My niece told me my fantasy world was too perfect and it got me thinking

She said, and I quote, 'Nobody ever gets sick or forgets stuff in your stories.' I was honestly a little stunned (she's only 12). But she's right. I spent like 10 years building this world with cool magic and no poverty, but I never added small daily annoyances. She asked why nobody ever has a bad cold or loses their keys. Now I'm rewriting my whole system of magic to include things like spell components getting lost or potions giving you headaches. Has anyone else had a younger reader point out a blind spot like that in your writing?

2 comments

2 Comments

shah.evan14d ago

Psh, some people actually like worlds without colds and lost keys though.

the_viola14d ago

Oh man, @shah.evan, I used to think that way too until I moved to a place with no real winter and suddenly lost keys became a daily adventure. But honestly, I learned to appreciate the chaos a little - it keeps life interesting and makes the victories feel way sweeter.