The Snowflake Chronicles

Jan 17, 2024 Fantasy Newsletter Deadline Jan 15, 2024

Research

Editor's Picks

1. Little Red
2. In the end
3. Human Gene Manipulation
4. Tree Shadows
5. A New Star
6. Dear Jimmy
7. Abandoned Pastures
8. Defective Merchandise
9. Nuclear Winter (Part One)

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Coin of the Realm

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A monetary medium of some type is necessary in any civilization.

Hook

What monetary rewards do your characters want?

About This Newsletter

Love of money, rather than money itself, is the root of evil. Wealth, of some type, can be considered either good or evil depending on how it is acquired and used.

Letter From the Editor

Every civilization that has ever existed needs some type of monetary system to function. In many civilizations, of the past and present, this monetary system is based on gold. However, this does not have to be the case in a fantasy or science fiction story. One type of system is bartering.

In a bartering system, one type of labor is done in exchange for another type. For example, a baker may give bread or some other type of baked good to a carpenter who fixes their roof. I know bartering works, because I have participated in it. While it is not the best way to run a nation, it works at an individual level. Especially when each person in the exchange is satisfied with what they receive.

Money, wealth, or coin of the realm can be used to carry a plot forward. It can also be part of the development of one or more of the characters. Does one of your characters care more about acquiring money than anything else, even their own lives? If so, use that in your story and show what happens to the character in their quest to become wealthy.

Today, in modern America and some other countries, credit or debit cards are used to pay for purchases. A person works for a monetary reward that is deposited in a bank, savings and loan, or a prepaid debit card. Once the money is deposited, the individual uses it to pay for purchases, pay bills, pay the credit card balance, etc. This method works well, as long as the person is aware of how much money they have and how much they have spent using their card.

What is the coin of the realm used in your stories? Are there any other methods of exchanged that have not been mentioned in this newsletter?

Editors Picks

Little Red  (E) The Writer's Cramp Contest Entry #2310509 by Andrew W

In the End  (E) 150-years after aliens have come to save humanity, is there anything left to talk about. #2310587 by ZombeeLuv

Human Gene Manipulation   (E) an experiment #2310755 by Simply Me

STATIC

Tree Shadows  (ASR) Will they forever wander the land? #2309445 by Cubby~Cheering House Florent!

A New Star  (E) A flight to a new chance takes an unexpected direction. #2311341 by ZombeeLuv

STATIC

Christmas and interdimensional physics  (13+) Dear Jimmy... #2309919 by LightinMind

abandoned pasture  (E) abandoned pasture #2311584 by JCosmos

Invalid Item  This item number is not valid. #2311675 by Not Available.

STATIC

Nuclear Winter (part one)  (E) After global devastation a new hope and disaster are brewing in the Antarctic wastelands. #2310942 by Sweet thistle

Submitted by Readers

Activities, Groups, and Contests

Which element would you control?  (E) Which one of these elements would you control? #2277847 by 🐺Wolfkingdom🏰

Feedback "Fantasy Newsletter (December 20, 2023)" 

dragonwoman writes: Thanks for using my story for your editor's pick in this newsletter

Beholden writes: Thank you very much for including my short story, A Troll's Guide to Solving a Crisis, in your Editor's Picks section.

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