Happy Cinco de Mayo! Which brings me to the question...
Do you have cultural events mingling with the events of
your novel? I'm not suggesting your plot should be centered around cultural traditions,
but that you consider using events (real or imagined) in the finer details that
follow your existing plot.
Cultural events are the world-building results of a
society. They add a sense of depth and realism for the reader, and the reader
might even gain a new appreciation for something they didn't know (if your
events are accurate). They can reveal a character's personality and upbringing,
and the level of tolerance, understanding, and maturity of sidekick characters.
They map the passage of time, season, and weather. They create a calendar deadline
that can't be changed, even if your mc hasn't finished saving the world.
They can also instigate conflict and moral dilemmas.
Would your mc pick a family tradition/gathering over a first-year anniversary? Does
the significant other respect that decision? And on that note, did the mc even
warn his date that there might be an issue when he brings her to a family event
for the first time? Did he explain the expected customs so she could be
prepared?
While your mc is actively saving the world, would his/her
mother call to remind him/her that it's Mother's Day, and that a phone call
would have been appreciated?
Does an unusual attempt at meal preparation reveal the
fact that the in-laws are coming for Memorial Day weekend, and one spouse neglected
to tell the other?
Does your mc care if the family doesn't approve of his/her
friend for racial or religious reasons? It'd be kind of sad if the mc was just
rebelling the family standards, and didn't take the long-term effects into
consideration because the relationship wasn't supposed to last. (Character
growth!)
Does your mc buy decorations/gifts at the dollar store
the day of... or have they been prepping all year? Oh the stress if all that
work was suddenly lost. How will they handle the holiday without the
"things"... How would they handle a holiday they love in a society
where that holiday isn't recognized?
Cultural events and holidays happen in all societies, no
matter how much stress your character is trying to handle at the time. Don't
let your plot get off track, but don't forget the calendar!
1 comment:
Not so many holiday references in my books, but lots of pop cultural references in Crow's Rest. But yes, if the story covers a time period of a major holiday it always sticks out when they don't celebrate it.
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