Do Fairies Use The Bathroom?
I’m currently writing the sequel to my paranormal romance The Magic Knot. While considering the last few chapters, I’ve realized that the hero and heroine, both of fairy blood, have been racing around trying not to be killed by the king of the Underworld for a number of days. But they’ve had no potty breaks, no food or drink, and the hero hasn’t shaved, yet doesn’t have a beard. As bladder control isn’t one of their special powers, I wondered how to address this issue.
I can’t remember reading a book where the characters used the bathroom (apart from to make love in the shower or bath!). I suppose authors who write about vampires don’t have to worry about this. If paranormal beings don’t eat or drink, presumably, the bathroom issue isn’t a problem. But how far do authors need to consider physical reality in paranormal fiction? My fairies do eat, drink, breathe, and do all the other things we do to stay alive and procreate, even though some of them can fly, disappear into thin air, or walk through doors.
Within the parameters of the paranormal worlds I write about and read about, I easily believe the big paranormal elements on which the world is founded. But, for me, the small details must make logical sense within our physical world or I’m pulled out of the story. I can believe in vampires, no problem. Undead beings who feed on blood I accept. But if the author has a vampire who doesn’t breath but can speak, that causes me to stop and frown. It’s physically impossible for them to speak unless they have air in their lungs to expel over the vocal chords. And I always wonder how some vampires produce no body fluids yet are able to ejaculate.
I have no trouble believing shape-shifters transform into animals. But it pulls me out of the story if they morph back into human form and are fully clothed. This always makes me think of the incredible hulk whose shirt shreds when he expands to hulk form, but whose trousers miraculously stretch to fit.
Helen Scott Taylor
In The Magic Knot, I have a man-sized vampiric fairy with wings who flies. I know it’s physically impossible for a creature the size and weight of a full-grown man, and a hunky muscular one at that, to have wings that would be strong enough to lift him from the ground. Yet I’ll accept this in the context of the story. But the little details, like him not being able to sit comfortably in a chair as his wings get in the way, are important to me for the scenario to be believable.
How do you feel about this issue of believable details in paranormal stories? Do you need the fairies to take a potty break or eat a candy bar occasionally?
Helen Scott Taylor’s debut paranormal release The Magic Knot will be a February 2009 release from Dorchester Love Spell. For more information and to read the first two chapters visit www.helenscotttaylor.com
9:52 am on November 26th, 2008
Hey, Helen.
some of the nitty-gritty details are indeed best left to the readers imagination, imo.
But I will say I do occasionally find a little fairy dust on the toiletseat in my upstairs bathroom. The little critters must…well use your imagination!
I recently read something, can’t remember a contest entry or romance novel, but the opening took place at a port-a-pot on the beach. I have to say that didn’t set a lovely scene for me. I don’t think bathroom details would add to my reading enjoyment either, but to each his own.
Can’t wait The Magic Knot
Judythe
10:57 am on November 26th, 2008
You’re cracking me up here. While I think some details are important - love the idea that his fairy wings make it hard for him to use a chair - I also think that some details are assumed or can best be left to the imagination.
Just as I’d boil down the 200 mile motorcycle ride to the enchanted riverboat to “According to Dimitri, the Dixie Queen was a four hour ride. Hopping mad, it took me just under three.”
Readers don’t need to know if she took a bathroom break or stopped for gas. That said, little details, like fairy dust on a toilet seat (that also made me smile) can really bring readers into a world. It’s about using your imagination. And making sure the details you include give the reader a fun escape from the ordinary, not a biology lesson.
11:45 am on November 26th, 2008
Hoot! Your question got my attention, in spades. I’m with Angie, bodily functions should probably be left unexplored. However, right now I’m writing a heroine who time-travels back to the mid 1800s. When she needs to relieve herself, she says, “I need to go to the bathroom.”
Her Indian hunk asks, “Bat-room? What is?”
12:23 pm on November 26th, 2008
Hi Helen,
I think when you include details that add to the story, they are effective. When Nightshade can’t sit comfortably in a chair, that reminds the reader of his wings and his differentness (if that’s a word). It helps to develops his “portrait”. If he uses the toilet, who cares? You are never fully depicting reality in any tale.
The fairy dust is another bit of charm to enhance the story (makes me wish I had a fairy in my life) rather than strictly to tell us about the toilet. That fairy dust seems to sparkle in my mind, though the author didn’t say that it does.
I think you have the right balance!
Carly
2:11 pm on November 26th, 2008
Judythe, fairy dust on the toilet seat made me laugh. I agree a port-a-pot doesn’t sound like a romantic location LOL.
Angie, an enchanted riverboat sounds like fun. I think the secret with the details is choosing the fun ones. I always think paranormal is the ultimate escape from the ordinary!
2:37 pm on November 26th, 2008
Helen ~~ Great post which touches on the ultimate issue with fiction — we write and read to our reader’s expectations. If I wanted the bathroom habits of any characters I’d read non-fiction as I’m sure there’s a book that addresses that topic . Thanks forkeeping the Fantasy in Fantasy - can’t wait for the MAGIC KNOT to be released.
All the best ~~ Mary B :-)
2:39 pm on November 26th, 2008
Being a Gemini, I have no qualm saying I am of two minds on this issue of what’s put in and what’s left out. The only real way I can respond is by saying it will bother me if it bothers me. By which I mean, I can be so caught up in a book, captured by a fabulous story and utterly believing the world building that I will not notice, or miss, the details, sometimes perfectly ordinary things like bathroom breaks, that are missing. However, if the writer is not good enough to have me in her thrall, then I may very well be stumbling over the things that I notice …. It will really depend. And of course, with fairies, since I have no idea (unless the author shares) of a fairies’ urinary necessities or plumbing, I might not even think of it - who knows? Maybe fairies’ bodily waste evaporates off their skin, or turns into rainbow colored gasses that they expell. And if the worldbuilding is succinct, I’ll have all the explanations I need.
Good topic, though and made me really think!
3:14 pm on November 26th, 2008
Helen - I believe we let ourselves slip into fiction so we won’t have to think about bladder control and acne and all the other unpleasantries of our own bodies. I commend you for helping us escape from these mundane details. Can’t wait for Magic Knot!
3:58 pm on November 26th, 2008
Helen,
Great post. I remember Lee Childs telling a story at a writer’s conference about some fan mail he’d gotten for one of his books. The reader wrote to complain that the protag had taken off across the country and he’d never addressed a change of clothes, much less bathroom breaks, and maybe even eating. The reader complained that it stressed her out for the entire story. e.g. it was day 3 and what about a change of underwear?
Your point (and his) is an excellent one, that a writer needs to keep the story grounded with just enough of the mundane to keep the readers comfortable. But too much gets boggy. I mean, do you reallllly want to know someone’s intimate bathroom habits or hear about every bit of food they stick in their mouth?
Cheers, Liz
6:00 pm on November 26th, 2008
Joyce, I immediately like the sound of the Indian hunk. You can see where my focus lies!
6:02 pm on November 26th, 2008
Thanks for the comment, Carly. You’re right. It is definitely about balance. I think the little details chosen can be so revealing of character.
6:04 pm on November 26th, 2008
Mary, I have no problem keeping the fantasy going. I live in my own little fantasy world anyway.
6:05 pm on November 26th, 2008
Lise, that is so true. If a book catches me up and the story enthrals me, I will accept all sorts of things I might be picky about in a less engaging story.
6:07 pm on November 26th, 2008
Sheila, I hadn’t considered acne. Actually that’s a good idea. I could have a hag with boils…
6:09 pm on November 26th, 2008
Liz, I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. It’s about keeping the story grounded in reality, even though it may be about weird fantasy or paranormal creatures. I think that’s why I like the blend of paranormal with the real contemporary world.
6:12 pm on November 26th, 2008
Interesting post, Helen. Just as we don’t mention in most of our books that the characters breathe and we don’t mention that blood circulates in veins and arteries, we also don’t mention bathroom breaks. Readers assume a certain amount of “normal reality” and there’s no need to bore them with those details. If it doesn’t move the plot along, no need to include it in your story.
That being said, in LOVE WITHOUT BLOOD, my vampire goes into the men’s room. (Not for normal activities, however. He’s trying to escape from a nurse and he’s assuming she won’t follow him.)
Eating and drinking can also be included when those activities move the plot along. A vampire is driven by the need to drink blood, doing so can be wrapped in the plot. The woman he’s in love with isn’t driven to eat a candy bar; no need to mention it.
Good luck with MAGIC KNOT.
Take care.
Raz
3:37 am on November 27th, 2008
Thanks for stopping by, Raz. I’m looking forward to your book in January!
11:38 am on November 30th, 2008
Very interesting post, Helen! I also love your cover. The blue just makes the book pop out at you!
You know, I’ve read TONS of historicals, contemporaries, paranormals, etc. I don’t ever remember one mentioning the restroom and I’ve never thought about it myself when writing a book. I think most readers (myself included) just assume the characters take care of it while they’re “off screen” doing other things. :-)
Heather R.