summer Solstice Celebration, falling exactly half way through our season cycle, is always the 14th of Seventh Time Frame, with Extra Day falling right before it every fourth season cycle—again not part of any quarter time frame, but simply there. But Summer Solstice fell on what the Duo Pods called June 21. Such important calendar events on completely non-logical days! Lastly, the Duo Pods gave strange names to the days of their quarter time frame: Monday, Tuesday . . . Our Firstday, Secondday, etc. are ever so much simpler.
“The Duo Pod word for h-unit, “hour”, was more similar to what we call it, but they had a strange way of measuring distance. A number of f-units, 5, 280 to be precise, made up a “mile”. Our d-unit is close to that in distance but an even 5,000 f-units. Other Duo Pods used completely different units in 10s, 100s, and 1000s they referred to as “metric”. Why didn’t they simply use one system? I’ve asked that of some of our archeologists, but as of this writing, they don’t really have an answer.”
To accomplish the different eras within the story, I headed each chapter with its date:
Chapter 1
Fourth Time Frame 28, 22 B.C.C. (Before the Combined Colonies) or 11 O.R. (Organized Roacheria—as all roaches are taught)
Daeira Dairier rose slowly from deep meditation. She sighed. Being the spiritual leader of her dairying colony had been a blessing when she began. Now it seemed a great burden.
The dream of the previous night had been very troubling. She stood before a gathering of colony members during Seventhday Meditation Service. The tight feeling in her thorax nearly brought on tears. Her expression must have been troubling them; she could feel and smell the worry emanating from their antennae as they reclined on the soft earthen floor of the meditation chamber, silent and solemn. Only a few beeswax lamps provided the faintest glow in the darkened chamber. Perhaps she should not tell them this dream until she understood it better herself. But the last words of the message had been quite clear: “You must prepare them.”
Prepare them for what?
Finally, I utilized letters (documents within their world) to tell some of the story, just as a human writer in our world might quote official documents when referring to events in history:
Chapter 2
Sixth Time Frame 5, 294 C.C.I. (Combined Colonies of Insectia) Henry Roach-Dairier II
To: Master Daisy, Chief Archivist
South Dairy Colony 1
Combined Colonies of Insectia
From: Henry Roach-Dairier II
Meadow Commonwealth
Roacheria
Sixth Time Frame 5, 294th Season Cycle C.C.I.
Dear Master Daisy:
I am writing for your permission to come and work in the archives of South Dairy 1 with the goal of completing an account of the Inception of the Combined Colonies in the tradition of my grandfather Henry Roach-Dairier’s work. I have been preparing for this task since my grandfather died when I was thirteen season cycles old. I completed my basics at Meadow Commonwealth and then did the traditional three-season-cycle job exploration phase (some here at Meadow Commonwealth, some in New South Dairy 50, and a little around the City of Roacheria) even though I already knew what I wanted for my life’s work. When I had free time during job exploration in the City of Roacheria, I checked out and read every volume of Roachstory and literature I could get my pods on. I then traveled to South Harvester 45 and lived with distant relatives of my great-great-grandmother. I completed a mentorship in the art of writing under two different mentors: one who had me report on events and write articles for the Colony Bulletin and a second who guided me through the research process in South Harvester 45’s archives and through a systematic study of Antstory and literature.
I am willing to perform any service needed in exchange for the privilege of having access to any and all records available from the time when the roaches enslaved the colony. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Henry Roach-Dairier II
I am happy to say that my extra efforts and new techniques paid off. Judges for the Purple Dragonfly Award, who had NOT read the first three books, granted it First Place for Young Adult Fiction in the year that the book came out.
I hope that this series of blog posts have helped you see how authors work to help readers enter into the worlds they create, whether realistic or fantasy. Perhaps you’ll think of ways you can describe not just the physical setting but the cultural and historic as well, when those things are important to your plot or to the point you are trying to make in your own writing.
If you’ve read all these posts, you’ll have a good idea of what I presented in a virtual workshop on setting for the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association in the spring of 2020.
Post a Comment
More Blogs by Deborah K. Frontiera
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, September 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, August 4, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 6, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 6, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, February 2, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, January 5, 2026
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 8, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, October 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 8, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 4, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 4, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 7, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 2, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 1, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, February 3, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, January 6, 2025
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 4, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, October 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 1, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, June 7, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, May 7, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 2, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 4, 2024
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, February 5, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, January 4, 2024
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 4, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, November 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, October 5, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, September 4, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 7, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, July 11, 2023
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, May 8, 2023
• One Writer's Random thoughts - Tuesday, April 11, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, March 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, February 7, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, January 6, 2023
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, December 5, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Saturday, November 12, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, October 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, August 4, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, July 7, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 6, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Thursday, May 5, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 4, 2022
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, March 7, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, February 8, 2022
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Wednesday, January 5, 2022
• One Writers Random Thoughts - Monday, December 6, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, November 2, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, October 18, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, October 5, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 21, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, September 7, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 16, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, August 2, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, July 12, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, June 28, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, June 15, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, May 10, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Monday, April 19, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Tuesday, April 6, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Sunday, March 21, 2021
• One Writer's Random Thoughts - Friday, March 5, 2021
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 7, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Friday, November 6, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, September 8, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, July 7, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, May 9, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, April 18, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, March 10, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 5, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 8, 2020
• Fighting CPS - Friday, December 6, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, November 5, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, October 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, August 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, July 9, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Monday, June 10, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 16, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, March 6, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, February 7, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, January 8, 2019
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 10, 2018
• Foghting CPS - Monday, November 12, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 10, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 13, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, June 26, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, May 8, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, April 5, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 5, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 29, 2018
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, December 6, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 4, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, August 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, July 15, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 10, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, March 8, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 8, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 11, 2017
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, December 6, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, November 9, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, October 12, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 19, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 5, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 22, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, August 10, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, July 13, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, June 21, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, June 4, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, May 10, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Friday, April 29, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 5, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Friday, March 11, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 24, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, February 4, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 24, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, January 6, 2016
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 6, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 9, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, October 13, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, September 12, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, August 14, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, July 17, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 24, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, June 3, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, May 20, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, May 8, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 20, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, April 7, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 9, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 16, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, February 10, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Tuesday, January 13, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, January 2, 2015
• Fighting CPS - Friday, December 19, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 8, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 17, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Thursday, October 30, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 21, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 7, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 24, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 10, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 28, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 13, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 22, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, June 7, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 25, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Saturday, May 10, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 27, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 13, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 23, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 9, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 23, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 9, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 26, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 12, 2014
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 29, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 15, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 27, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 13, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 22, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 8, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, August 26, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 11, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 21, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 8, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 23, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 9, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 26, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 12, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 21, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, April 7, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, March 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 24, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, February 10, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, January 27, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 14, 2013
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, December 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 25, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, November 11, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, October 28, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 17, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, September 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 26, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, August 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, July 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, July 8, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, June 24, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, June 11, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, May 21, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Sunday, May 6, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, April 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 26, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, March 12, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 27, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, February 13, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Wednesday, February 1, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 23, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 16, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, January 9, 2012
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 19, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 12, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, December 5, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 28, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 21, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 14, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, November 7, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 31, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 24, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 17, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 10, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, October 3, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 26, 2011
• Fighting CPS - Monday, September 19, 2011
|
