A Word in Your Eye

Writing Excuses 4-21: Writing Practical Fantasy

From http://www.writingexcuses.com/2010/05/30/writing-excuses-421-writing-practical-fantasy/

Key Points: Practical fantasy -- think it through. Is it humanly feasible? Beware of societies without visible means of support -- i.e. no trade, no value? Watch out for dumb villains. Five gold coins for a dagger means daggers are worth more than gold? Think about value, don't just borrow from the video games. Watch for cities in the desert -- without water, agriculture, or other support? Beware the one-climate planet! Avoid techno-porn, gadgets without social infrastructure. Write what you know, or can research, or can check with an expert. Who makes it, who uses it, and how do they trade for it? Use bad tropes as writing exercises -- how could this happen? Why?
( fantastic visions? )
[Rob] Well, terrific. Okay, um... I can't think on my feet. Let's just go with that, the city in the desert. You've got a city in the desert, there's nothing around it but sand. Figure out why that city is there, how they survive, and how they support all the people.
[Brandon] All right. This has been Writing Excuses. You're out of excuses. Now go write.