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Writerly Ways
Apr. 13th, 2025 10:58 pmYesterday I bought a cheese I've avoided 'bread cheese.' The name wasn't appetizing but I thought why not try it? It's rare you find a cheese you don't like so today, I went to slice some and it tells me to warm it up and eat it with maple syrup or jam or the traditional way with coffee. My eyes went wide. Who's tradition is it to eat cheese with coffee.
So I researched it and my answer was the other names for this is Finnish Squeaky cheese (and oh so it's SUPPOSED to make that noise when I chew) or leipäjuusto. I'm like fine, if it's traditional...and to my surprised it was SO good with coffee. Damn. Had to be sure not to eat the whole brick and lie on the ground with a stomach ache.
But this led me to think about traditions and how we incorporate them into our stories. I did use that in my last novel the 1980s monster hunter thing from haint blue, to Italian, Filipino and Welsh traditions. Italian ones pop up everywhere.
I have done less with it in my fantasy work. One place I did it was with the one character loosely based on the people of Nepal (at least in appearance but then I second guessed having one of the few darker skinned characters to have these traits, it was a fear of dead bodies rather inspired by several groups. I'm good at this sort of second guessing).
I do want to work more traditions (of my invention) into my next fantasy novels. It can be something the character (or their family) are afraid of them losing because they left their homeland. Do they worry about looking weird because they're celebrating something no one else in town is doing? Do they worry that it might cost them a job due to prejudice.
That last one did nearly happen to me. People don't remember that in the 80s and even into the early 90s Italians still weren't welcome in a lot of places in America. I have never been shy about my Italian American heritage. When I was in NYC, I had mentioned going to the Ferragosto, the feast of the Assumption in Little Italy and one of the surgeons I was training under was SO angry I would be with Italians she tried to get me fired from my residency to the point of lying to the residency director. What happened was I was then put with surgeons better suited to me (i.e. I was reassigned to working with Italian, African American and Jewish doctors while the white Protestants ones didn't have to deal with me). What if your character, like me, was trapped because if I made waves and was let go from my residency I was done. I couldn't practice as a doctor without it. I never said another word about it and it was a tradition I've let lapse since.
Have you tried to write new traditions in fantasy/SF works? Let's hear about them? Same with how real world ones you've woven in.
Open Call
Road Kill: Texas Horror by Texas Writers, Vol. 10 pays well but you have to be a Texan
Elven Rock of Ages A 1980s band that end up in a fantasy kingdom (a few specific details to include below.) It's basically a shared universe and it sounds fun.
Tales of Galactic Pest ControlShort stories that explore the theme of pest control in creative, unexpected, and engaging ways. Another one that plans to pay well. I have an idea. Can literal manifestation of nightmares be a pest to be controlled?
Search for the Any Key Action/adventure mixed with any drama, can’t use a physical key, the why of the search should be the most important part
From Around the web
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Five Ways to Get Your Protagonist to Realize They’re the Problem
3 Writing Aspects You Should Never Let Anyone Mess With
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32 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for April 2025
From Betty
Sidekick Protagonists
Creating Distinct and Grounded Anti-Heroes
Seven Reasons Storytellers Should Consume Bad Stories
Five Tips for Creating an Engaging Space Battle
The Best Way to “Show, Don’t Tell” –Scene Segmenting
How to Write: Conflict is NOT Tension
Choose a Powerful Foundation for Your Story
Thesaurus Love
Let Me Tell You a Short Story
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So I researched it and my answer was the other names for this is Finnish Squeaky cheese (and oh so it's SUPPOSED to make that noise when I chew) or leipäjuusto. I'm like fine, if it's traditional...and to my surprised it was SO good with coffee. Damn. Had to be sure not to eat the whole brick and lie on the ground with a stomach ache.
But this led me to think about traditions and how we incorporate them into our stories. I did use that in my last novel the 1980s monster hunter thing from haint blue, to Italian, Filipino and Welsh traditions. Italian ones pop up everywhere.
I have done less with it in my fantasy work. One place I did it was with the one character loosely based on the people of Nepal (at least in appearance but then I second guessed having one of the few darker skinned characters to have these traits, it was a fear of dead bodies rather inspired by several groups. I'm good at this sort of second guessing).
I do want to work more traditions (of my invention) into my next fantasy novels. It can be something the character (or their family) are afraid of them losing because they left their homeland. Do they worry about looking weird because they're celebrating something no one else in town is doing? Do they worry that it might cost them a job due to prejudice.
That last one did nearly happen to me. People don't remember that in the 80s and even into the early 90s Italians still weren't welcome in a lot of places in America. I have never been shy about my Italian American heritage. When I was in NYC, I had mentioned going to the Ferragosto, the feast of the Assumption in Little Italy and one of the surgeons I was training under was SO angry I would be with Italians she tried to get me fired from my residency to the point of lying to the residency director. What happened was I was then put with surgeons better suited to me (i.e. I was reassigned to working with Italian, African American and Jewish doctors while the white Protestants ones didn't have to deal with me). What if your character, like me, was trapped because if I made waves and was let go from my residency I was done. I couldn't practice as a doctor without it. I never said another word about it and it was a tradition I've let lapse since.
Have you tried to write new traditions in fantasy/SF works? Let's hear about them? Same with how real world ones you've woven in.
Open Call
Road Kill: Texas Horror by Texas Writers, Vol. 10 pays well but you have to be a Texan
Elven Rock of Ages A 1980s band that end up in a fantasy kingdom (a few specific details to include below.) It's basically a shared universe and it sounds fun.
Tales of Galactic Pest ControlShort stories that explore the theme of pest control in creative, unexpected, and engaging ways. Another one that plans to pay well. I have an idea. Can literal manifestation of nightmares be a pest to be controlled?
Search for the Any Key Action/adventure mixed with any drama, can’t use a physical key, the why of the search should be the most important part
From Around the web
Meta’s Use of Pirated Material to Train AI, and Why You Should Care
Five Ways to Get Your Protagonist to Realize They’re the Problem
3 Writing Aspects You Should Never Let Anyone Mess With
2025 Laptop Buying Guide for Authors
32 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for April 2025
From Betty
Sidekick Protagonists
Creating Distinct and Grounded Anti-Heroes
Seven Reasons Storytellers Should Consume Bad Stories
Five Tips for Creating an Engaging Space Battle
The Best Way to “Show, Don’t Tell” –Scene Segmenting
How to Write: Conflict is NOT Tension
Choose a Powerful Foundation for Your Story
Thesaurus Love
Let Me Tell You a Short Story
Hooking the Reader Words of Wisdom
Using a Character’s Personality Traits to Generate Conflict
Character Secret Thesaurus: Hiding the Truth about Family
Writing Tips: Query Letter Questions Answered
Who Are You as a Writer on the Page?
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