By Immortal Angel
Would you take the red pill, or the blue pill?
If you would take the red pill, you would definitely
experience a context change.
A context change is a revelation which literally tips the
world on its axis, and neither the character nor (hopefully) the reader will
ever see their reality in the same way again. Taking the red pill thrusts Neo into
the ‘real’ world, which is completely different than his former illusory world
in the Matrix.
Classic science fiction and fantasy stories take advantage
of these context changes in ways that are unique because they typically open up
a new world that is completely different than the mundane, ordinary world we
inhabit on a daily basis. Some great context changes:
When Marty gets out of the De Lorean and finds out he’s gone
back in time. [Back to the Future]
When Dorothy exits her house and realizes the world is in
color. [Wizard of Oz]
When Lucy goes through the back of the wardrobe to Narnia. [The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe]
This type of context change alters the external world, and
that is usually to dazzle the reader. Throwing readers into the world of color,
magic, or outer space gives them the enchantment they are looking for when they
pick up a science fiction or fantasy book.
There is another type of context change, where you change only
the character’s world, which leads to internal character growth. Examples of
this:
“Luke, I am your father.” [If you don’t know this it will
just be my secret.]
“You’re a wizard, Harry.” [Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone]
In The Neverending
Story, when Bastian realizes that the Childlike Empress is actually talking
directly to him.
When I first started writing, I intuitively threw in context
changes, but probably not to the extent that I should have. The best science
fiction and fantasy stories have a mixture of several external and internal
context changes, so the author can dazzle the reader with their amazing world, and
the characters can grow through different revelations.
In The Matrix,
there are several context changes:
1.
When Neo takes the red pill.
2.
When Neo learns that he can control aspects of
the Matrix, so he becomes more powerful.
3.
When Neo learns about viruses that hunt them, so
the Matrix becomes more dangerous.
4.
When Neo is told he is The One.
5.
When the Oracle tells him that he isn’t The One.
6.
When he realizes he is The One at the end.
His context is continually changing and shifting in a way
that is exciting and keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. It’s even better
because it’s his decision and belief in himself at the end that paves the way
for his final context change of becoming The One.
If you look at the most powerful science fiction and fantasy
stories today, they take advantage of multiple context changes. If you have a
series, there should be context changes from book to book. In my series of
eight books about elves and cyborgs, there are context changes for each of the
main characters within books. But in the overall series arc, there are context
changes for elves which happen in books 1, 4, 6, 7, and 8. There are also context
changes for cyborgs which happen in books 1, 2, 5, 7, and 8. Book 3 changes the
timeline, and Books 4 and 8 have the largest context changes for the understanding
of the villains.
So how do we think of context changes for our stories? This
is where brainstorming comes in, and you can really let your creativity run
wild. I usually sit down with my husband and a cup of coffee and we ask each
other: What is the craziest thing you can think of to happen in this story?
For external context changes, you go through your world and
ask what could change that would alter reality. Perhaps the characters enter
another dimension or place. Perhaps they find some hidden knowledge. Perhaps a
new technology is revealed. Perhaps the enemies morph into something different
altogether. I still love it when a vampire turns into a bat. Seriously, that
trick never gets old.
For internal context changes, you can go through your
characters systematically and start asking how you can shake them up. How can
we change the hero’s world? How can we change the villain’s world? How can we
change two characters’ relationships to
each other? How can we add to the back story in a way that would change their
reality?
Once you have your context changes, take some time to make sure
that they haven’t been done before. You know how I check? My chiropractor. He
loves science fiction and fantasy, and he’s read, watched, or played just about
everything out there. If I tell him my idea and he says, “That’s just like. .
.” followed by a movie or book and a detailed explanation, I know I have to go
back to the drawing board.
Whatever you do, you can be sure that context changes are
worth the time and effort it takes to plan them. They serve the same function
as plot twists in action and mystery stories, and will add the extra sparkle to
your science fiction or fantasy story that will keep readers coming back for
more!
Do you have some great examples of context changes? Feel
free to leave them in the comments below!
All the best and happy writing!
Immortal Angel
About the Author
Immortal Angel’s
first true love was Han Solo – of course, that was before she realized she
wasn’t really a princess. But from that heartbreaking realization came a
lifetime love of reading and watching science fiction, fantasy and romance.
Once she began to write, those translated into epic adventures that cross time
and space, with a little romance thrown in for good measure!
