Ever played that fun child’s game “What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?” My siblings and I enjoyed playing it in our backyard. Mr. Fox sat on a swing. We called out, “What time is it, Mr. Fox?” Mr. Fox made up all kinds of crazy times – bath time, nap time, gardening time. At last, it was dinner time. Then, Mr. Fox chased us all over the backyard until someone got caught. And it started all over again. 

Sometimes, we must step back and ask ourselves, “What time is it?”

One of the first edits I made to Chained was clearing up the unidentifiable time period. When did this story occur? I had no idea. My imaginary world operated on a timeframe of its own, which opened it up to much confusion.

Maybe you’re in a similar place?

Let me share three easy ideas to help you pin down a time period!

Identify the elements of the story you won’t eliminate. For instance, I was unwilling to leave my swords, bows, and Faze Whips behind. You may not be willing to give up technology, mode of transportation, cultural vibe, an animal, occupation, etc. Jot down a list of non-negotiables.

Take out things that don’t fit with your must-haves. Whatever you choose, make it the standard of your period. Then, shift and shape your world accordingly. Because my standard was medieval weapons, the structures, food, clothing, culture, and everything else needed to fit a medieval era. That meant getting rid of things like doorbells (no, not kidding).

Do some fun research to flesh out your world again. Read some historical fiction or other books set in the time period you’ve chosen. What do they all have in common? How do those who write describe the setting? How do the characters live day to day? Be an observant reader and reestablish your setting as you go.

(note: If you’re writing a historical fiction, more in-depth research via encyclopedias, websites, biographies, and other historical books is advisable.)

These three ideas will help you lay a good foundation for your time frame. By implementing these concepts, I made some serious edits to Chained and it has been so much fun to immerse myself and my readers into the medieval, yet fictional world of The Fallen Lands.

So…what time is it, Mr. Fox?