The Lore

This time I won't add examples as I do about create an improvised situation. Instead, it will be basically explanations.

Observe your favorite world: TV Series, Cartoon, Comic, Book... Observe it carefully. Do you see it? Well, now tell me:

Is the world enough different from ours?

At the moment to write a story, the first thing they usually do is simple: Build a world (Or "World-building"). The worldbuilding is creating all the elements around the world and make it your world: Society, Technology, Beliefs, Nations...

Now, why do I mention something that usually the Fanfic writers can avoid thanks to the original writers (Unless you want to write a bigger or different story)? For the element I'm talking about today:

The Lore

The lore is all the elements inside of the world-building, the original creations that it is located only inside of the world, and that is common knowledge inside of it.

Let's look at Steven Universe. The show includes lots of elements that are exclusive to that world:

• Businesses, like "Big Donut", "Keystone Motel" or the "Wacky Sacks Supply Company".
• Locations, like "Beach City", Ocean Town", "Empire City"... Even the state where everything happens, Delmarva, is a fictional place.
• Pop Culture, like "Dog-Copter", "Lonely Blade", "Spirit Morph"...

For maybe an average person, that means nothing. But for writers, it means a lot! Because let's make an exercise: Create your own situation with the franchise you like or you want. Now, in that situation, you must include some element of the lore (Location, food, Pop Culture).

You have it? Not cheating, just the lore and not another thing of other franchises.

You have it now? Ok. Now, change that thing for something of the real world. If it's a drink, change it by "Coca Cola"; if it is food, change it by "Big Mac"; if it is Pop Culture, change it by "Death Note"... You get the point.

Now that you changed it... Does it sound weird and out of context? More like if instead of something of the world, it was more like a free Product Placement.

Now you get my point about why respect the lore and worldbuilding is important?

What can we do here?

1. Use the elements the franchise has. If you have a great memory, it won't be hard. If you don't have a great memory, just look for a Wiki about the franchise with a quick search on Google.
2. Make them from scratch. You need to make something, but the lore of the franchise hasn't been enough to plug the hole? Use your imagination, creating something that can't be found in our world, but it can sound like it came from the franchise.
3. Use the element of another franchise (Exclusive use for Crossovers). Two or even more worlds have enough lore to cover everything you think you can't cover.
4. Use generalizations. Instead of writing the name of the element, why don't you just mention what it is? Instead of mention the name of a drink, say "a soda"; instead of mention the name of a food, say "a pizza"... (Warning: The prolonged use of generalizations is never recommended. Just use it on specific moments where you want to avoid creating an element.)

This information was brought to you for a very simple reason: Avoid the cringe. When you use elements of the real world on a fictional location where you've left clear that it is very different... It just doesn't work.

"Oh, but the film of MHA did it with Uno" First: ...You like MHA! Your opinion doesn't count; Second: It is what I mentioned before: Product Placement. It was simply included to get publicity or some financial help, it wasn't included because the screenwriters wanted it. Third: I watched the scene on Youtube... And clearly was a "Big-Lipped Aligator Moment" because you could cut the scene, and I bet my legs that nothing would get lost.

The lore is important because it means how much we care for the franchise. How much we know and we care, even at the point to respect each element on their worlds.

I hope this piece of information has been useful at the moment to write and helps you to improve as a writer.

Seeing you next time.

- Mr. JaggerMeister.