This is great! In addition to fantasy writers understanding the history of their fantasy worlds, anyone doing historical fiction should keep these things in mind. There are details that readers will never forgive you for getting wrong about the time period they're interested in.
This is very true, and one of the reasons I hope I never get a brilliant idea for historical fiction, because I would be so terrified that I'd get the wrong details wrong X)
A very good video! I need to remember these points when I'm writing my stories. Every book in one of my series has ten years pass in between books, so I need to remember that society will change in between books!
I love how you put it into context just how long certain periods of time are and how short they are with respect to the effect that they can have on the world around us. I would like to know that 100 years ago in the present, a lot certainly happened compared to 100 years in the medieval period. While there is a lot that did change, we should acknowledge how technology accelerates that change. So much more happened in the last 50 years then happened in the last 200 years because of that. I think you're absolutely right but we should still notes how the environment affects how much things change over time.
Definitely, there's a lot that affects all of this. New technology being developed is definitely an important catalyst for the explosion of societal change our cultures often experience, it's absolutely important to keep in mind that society will only change if and when there's reason for it, and only stay stagnant if and when there's a reason for that (be that a good or bad reason, in the view of the population).
I REALLY liked this video! I feel like you spoke about things in a very eloquent, easy to grasp way, and you maybe even convinced me to figure out some backstory/history for my witch books... 😇😊
I'm making a bible for my own custom world. (bible is just something to help you keep track of everything). Hearing someone say my thoughts outline is very reassuring. In the beginning, I wanted there to be "8000" years of history. It was going to be long and filled with wars. I shortened that to 4000 (more reasonable). But the "it's always war" is making me reconsider. Yeah, I'm going to include more natural disasters when I can instead of war. Thank you!
Yeah, it's just such an easy thing to go to, because it seems simple. I did it a lot, until I realized I'd fallen into the trap and started over simplifying history just like so many other authors ...
I usually start with "present world", but chose some point in the past to build the history from. Or I work both ways and then correct inconsistencies. Biggest problem for me is probably keeping things interconnected in some way - remembering that war in one country influences their neighbours or trade partners; natural disasters rarely are limited to just one country etc. I kind of build everything, so it takes a lot of time and effort, and despite me working on it for a few years now, it still feels really empty (for example, the "current" era in my world has only around 250 historical entries [in Excel; there are some more details written about all of these] (including major events, wars, kings getting and loosing their position, etc). That era is supposed to be 2300 years long so far)
I normally choose the start of civilisation and then the present world, giving me a "beginning" and "end" date of my timeline, then I just need to fill the proverbial sandwich.
Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to history in fantasy? What are some things you wish fantasy writers would pay more attention to? Let's share and learn! 📜
Writer Markus Regius when something is clearly a word for word rewrite of real history. Ore humans came and made elvs mortal no explenation the just infected elvs with mortality it’s so over don ther are atleast 2 video games an RPG and several books that doues this....
![Worldbuilding religion for fantasy [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/-xSoKt_88mo/mqdefault.jpg)
![Worldbuilding religion for fantasy [CC]](/img/tr.png)
This is great! In addition to fantasy writers understanding the history of their fantasy worlds, anyone doing historical fiction should keep these things in mind. There are details that readers will never forgive you for getting wrong about the time period they're interested in.
This is very true, and one of the reasons I hope I never get a brilliant idea for historical fiction, because I would be so terrified that I'd get the wrong details wrong X)
A very good video! I need to remember these points when I'm writing my stories. Every book in one of my series has ten years pass in between books, so I need to remember that society will change in between books!
Thank you, glad I could help! :D
If you have different eras, dark or forgotten ages should not stay unknown forever. Likely events happened in them that lead to your morern day.
I love how you put it into context just how long certain periods of time are and how short they are with respect to the effect that they can have on the world around us. I would like to know that 100 years ago in the present, a lot certainly happened compared to 100 years in the medieval period. While there is a lot that did change, we should acknowledge how technology accelerates that change. So much more happened in the last 50 years then happened in the last 200 years because of that. I think you're absolutely right but we should still notes how the environment affects how much things change over time.
Definitely, there's a lot that affects all of this. New technology being developed is definitely an important catalyst for the explosion of societal change our cultures often experience, it's absolutely important to keep in mind that society will only change if and when there's reason for it, and only stay stagnant if and when there's a reason for that (be that a good or bad reason, in the view of the population).
I REALLY liked this video! I feel like you spoke about things in a very eloquent, easy to grasp way, and you maybe even convinced me to figure out some backstory/history for my witch books... 😇😊
Yay, I'm glad! :D
Haha, that is very high praise! 😁
I'm making a bible for my own custom world. (bible is just something to help you keep track of everything). Hearing someone say my thoughts outline is very reassuring. In the beginning, I wanted there to be "8000" years of history. It was going to be long and filled with wars. I shortened that to 4000 (more reasonable). But the "it's always war" is making me reconsider. Yeah, I'm going to include more natural disasters when I can instead of war. Thank you!
Excting, I'm glad to have been able to help :D
That was extremely helpful thank you
I've not written much fantasy but I do like to avoid the wars, because it feels like it's always done in fantasy!
Yeah, it's just such an easy thing to go to, because it seems simple. I did it a lot, until I realized I'd fallen into the trap and started over simplifying history just like so many other authors ...
I usually start with "present world", but chose some point in the past to build the history from. Or I work both ways and then correct inconsistencies.
Biggest problem for me is probably keeping things interconnected in some way - remembering that war in one country influences their neighbours or trade partners; natural disasters rarely are limited to just one country etc. I kind of build everything, so it takes a lot of time and effort, and despite me working on it for a few years now, it still feels really empty (for example, the "current" era in my world has only around 250 historical entries [in Excel; there are some more details written about all of these] (including major events, wars, kings getting and loosing their position, etc). That era is supposed to be 2300 years long so far)
I normally choose the start of civilisation and then the present world, giving me a "beginning" and "end" date of my timeline, then I just need to fill the proverbial sandwich.
Here is a piece of lore : My like made it 333 on the thumb's up counter and this video was uploaded 3 years ago.
"History is complicated"
DEUS VULT INFIDEL
Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to history in fantasy? What are some things you wish fantasy writers would pay more attention to? Let's share and learn! 📜
Writer Markus Regius when something is clearly a word for word rewrite of real history. Ore humans came and made elvs mortal no explenation the just infected elvs with mortality it’s so over don ther are atleast 2 video games an RPG and several books that doues this....
@@Keshaza Oh yes, those are two other examples of lazy writing.