How do you tell the reader that the setting is normal modern day?
I am getting some feedback on my writing but one of the questions that come back is that the readers are not sure about the setting. White the story was marked as fantasy, nothing fantastic had happen yet. The chapter describes a messy apartment, drug dealers, the mob, and mentioned Brooklyn.
I meant for the reader to quickly understood that this was normal modern life. I thought I would not have to mention anything and it would just be understood.
How can I tell the reader that everything is normal? I feel like if I focus on any details it will just make it seem that other details are not normal. I can't explain every detail of modern life, that's just everything.
I have some thoughts of mentioning the current president, but in today's climate I feel like my story would become instantly political if I do anything except the coldest info dump.
How can I point out that things are mundane to the characters and mundane to the reader? Does this complain about unclear setting mean that I may be having other problems that readers and not expressing?
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1 answer
It is easy enough, I would think: Contrive some reason to mention the year.
Mike opened the box to unveil Nancy's birthday cake. "What do you think?"
Alice looked and suppressed a laugh, the cake had nice flowers and vines, but he'd had piped on it, Happy Birthday Nancy! 1978 -- 2018.
"Oh my god, Mike, it looks like a tombstone!"
"You said don't say happy fortieth, and don't put forty candles, so what was I supposed to do?"
"Just Happy Birthday Nancy, and nothing else. How you ever got married is beyond me. Scrape the dates off."
"It will ruin it."
"I'll do it, dufus."
Or anything else that strikes you. In film, you will notice they do the same thing quite often, find an excuse to show or mention the current year, in passing, especially if it is the very near future. You can use Birthdays, anniversaries of people or major events. Like "President Fenhall is expected to lose support in the 2022 midterms... [blah blah blah]"
You can even use major events few people know of, or know the date of: Just work them into the conversation:
As she sat down, Alice said, "The Fourth of July. Happy sixth anniversary, Mike!"
Frank frowned. "Anniversary? Did you get married and not tell me?"
Mike said, "Since the Higgs Boson was announced, of course. July fourth, twenty twelve. Thank you for remembering, Alice."
"Brainiacs," Frank said. "Why do I hang out with you guys?"
Alice knit her brow, pretending to think hard. "We're the only people that love you?"
Frank grinned as if suddenly enlightened. "I guess there's that! Thanks, Alice!"
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