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Printed from https://web1.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/13469-Life-Beginnings.html
Fantasy: December 03, 2025 Issue [#13469]




 This week: Life Beginnings
  Edited by: Jinglette Bellette Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

"The beginning is the most important part of the work." ~ Plato


Letter from the editor

Life Beginnings


Where does life come from? How does any species reproduce?
Mammals are born. Fish, birds, and reptiles come from eggs.

In Fantasy fiction, most creatures follow the above pattern. Dragons come from eggs, unicorns are horses and therefore mammals.

Horror fantasy characters are usually made from humans. Like vampires have to be bitten. Werewolves have to be bitten or scratched. Zombies have to be bitten or scratched. The Hulk was irradiated. All of these started out as basic human mammals, so we don't have to go that far into their past to find out how they came into the world.

When I was new to this site in 2008, I remember wondering a lot about the way that my fantasy creatures were put into the world (in their world.) So I paid attention to it, but I only found one writer here who had a defined idea. I forgot their name and they may no longer be on the site. I still remember that this writer's elves came to life as fully formed adults.

I couldn't find any more fantasy writing that dealt with the biology of the creatures within that would have been actually fantastical until I read John Carter of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs. He created some strange concoctions like plant-person hybrids and huge apes that stayed connected to their birth tree by a long root or flexible branch.

As fantasy writers, we should challenge ourselves to come up with some alternative ways of giving life to our fantasy creatures. The whole idea of fantasy is that it's not science. It doesn't have to be possible. It should actually be not possible at all and should not be something that can eventually be created through technology.

When you set your next life form free in a story. Ask yourself: where does it come from? You don't have to explain it in the story, but you should know.

Most life forms are born or hatched, but what about fantasy creatures?




Editor's Picks

 Devezan and Jayus: Birthing the Expanse Open in new Window. (13+)
Some pranks between gods go awry.
#2345184 by Winter's spud❄️ Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
Dearie Open in new Window. (ASR)
A young witch discovers spellcasting is not her cup of tea.
#2305807 by Cubby Author IconMail Icon

STATIC
Unicorn Wishes Open in new Window. (E)
An exceptional birthday party
#2258520 by Words Whirling Round Author IconMail Icon

 Unicorns and Luck Open in new Window. (E)
A rabbit is tasked with finding a unicorn to restore magic to the forest
#2326637 by KingsSideCastle Author IconMail Icon

 
STATIC
The Darkest Storm Open in new Window. (ASR)
What does an ancient vampire do on his birthday?
#2274599 by Krismouse Author IconMail Icon


 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

Reply to my last Fantasy newsletter "Transportation" Open in new Window.

Winter's spud❄️ Author Icon wrote: This is probably silly, one day I was on an airplane. I thought to myself "why have the plane taxi down a runway? It's such a waste of space. It'd be so much cooler if they could spin around in circles and take off vertically! " Later I realized that's basically helicopters only the whole vehicle instead of just the blades.

We'd also get very dizzy.

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