Friday, April 18, 2014

P: A to Z Blogging Challenge


Welcome to another day in the A to Z Blogging Challenge. Find the entire list here. My theme this year is world-building. Mostly I’m asking questions that I believe need to be considered whether you creating a medieval fantasy world, a science fiction story or even a contemporary novel. The ideas I present aren’t in a particular order as I had to fit them into the alphabetical order needed. And don’t forget to visit the other blog I’m part of during the A to Z Challenge over at the IWSG. Now onto your world.
Can any of us escape politics? Even small towns and villages have their share of politics. Teenage cliques have their share of politics. How will you address them in your story? Will there be people who have the actual job of being a politician as in our societies? How will politicians come into power? Will there be warring factions? How much power will the politicians have over the military and citizens?

Are your characters goings to live in a large city? What will population centers be like? Thirty families in a village? A few million in a city? Thousands settled on a distant planet or a few hundred flying together in a spaceship or riding a wagon train to a new land? Will your world have many population centers or one large city among many smaller settlements?

Do you like city or rural settings? Do you see politics are work in your story setting? Sick of politics at work? Does today's world give us all a tendency to make politicians a bit slimy?

21 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susan - we can never escape politics ... a small village could create lots of conflict amidst its cosiness ... while in a large town or city - there'd be places to escape to .. lots of consider though .. cheers Hilary

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

It's funny but I never really thought about the rankings, power struggles etc in cliques as politics but it is. I guess I just try to avoid the topic as much as possible. :)

Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Minion, Capt. Alex's Ninja Minion Army
The 2014 Blogging from A-Z Challenge

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Politics play a big role in my second and third books.

Stephanie Faris said...

Mine are mostly set in the suburbs...I guess because that's where I've always lived.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Politics are ever present in all worlds, whether real or fiction.

In my first novel, there is politics in the real and imagery wold.

My second novel focuses more on the emotional strain of an abused teen.

LittleCely said...

Politics are unescapable. And the better you understand them the easier you can work with them.

Good themes of today, they really play essential roles in a world and story.

LittleCely's Blog

Pat Hatt said...

Politics are every where and in everything, even when you don't try and directly put them in

Rachna Chhabria said...

My books are all set in big cities. I am yet to explore the rural settings.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

All of my books are set in large cities. Gives the characters more to do.

David P. King said...

I for one enjoyed the politics shown in the prequel Star Wars films (and in some ways, is fairly astute to the political climate of today). :)

Bevimus said...

Wow- a great list of questions to ask to get the creative juices flowing.

Robin said...

When people think of politics, as a general rule, it is on a government level. BUT, there are politics in everything. Office politics. Even politics among friends. We may not refer to these issues as "politics" when we write, but they are there. Good reminder, Susan!

Chrys Fey said...

Politics, government, military, and royalty play big roles in the last book in my future series. But I don't think there will be politicians in my world. haha

Chrys Fey said...

Politics, government, military, and royalty play big roles in the last book in my future series. But I don't think there will be politicians in my world. haha

Rumer Haven said...

I love your overall concept for this year's A to Z and will surely use your blog as reference when I'm building a new story-world. You raise a great point today that politics invades every setting and in some way plays into characters' conflicts, whether on a micro or macro level.

Crystal Collier said...

With politics being such a hot topic in our society, I wonder how we can neglect its influence in story world. Definitely an important aspect.

True Heroes from A to Z

cleemckenzie said...

Politics is personalities. At least, that's what I've come to believe. No matter whether I'm at work or at play, I spot those manipulations going on. People want to be noticed. They want control. They want . . .whatever. And they play the game to get it. I like watching, so I guess what I want are ideas for my next book. :-)

Liz Blocker said...

I tend to set things in cities automatically, probably because that's where I live. I'm branching out more in my WIP, though.

Christine Rains said...

I'm a big fan of politics in my worlds. I just have to watch I don't get too deeply into them and confuse and/or bore the readers! :) Have a great Easter weekend.

klahanie said...

Hi human, Susan,

Yes, it's me, Penny the Jack Russell dog and modest internet superstar.

In Britain, there is no escaping pawlitics. We have an evil government that is targeting the most vulnerable in society.

My fictional human, Gary, lives in a small town with a small pawpulation.

Pawsitive wishes,

Penny, the friendly host of the Alphabark Challenge! :)

Ella said...

I love this post-it so defines the story's pace. Yes, no escaping politics! Both rural and city scapes have their advantages and disadvantages. I love living in the rural, but there is more drama in the city~
Thanks Susan-I enjoyed your post!