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Hmm... How do I go about doing this.

F

Flaming Lip

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Well I'm finally getting of my arse and making progress in my fic. But I'm hardly 3 pages into it and I already am experincing a problem. My story takes place in this world. Now, I want to give some political background, because its quite diffrent than it really is. For example, Germany, is the most powerful nation in the world, France's resources are all spend on fighting the Egyptions and Eithiopians over the Sahara. Greece and Turkey are locked in a virtually endless war over the Balkans, and Russia is slowly becomeing more and more poor. Ya da ya da ya da.

My question is, how do I go about explaining this without completly intrupting the narrative? Any help would be much appreciated.
 
K

katiekitten

The Compromise
Well, there are several ways of going about it. The first, obvious one is a school lesson, but that is a bit boring and tends to turn off readers. I think the best way to go, is give hints to it through out the story, such as a news report on the french wars and the characters views on it. Also, if Germany was the leading power, it would be very likely that the character would be either learning german or know some. For they would most likely need it to function, just like Germans have to learn English because the US and England are major factors in the world, and to communicate it is the germans that must learn English if they are planning on going into business.

Lets see, what else? Well, if you are writing in first person, you will have a good opportunity at some point at the beginning for the character to give a brief over view of the situation. Simplified down, of course. Some people give all the information at the beginning, including the nitty gritty details, but as there is so much the reader gets confused and forgets it all. It is better to introduce the idea gradually. :)

Well, I hope I helped! :)
 
F

Flaming Lip

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Thank you... that gives me many ideas.

Perhaps, since my story takes place, at first at least, in the UK, perhaps some charecters will at one point speak in German. But that simply presents another problem: How can avoid the langauge barrier. I don't know any German... Only a bit of Spanish.


Perhaps someone on the forums could help me with that? ^^;;; I don't need help quite yet but... Later...

EDIT: Something Like this?

“In other news, a contingent of the French Foreign Legion was ambushed by the Egyptians during a patrol of the outskirts of Tripoli… Prime Minster Blair still wishes neutrality for the UK in this affair…”
 
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I

IceKing

Sexorific!
EDIT: Something Like this?

“In other news, a contingent of the French Foreign Legion was ambushed by the Egyptians during a patrol of the outskirts of Tripoli… Prime Minster Blair still wishes neutrality for the UK in this affair…”
Click to expand...

I like that idea. My suggestion may be a little far off...but it could work! Do you know how sometimes movies start off with the charachter getting ready and listening to the news (Final Destination 2, e.g.). Maybe you can do something like at. Oh, and Germany is not going to replace America while Blair is still in power =) Its best to use new names and set it a bit farther into the future
 
F

Flaming Lip

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Maybe. Its kinda an alternate history. IE, Germany wins WW I, and as a result the nation doesn't get hit so hard by the the depression, therefore, no facisim... Thats besides the point, but yes, perhaps I will use brand new names.
 
K

Kiyohime

Well-Known Member
How amazing!! ^^ Saber and I did something like that in in our currently pending co-project, and since she's off dry-humping Sora in Kingdom Hearts-Land, (as originally quoted by teh Cheshire) I shall take the liberty of showing you a part of it if it'll help inspire you, old buddy.


”Good morning, afternoon, and evening! Once again, Worldwide News Network (WNN) is here to bring you the latest news! Today, the Chinese have begun to occupy France, and the causalities are skyrocketing over fifty thousand. Moving on, moving on. Alicia?”

”Thanks, Bill. And now, let’s run over the current events of the last year, just to remind our viewers. The United States and Russia have fallen into a limited nuclear exchange, while China’s taken control of most of East Europe. The United Kingdom’s allied with Canada and is currently trying to send aid via the British RAF to beleaguered France. Japan has remained significantly neutral, yet it’s still sending weapons to well-known enemies of China. Australia is long gone, since it was used as testing grounds for the recently developed X-Bomb, though rumors remain of a massive underground complex there. Back to you, hon.”
Click to expand...
 
C

CHeSHiRe-CaT

A Curious Breed
I'd suggest looking up a few articles on Wikipedia on each individual country. It should give you some strong political aspects, among many. I had to research with all of my might about Japan, France, and Ukraine for a fic that I had take place in the real world, called Pokémon Exsisto ^^ I also pulled the television news reports in that fic as well. Always remember: when mixing politics, worldview, and religion in a fic, the television in the setting can be your best friend.
 
F

Flaming Lip

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Thanks... But I think I might just incorporate little snippets of news and make it kinda subtle. I just find it awkward trying to say all that at once... Meh. Curse my minimalistic nature...

Cheshire Cat: Hmm... I might need some research, but considering how most of the news is pretty made up, I don't think I will be so overly reliant on it. I'm still looking for someone that might be willing to translate some stuff into German and French, because I might need it.
 
C

CHeSHiRe-CaT

A Curious Breed
Right, translating is another factor to these sorts of things. I'd try looking around in the clubs section, because I remember there being a German Speakers Club, and you could probably PM one of them. I know a little French, but not enough to ask an old lady where the bathroom is without saying, "Your hair is fried like buttah."
 
F

Flaming Lip

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:p looks like I'm going to have to study up a bit (and search for a German Speaking Club)... I think I shall wait until I get to a point when I need translation... OR I could just say when they are speaking in German and translate it.... I might have difficulties with it, but it would take a lot less effort =P
 
S

Smile Guy

Keep Smiling...
It depends on the author. I prefer to sneak it in bit by bit using both narrative, thought and dialogue, but I know some people would find that difficult -- I'm not being cocky, I'm just saying authors vary in their seperate skills.

Newspapers and newsreports always seem a little dull way of doing it. Where's the emotion while reading the article? What's the thoughts? Who cares? Some people love it, but I'm not the biggest fan of it. I use it occasionally, (Chapter 5 of my story, for those interested) but I put it seperately and allow the shock and horror (in my case) to rip through my characters. Then, I present the article.
Another technique is something that my good friend The Pokemon Master does. Before the man narrative, they have a brief description of what's going/gone on. This can come out awfully, so you needed to be a skilled author, but when done right, it can be a very wonderful technique.

But it all depends on the author and the reader, really. Some will love it, some will hate it. You've just got to take risks! His Dark Materials, are despised as a story by many of my friends, but I love it the style. It's the fun of the world of stories really...

EDIT: And as for French and German, I know enough to help you out if you want.
 
K

katiekitten

The Compromise
“In other news, a contingent of the French Foreign Legion was ambushed by the Egyptians during a patrol of the outskirts of Tripoli… Prime Minster Blair still wishes neutrality for the UK in this affair…”
Click to expand...

Exactly. :)
 
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