Fantasy: August 20, 2025 Issue [#13299]
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 This week: Bugs
  Edited by: Robert Waltz 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

Every kid has a bug period... I never grew out of mine.
         —E. O. Wilson

I'm not a bug person, but something about butterflies I can handle because they're kind of cute.
         —Sabrina Claudio

Time sneaks up on you like a windshield on a bug.
         —John Lithgow


Letter from the editor

It's August here in the Northern Hemisphere, which means that where I live, we've got bugs.

So the little creepy, crawly, jumpy, sometimes fly-y things got me thinking about using bugs in stories.

First, though, a bit of pedANTry:

The word "bug" has a particular definition to entomologists, involving the structure of their mouth parts or something. That's not how I'm using it; by "bug" here, I mean nonaquatic arthropods such as insects and arachnids—though I'm willing to exclude butterflies from the "bug" category because they're cool.

Also, this has nothing to do with software bugs, listening devices known as bugs, or Bugs Bunny.

Despite sometimes being annoying, many bugs are important to the ecosystem. They're food for some birds and small mammals, and some of them help to pollinate plants.

If there are bugs in a story, though, all too often, their purpose there is to give the reader (or viewer) a sense of disgust or unease. Most people have a visceral avoidance reaction to bugs (with a few exceptions), so that can be effective.

But they can be so much more, if they're incorporated into a story; the options aren't limited to "leave bugs out entirely" and "use bugs for the gross-out factor." Depending on what kind of world-building you've done, bugs could have different roles to play, perhaps even being sentient.

Even here in consensus reality, bugs are a significant portion of the world's animal biomass. So let's not ignore them.


Editor's Picks

Catching the fantasy bug:

 Clogged Plumbing Open in new Window. [13+]
Action, danger, wild romps through countless worlds, and then there are days like this.
by Blaize Author Icon


 
International Delight Open in new Window. [E]
Of unicorns and coffee
by tucknits Author Icon


 
Limits of magic. In search of victims Open in new Window. [18+]
The use and wielding of magical powers
by Poison Author Icon


 
Wyvern Open in new Window. [13+]
A wyvern considers his strategy.
by Beholden Author Icon


 Doll Magic Open in new Window. [ASR]
Just a doll in a package ... (Winner, Cramp)
by THANKFUL SONALI Magical Days! Author Icon


 
Sea Foam Open in new Window. [E]
A story involving a war between mermaids and unicorns. :) For The Whatever Contest.
by Wickedfugitive Author Icon


PLUG:
*Plug*


NaNoWriMo is NoMo (no more), but we're still writing here, and Prepping in October! Sign-ups open on September 1.

FORUM
October Novel Prep Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
A month-long novel-planning challenge with prizes galore.
#1474311 by BrandiwynšŸŽ¶ Author IconMail Icon

 
Submit an item for consideration in this newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
         https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form

Ask & Answer

Last time, in "Elements" Open in new Window., I talked about the classical elements as they relate to Fantasy writing.


Dawn Embers Author Icon: Another good topic and some good ideas. I'm working with elemental fae but including wood and metal. I like the idea of elements combining. Could be very interesting to put those into stories more.

         Glad you liked it!


So that's it for me for August. See you next month! Until then,

DREAM ON!!!



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