Universes have always been a mystery to me.
Sure, you can't read much TG fiction without coming across Altered Fates or Great Shift, but there are now over thirty different universe categories on the BC fiction submit page, some of which seem pretty specialised such as Aunt Jane, Suitcase or Tuck.
I cannot find comments on the definition of more than a few universes on this forum. Are they defined elsewhere on this site? Surely, it's not a case of making up your own rules as you go along?
Does the very act of creating a universe mean that the author is happy for others to write stories in that universe, without specifically asking their permission?
Can anyone orginate a universe? For example, I have often thought there ought to be a Real World category, in which magic, fantasty or way out science fiction is barred. Can I simply make up some rules and post them - and if so, where do I post?
From a Confused member of the universe (I'm not certain which one!)
Agreed
Some of them I can't learn anything about because the original author does not have any stories on BC. Like Joel Lawrence, who has nothing posted under that name on BC, SD, Crystal's, or Saphire's.
I would hope that anybody who is significant enough to have a universe dedicated to their stories would have a reasonably available faq about that universe. It would certainly assist me as a reader in understanding those universes.
KJT
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
FM and Universe Rules
FM has a directory of universes and links to where the universe rules are stored. Of course, FM is down. :)
It would be fairly easy for Universe owners to add a copy of their rules here at BC. I've got a forum container for that already.
My own Promethean Universe (Stoney Bottom, Urban Renewal) had its own website which is down at the moment. When I put it back up, I'll put a link in the forum. It's a semi-closed universe.
My Fit-4-U stories could make the basis of a universe, I suppose, but I don't see why anyone would need my version of such a gimmick when they could simply write their own.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Joel only ever posted one
Joel only ever posted one story anywhere. The first Seasons House story.
Tigger is responsible for most of the stories with a few more from other folks.
I've got a somewhat dated mirror of tiggers Seasons House pages on my website:
http://www.shadowgard.com/~brooke/seasons/Janehome.html
Brooke brooke at shadowgard dot com
http://brooke.shadowgard.com/
Girls will be boys, and boys will be girls
It's a mixed up, muddled up, shook up world
"Lola", the Kinks
Seacombe Writers Universe?
Surely your Universe membership is transparently clear? I know Bustlets and their Seacombe location isn't officially a Universe since only you and Marriane Nettes chronicle the adventures of those who get tangled in the BIG Busts web but it's as much a Universe (capital U) as any of the others. Are you thinking of opening it up to other writers?
I don't think there are any hard and fast rules governing the control of Universes. Bikini Beach is (I think) quite strictly controlled by Elrod and he gets upset if people use it without his permission. Altered Fates does have a set of rules published on Jennifer Adam's web site (if it still exists) and she exercises fairly loose control over the stories but she doesn't insist that a writer asks permission to use it. Ellen Hayes got into all sorts of trouble when she wrote an 'Aunt Jane' story involving Tuck which pushed the concept a bit - surprise, surprise :) - but nothing drastic happened AFAIK.
So if creating (or opening) your Universe to the mob is your aim, then I guess it's up to you how you do it. Set out the rules here(?), choose how strictly you wish it controlled and let the creative juices flow. I just hope one of the rules you set (if you do) is one that requires the writer to have fun with the concept and not take it too seriously. After all its forbears are pantomime, Whitehall farce and Donald McGill seaside postcards ... aren't they?
Geoff
But a Universe is big, really big!
To misquote a Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, a Universe is big, really big, vastly, hugely, mindbogglingly big. I mean you may think it's a long way down the road to Seacombe, but that's just peanuts to the Universe.
To me, a small fictitious town in a relatively small country in a minor part of the galaxy cannot be called a universe.
So the answer your question Geoff is, No, I don't envisage opening Seacombe as a universe, although I wouldn't have a problem if authors wanted to use some of Big Busts products.
But this is really where I came in - what on earth is a specific universe about - and judging from the varied responses to this posting, there are so many different ideas that it's a perpetual open season.
Best leave well (or not so well) alone. I still think there's opportunity for a Real Life world, if not a universe, but I'll think a bit more deeply about it before proceeding.
Altered Fates Universe Rules
I posted a copy of Jennifer Adam's Altered fates Universe rules here at Big Closet about a year ago in the Story Universe section of the forum. Here's the link:
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/forum-topic/4702/jennifer-adam...
Mr. Ram
p.s. There are also rules for Elrod's MAU Universe which is semi-open, Elrod reserves Star Trek based MAU stories for himself.
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/forum-topic/4702/jennifer-adam...
HuggleBugs Universe
While the HuggleBugs site has been down for a while, I am the person that was charged with maintining the HuggleBugs site for all the other members and can provide the FAQ/Rules if anyone needs them. In fact, I think I'm going to spend the weekend trying to get the HuggleBugs Archived site up and running....
The Ruleset/TCOS can actually be viewed online @ http://web.archive.org/web/20050308012404/www.hugglebugs.net/tcos.htm
-P/KAF
SPA Universe
Hi
For various reasons the SPA Universe is a closed universe, hence why you can't find any rules. The people writing in the universe (Annette, Penny, myself and one other who hasn't released yet) are the only ones who know the rules.
Hugs
Karen
Universe Faqs
I have no desire to write in somebody else's universe, I just got started when trying to find out what the heck "SPA" stands for! I've asked twice, and somebody else asked awhile back, but nobody has ever said. Is it THAT big a secret? :-(
I think, however, that any universe of sufficient size needs a faq to explain to new readers what the basic premise is. It's fine for you people who have read the stories from Day One, but somebody coming across them two years later is going to be lost. And if you have multiple authors writing in the same universe, it is nigh unto impossible for the new reader to go back and read the published stories in proper order.
JulieO is making a start on that, with the character list at the end of the newer stories, and it also helps that she is gathering all her stories together on Stardust (and BC, I think) so a new reader need not search across 5 or 6 sites to find all the stories. Whateley is also making an effort with the Crystal Hall website.
But for some of these others, it's asking a lot for the new reader to search them all out and read them in the proper order. Some stories on BC, some on Storysite, others on FM and unobtainable at the moment. Other stories are referenced on sites that haven't existed for several years.
I'm just saying, give the reader a break. Give them a road map so they can find out where they are and where they need to go. IMHO, to do less is to say, in effect, "I don't give a **** if my readers understand what is going on or not". In which case, my response is "See ya".
KJT
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
SPA - good question
It must be Space Patrol Association. No, that can't be, we don't have much space travel. Maybe? NO, that doesn't work etither. *sighs* Maybe it's the first names of three characters that founded the organization. (Sorta like AST from the corp of that name, or EMC of the current corps in RL). To be honest, I have no idea what the accronym stands for, but Karen assures me it DOES have a meaning, and will EVENTUALLY be revealed. LOL (BTW - for my story - at least so far - I don't need to know what the accronym (I assume it IS an accronym (and not an anagram for SAP or some such), so I asked Karen to NOT tell me. It improves my enjoyment at reading her chapters.
As for Character Lists - both she and Penny have published them, and as my story only introduces about a dozen new characters not in Karen's stories, I didn't figure one was needed for my small contribution - yet.
As to what order to read things... That IS a more difficult - though it has been answered many times in the comments (to some degree). My personal opinion is that they should be read, in the order published to BCTS. I know - that makes the readers job a royal pain... But, at least in the case of mine and Karen's stories, reading them in another order can sometimes give away things that may happen in the other.
Annette
O-o-kay?
Sorry, I don't know the secret handshake and password (I can think of a couple but you wouldn't like them), so I guess all the "in club" members are not going to reveal it. I'm not retentive so I won't ask anymore.
KJT
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
You mean there IS
a secret handhake and password? That's the first I heard about it. My understanding is that SOME of the "secrets" you alude to (or came right out and said) are INTENTIONALLY not shared at this time. I know, as an author, I've not given away all of some stories on page one.
Looking at the SPA Universe as I understand it there are the stories Piper mentioned, and the one I've started. Not that many "books" in a universe to need a "series" overview, unless it were open to outside writers.
If I look at professional literature (of varying quality, over periods of time). The stories about the Land of Oz... There were a series of authors there, initially 14 by the original author, dozens by several other authors (authorized by Baum's estate). NO FAQ existed to tell what was allowed or not allowed in stories. The author of Wicked had to do a LOT of reading to write his story, and have it relativly true to the first book by Baum. Other series that never had overviews: James Bond (Ian Flemming); Horatio Hornblower (C. S. Forester); Tarzan or better John Carter of Mars (ER Borroughs) come to mind quickly. Several of these series have sequels by other authors that HAVE been authorized. Is there a generally "available" description of the "worlds" these take place or the synopsis you asked for? Not that I'm aware of.
Why is this universe any different?
That said, would it be easier for someone to decide to read the stories with some sort of a broad description? maybe. Perhaps one as true to the stories as one typically finds on the dust jacket of many novels published in the past 40 years. LOL. No. I think folks are better off going back and starting with the first 2-3 chapters of ONE of the "books" to see if the story strikes them as worth reading or not. Can they be read out of order? Most definitely. I actually started reading A New Style of Education first. Then Karen suggested I go back and read the others for background. Only after that, did I even know about Penny's stories. Would they be more effectively read in the order indivdiual chapters were published? Probably. Something else that might be nice would be a timeline that places each chapter against a common calendar. Does such a calendar exist? It might be useful to someone trying to go back and find something that hapened earlier in one of the storylines. I don't think one exists though. Sorry... except maybe scribbled on the back of napkins and the like. Oh well.
I do know there's nothing approaching Cliffs Notes for the universe. LOL Might be nice, then I could figure out how to get around a problems I'm trying to work through... I'll get there.
Annette
How does one write a
How does one write a universe FAQ for a universe where the purpose is as of yet, undisclosed? There was mention of Julie O's cast of charecters being a good start, then how about the Immigration Manor, and Hayfield Hall PDA's that were created by Heather Rose Brown. It provides a base for whom fits where. The BEST way to find out more about the SPA Stories, is to read "A Strange Attraction to Concrete Cows" and "A Different Plane of Existence" by Karen Page, or Raised in SLC by Penny Reed Cardon.
As for the previously mentioned not yet posted series of stories, I'm sure there will be a "prequel" to cover how those characters get involved in the universe also.
-HuGgLeS-
-P/KAF
Web comics do it
As best as I remember, every web comic I've looked at has an "About" page, that gives you the who and what of that story world. Are you suggesting a bunch of semi-talented writers can't?
KJT
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
I don't think I'd be able to
Others may be able to do it, but honestly, I don't think I'd be able to. I still stand by the feeling, that the best way to know what's what, is to read the stories that brought you up to this point in the timeline. That's why they were written. Heck, If I could just write a timeline, and then only worry about the "juicy" bits, half my stories would actually get finished.
-P/KAF
Retraction
Okay, I retract the "semi-talented" bit. :-)
The idea is that a NEW reader, who hasn't been reading the stories up to this point and would like to get a clue what is going on before diving in head-first, could read a quick overview of the story. If you don't write in imaginary universes where people do weird things to children and teens, it isn't a problem.
KJT
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Universe rules
When you write a story, you've always got some kind of background in mind. For a lot of stories, that's "here and now," plus some characters in a possibly fictional town. For other stories there's more or less deviation from "here and now", and the author may (or may not) have a written description of what the "rules" are. That's a universe, and doing it is universe construction (gee, doesn't that make you feel like Ghod?)
People reuse universes because creating a detailed background is a lot of work; it makes sense to reuse as much of that work as you can.
For example, the universe in which my stories "Panther Girl" and "They Also Serve" take place has a timeline that goes from 2006 to 2150 with notes about political and technological developments all along the way. It's close to 70 pages on a wiki. That's probably more detailed than most of the universes in the TG space, although it's very small potatoes compared to, for example, the Whateleyverse (and the Whateleyverse bible is not available except to canon authors).
It's a setting in which I can write stories. It's not explicitly a TG universe, or a ponygirl universe. If anything, it's an alternate future history. I could put just about any kind of story I want in it.
Is there room for TG angst? In the early years, lots. In the latter years, not so much because eventually sex changes via DNA mod become an accepted part of the background. Most people know a true hermaphrodite or two and possibly a she-male. If they're involved with organized religion they probably know several neuters as well.
Is the universe description available online? No, and probably never will be. Can other people write stories in it? Maybe. Send a few words about the story, and if I like it I'll pack up the universe description and send it to you. Assuming I can figure out how to get it out of MoinMoin into some kind of shippable format.
Xaltatun
Universe Answers
Does the very act of creating a universe mean that the author is happy for others to write stories in that universe, without specifically asking their permission?
Absolutely, positively, one-hundred percent NOT! When an author writes a work of fiction they create a 'universe', even if they don't ever write another story in that particular setting. Unless they specifically state that it is an open universe it belongs to them alone. If the author does choose to make the universe open to all, they will usually provide a set of rules to govern stories in that setting. They may want to retain control in some form, such as wanting to review a story before it is published, or simply throw it completely open. If you have any doubt as to whether a particular universe is open or not -- assume that it is not.
Can anyone originate a universe?
Sure -- as I said above, when you write a story you create a universe in essence. There's nothing to prevent anyone from setting up their own rules and inviting others to play. I don't believe there is any need for a 'Real World' universe however -- it would be rather presumptuous of someone to claim they had created that universe for one thing, and it is much too broad a spectrum for a universe in my opinion. It's more of a genre, like fantasy or science fiction, rather than a universe populated by recurring characters and situations.
Scott
-- Moliere
Bree
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
-- Tom Clancy
http://genomorph.tglibrary.com/ (Currently broken)
http://bree-ramsey314.livejournal.com/
Twitter: @genomorph
Exceptions
There are specific exceptions for the use of other authors' universes (stories.) Small quotes can be made, for example. Also, satire is protected speech.
Ray Drouillard
Founding a new Universe
I have ideas for a sci fi/fantasy universe based around an MMO that is more than it seems. I've got a name for the game, 'Everia', and a lot of ideas concerning races, classes, world layout, etc., including why people get 'sucked in'.
But I don't want to do it alone. Anyone interested on working on it with me via PMs? It would be open use.
Melanie E.
Ovid
is a closed Universe created by The Professor. He has asked no one write any additional stories or borrow his characters. So far as I know no one has.
I gained permission from The Professor to borrow Ovid's Officer Mercer for a spoof of Fictionmania that I've never gotten around to.(Dying is easy, Comedy is hard you know) The Professor approved of how I was going to use the character.
"Now put your clothes back on, and I'll buy you an ice cream."- James Bond in For Your Eyes Only
Daniel, author of maid, whore, bimbo, and sissy free TG fiction since 2000
What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.- Oscar Levant
Ovid Exile
Not long after The Professor started the Ovid series, I'd come up with an idea that followed a parallel track within the universe.
The resulting story - Ovid; Exile, was about a young man who followed his wayward sister into the God run Oklahoma community. He voluntarily stayed (transformed into a woman, of course) to save her life and ultimately determine his own destiny.
While Prof really liked it, we decided I would leave Ovid alone ( a good decision, though I'd actually predicted some of Profs future plot points - hee. ) and maybe dabble in some Deity Arms fiction instead.
I just couldn't come up with a good angle for that world, so many years later I would pay homage to one of my favorite TG authors in my recent Nylon Stalker series.
I did recently take down Exile and it's still a pretty fair read.
Way Zim
“Pleased to meet you, Tom. I suppose you’ve already guessed that I’m Susan Henderson... Jager. “ she responded warmly.
“You work here? “ asked Julie somewhat brusquely. Susan didn’t take offense at the mildly insolent remark. Tom could not figure what was going on to make the two girls so antagonistic toward the woman.
“You could say I’m the public defender around here. “ answered the lawyer, obviously wondering the same thing he was as she gave him a puzzled look. Tom shrugged his shoulders as both girls looked surprised.
“You’re a practicing lawyer?! “ exclaimed Julie. “You look like a student!"
Ovid; Exile (unpublished since 1999 )
Ovid off limits
I have heard it stated he didn't want other authors writing Ovid stories. Not that I have had a story idea at any point.
However I do have standing permission from The Professor to have a Officer Mercer cameo should I ever write a sequel to this story. Unfortunately that sequel idea of mine hasn't ever jelled enough in order to write it. Writing a farce with Godzilla, James Bond, and Bugs Bunny in it is easier said than done.....
"I knew I should have taken that left hand turn at Albuquerque."- Bugs Bunny
Daniel, author of maid, whore, bimbo, and sissy free TG fiction since 2000
What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.- Oscar Levant
lost?
Perhaps I am in the wrong area, I'm just looking for an universal field therm.
Valentina M. Smith
One request, I'm writing a Christmas story that includes a cameo appearance by The Bear Market. I feel it meets all the published guidelines, but I would like explicit permission from Tina. I have sent her a PM here on BC along with the pertinent portion of the story, but I have not heard a response from her. It is not a crucial part of the story, I can rewrite it to a more generic store, but I thought it would be fun and a nice tip of the hat to pay tribute to Tina's excellent creation.
So, if anybody knows how to get ahold of Tina, ask her to check her PMs here on BC and let me know, yay or nay.
Thanks,
Karen
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
I just sent an email her way, with a copy of your request
:) I sent it to both addresses I have for her. :)
It’s not given to anyone to have no regrets; only to decide, through the choices we make, which regrets we’ll have,
David Weber – In Fury Born
Holly
It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.
Holly
Thank you
That is greatly appreciated!
KJT
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Known Universe List...
When I orgiginally created StoryPortal back in the day, I had a list of "known universes" for readers and authors. It's far from complete and severely outdated, but here's the list I had then: http://web.archive.org/web/20020609154554/www.storyportal.org/index3.php?page=kn&scheme=storyportal
I hope that helps some...
-P/KAF
Thanks, Piper
I took a look and it's a nice start, if somebody would update it, it would be even better. Thanks for the link.
KJT
"Being a girl is wonderful and to torture someone into that would be like the exact opposite of what it's like. I don’t know how anyone could act that way." College Girl - poetheather
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
MORFS Universe
the MORFS universe is semi open, new stories have to be approved my a committee of my most trusted authors as meeting the rules, any not meeting the rules are considered morfs fan fiction.
the rules are at the morfs site, on the rules page
http://morfs.nowhere2go.org/
and lots of info for new authors is found on our wiki pages too
http://morfs.wikidot.com
Thanks for the FYI, Britney
I have toyed with a MORFS story and having those reasorces and submission guides will be a great help.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
*the* universe
I *lurve* that idea of a real world universe.
Some sort of "you won't get no magic here" tag.
Yes please.
XX
AD
Universe in Chaos!
No wonder it's all been a mystery to me. That's because everything is in chaos!
To me, the biggest problem is in the word itself. As I said in my reply to Geoff, the Universe is big, really big. For anyone to use the term to describe the background for a story, or a few stories has a total misunderstanding of the word. Similarly, one cannot control who lives in the universe, so to create a universe and then suggest that no one else is allowed in is again a basic misunderstanding of the word. After all, why create a universe if you don't want to allow anyone else in? Just to make you feel like God?
I can understand the concept where the basic story line is that something major happens to the world in which we live, and then any number of stories can be created from it eg The Great Shift. That is a perfectly proper usage of the word.
I can also understand the problems in writing a series of stories which all involve a similar theme, as I do with the Seacombe stories. You don't want to describe the same details in every story, but new readers do require it. But that is a theme, certainly not a universe (although there appears no facility on BC to add new themes), and in any case, if there's no link to the definition what's the point?
I still feel a Real World universe is required, and I will suggest a definition on this forum, which I'll use for most - but certainly not all - of my stories, but otherwise, I'll leave the other universes well alone!
Thanks to everyone for all this interesting debate.
Charlotte
Genre, Theme, Element and Universe...
... are all defined terms in the jargon of talking about fiction. Which is why I use them here. A theme is the overriding subject or message of a story; it's not concerned with details of place and character, it's about how and perhaps why. It's a broad categorization. A genre is a grouping of related themes.
Elements are details and are often related to the themes and genres they are commonly found in.
Universe as used in this topic comes from science fiction out of the sort of observation that the Lensman couldn't meet the Slan because they came from different universes. From that it spread as jargon does to mean the systemic works of an author or group of authors, unified by characters, places and shared history. Some other word might have been chosen for this meaning, history or system, perhaps. But universe has a nice (meaning precise) fit and it is the term that is used. Like calling the covering over the front compartment of a car a hood or bonnet; it could have just as easily been called the duvet or toenail, but hood or bonnet is the term we have.
A Real World would not be a universe in this sense; no one author or group of authors being responsible for all characters, places or history. The concept of the Real World would be a theme or sub-genre perhaps but it really is an exclusion of themes and elements. I have not included it because it is defined by omission. Any story without magic or science-fiction is in the Real World. There are no such negatively defined genres, themes or elements on any of the lists, as far as I can remember.
Hugs to all,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
I love the idea ...
... of tucking our car's engine up in a duvet or enclosing it under a toenail. Thanks for giving me a smile on this dull dank December afternoon, Erin.
I suppose Charlotte's 'Real World Universe' could simply be called 'The Universe' because that's what it is - that place where we think we live ... or not, as the case may be :)
Geoff
Conflicting definitions?
Erin, I think you've got a definitional conflict. In one place you say:
"From that it spread as jargon does to mean the systemic works of an author or group of authors, unified by characters, places and shared history."
but right after that you say:
"Any story without magic or science-fiction is in the Real World.", that is, it is not a Universe.
The first would seem to include the Aunt Jane / Seasons stories, as well as the Protector stories. The second would seem to exclude them, since neither has any magical or science-fictional elements.
Xaltatun
Nope
Your interpolation that stories without magic or science-fiction are not in a literary universe is not what I said or meant. And that's why the Real World can't be a universe, it would include all universes that had no science fiction or magic.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Real World Universe
I am struggling to understand the reason behind a real world universe, as the only purpose you have mentioned for this universe would be bar magic or way out science fiction. And that is currently managed by the genres that writer attach to their stories.
Three reasons for having a real world
Firstly, the practice simply doesn't work that way, as many authors do not properly declare their non-real world story elements. I came across two stories on this site yesterday which included magic but didn't use it in their description. As someone who generally despises the stuff, I hate it when I get partway through what seems like a good story, only to find someone comes out with a magic ring and transforms. (But I do have to admit one of those I read yesterday was clearly magic from the start and was very, very good so I did continue and enjoyed it.)
I can accept that often this is an act of omission, rather than a deliberate attempt to trick people into reading a story with a garbage plot (OK, I accept that's a subjective term), but by being able to declare a story is in the Real World, an author is making a positive statement that s/he is writing my kind of story.
Secondly, this site does not appear to allow a reader to search for non-magic stories and non sci-fi stories and... etc etc. FM used to allow this, but the facility was so cumbersome to use - and the search couldn't be saved so it had to be set up from scratch each time - that it was probably little used.
By having a term (whether you call it a theme or a genre or a Universe is academic) upon which readers can search that eliminates stories that simply are not set in the Real World would be a very simple way of allowing them to find the type of stories they do want to read.
Thirdly, we live in the real world. With all the strange list of so-called Universes, which clearly are not, on this site, I really cannot imagine why anyone questions having a label for the REAL universe - you know, the universe in which we all live.
People See the World Differently
For example, I see the real world as the default, just as male to female is the unlabeled default for stories at this site. However, I can understand your point about searching and see why it would be nice to have a label like No Magic / No Imaginary Science. Of course it will be just as likely to be misused or unused by writers when labeling their stories.
With that said, I do not think there is a need for a Real World Universe, as universes are defined at this site. And that is what I was questioning. I don't think there needs to be a set of rules or definition posted and adhered to in order for a story to be considered to fit in the real world, because I do not believe an individual or a group can do a good job of defining the real world.
Real World Theme Added
If people use it properly. :) But it isn't required to be used.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Many thanks, Erin
Many thanks Erin.
As I read through the many responses to this debate, I think I begin to understand the range of mixed emotions it has conjured up. Clearly, those who enjoy stories employing magical transformation do not see an issue as, to them, magic exists in the fictional real world, whilst for those who positively dislike such stories, they are looking for an easy way of avoiding them.
Your prompt reaction keeps this site meeting the needs of all who enjoy TG fiction, whatever the type.
Thank you.
@ CharlotteIf you start
@ Charlotte
If you start asking yourself if you can start a universe, you've made the first step to eliminate the chance to do it. The whole 'secret', the basic formula of being or becoming a writer to me is: Don't ask any questions... Just start writing...
The thougts are free...
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"Die Gedanken sind frei / Sie fliegen vorbei
Kein Mensch kann sie wissen / Kein Jäger sie schießen
Mit Kugeln und Blei / Die Gedanken sind frei"
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"Die Gedanken sind frei / Sie fliegen vorbei
Kein Mensch kann sie wissen / Kein Jäger sie schießen
Mit Kugeln und Blei / Die Gedanken sind frei"
Every story a universe?
Wow! This is an old topic!
From your words, I think you feel that every story creates its own universe, but clearly on this site, the majority of authors (me included) do not classify their stories as universes. I still don't really understand why some do, other than the kind of sci-fi examples given some time ago.
I created a couple of "universes"
one for "The Saga of E- girl" and "The lucky one", which I made mostly to separate it from the "Ret-con Universe". If someone had an idea that might work in that universe, they are free to contact me and I'll go over the basic rules for that universe. The other one I created was in relation to my story "memories are made of these" but nobody ever took the idea up, so I never bothered making public the rules there. As for any of my other stories, if someone had an idea that worked in conjunction to one of them, they only have to PM me, and we'll work something out.
Dorothycolleen, member of Bailey's Angels