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From the Desk of Killer: Consistency
7 years ago
A recent comment on the second entry to Strange World got me thinking about this more: the purpose and importance of consistency. Of explaining the rules and restrictions in order to give a more clear and consistent understanding of the fictional world the author describes. I have some conflicting thoughts on this matter and I’d like to talk to you all about them.
First, I must say that having consistency makes perfect sense, particularly with long-form stories or for a running universe. Consistency is what informs the reader what matters, what doesn’t, and why the should care about certain things. Stakes are raised when the reader understands the complications and hardships behind conflicts, and that can only be done when they comprehend, at least to some degree, how things operate in the world and why certain issues are easy to fix and others aren’t. Consider the following example: a person can radically change their form at will using magic. Now, if in the same fictional universe another character is radically changed, but didn’t want it and can change back easily, there needs to be a reason. The first example sets up an expectation that magical transformations aren’t an issue, so to then turn around and say they are now an issue creates a logic error. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, there should be no reason this magical transformation is a fun time while this one isn’t.
Now, you’ll note that I said “unless there are extenuating circumstances,” and I think that’s what I like about inconsistencies within fictional worlds. Yes, it does add extra strain on the world to start to add minutiae to events, but I feel that makes the world feel more real. Based on our world, there are some constants like mathematics, physics, basic human logic and emotion, but there are just as much variable and inconsistent attributes to ourselves, our world, and our universe. Is it perhaps a cop-out to say this character’s transformation isn’t a problem because of the method of magic they used, or because they have money, or because they were lucky? In some cases, yes, yet at the same time, such things happen in our world as well. The woman who catches the flu in New York will have a very different experience than the boy that catches it in Kenya. In conclusion, I think this added understanding of further detail, of being willing to have similar events transpire differently in the same fictional world, is something that is fun and challenging to explore.
Those are my thoughts on the matter, but I’m quite interested to hear how you all feel about this. Do you feel stricter, more consistent worlds are the way to go, or do you think they’re too restrictive? Do you like more fluid universes, or do you think they always turn into convoluted messes? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading and farewell
-Killer
First, I must say that having consistency makes perfect sense, particularly with long-form stories or for a running universe. Consistency is what informs the reader what matters, what doesn’t, and why the should care about certain things. Stakes are raised when the reader understands the complications and hardships behind conflicts, and that can only be done when they comprehend, at least to some degree, how things operate in the world and why certain issues are easy to fix and others aren’t. Consider the following example: a person can radically change their form at will using magic. Now, if in the same fictional universe another character is radically changed, but didn’t want it and can change back easily, there needs to be a reason. The first example sets up an expectation that magical transformations aren’t an issue, so to then turn around and say they are now an issue creates a logic error. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, there should be no reason this magical transformation is a fun time while this one isn’t.
Now, you’ll note that I said “unless there are extenuating circumstances,” and I think that’s what I like about inconsistencies within fictional worlds. Yes, it does add extra strain on the world to start to add minutiae to events, but I feel that makes the world feel more real. Based on our world, there are some constants like mathematics, physics, basic human logic and emotion, but there are just as much variable and inconsistent attributes to ourselves, our world, and our universe. Is it perhaps a cop-out to say this character’s transformation isn’t a problem because of the method of magic they used, or because they have money, or because they were lucky? In some cases, yes, yet at the same time, such things happen in our world as well. The woman who catches the flu in New York will have a very different experience than the boy that catches it in Kenya. In conclusion, I think this added understanding of further detail, of being willing to have similar events transpire differently in the same fictional world, is something that is fun and challenging to explore.
Those are my thoughts on the matter, but I’m quite interested to hear how you all feel about this. Do you feel stricter, more consistent worlds are the way to go, or do you think they’re too restrictive? Do you like more fluid universes, or do you think they always turn into convoluted messes? Let me know in the comments below!
Thanks for reading and farewell
-Killer
