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The "contract" is the expectations you set. In an academic paper, it's normally the introduction leading up to the thesis. In a work of fiction, it's the first few pages (novel) or paragraphs (sh...
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#4: Attribution notice removed
by
System
·
2020-02-10T14:22:55Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43420 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added
by
System
·
2019-12-08T11:17:43Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/43420 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
The "contract" is the expectations you set. In an academic paper, it's normally the introduction leading up to the thesis. In a work of fiction, it's the first few pages (novel) or paragraphs (short story).
Just like an academic introduction, you may not be able to do it until you've done EVERYTHING else -- written the body, seen how your thesis statement has changed given the evidence... NOW you know the scope of what needs to be introduced.
So maybe wait until your draft of the fictional work is done, and then re-do the introduction -- if there's a little science or magic, make sure it's evident.
If it's an honor-based world (or your character thinks it is -- like Ned Stark in _A Song of Ice and Fire_ ), then that should be something the characters think about (tight-third or first-person POV), or show evidence of it in something experienced -- someone doesn't get the university appointment because of a sub that their great-uncle made to the university president's uncle 25 years ago.
If there is humor, set it up _in your style._ If your book is punny, use puns. If it's more like "Aerith & Bob" (contrasting genre with everyday, especially in naming), then have the Warlord with his minion Fred.
If in this apocalypse you care about the science, then probably the characters also would care about it. If you're focused on the day-to-day life, then have the characters just pass on the rumours of what they think caused it, even if contradictory. ("Comets!" "No, an experimental bomb." "Supervillains!")
**But to come back to the main Q - the "contract" is the promise made to the reader about what is the scope of the work. Often you can't know what your scope is until the draft is done, so (re)write the introduction/beginning at the end.**
#1: Imported from external source
by
System
·
2019-03-13T13:16:27Z (over 5 years ago)
Original score: 2