My neighbor's kid asked me why my story people never go to the grocery store

I was working on a fantasy novel in my driveway last week when the 10 year old from next door looked over my shoulder. He pointed at my page and asked, 'How do your knights buy food if they never go to the store?' I froze because he was right. All my characters just find magic swords or fight dragons. I never show them doing normal things like getting bread. It made me think my world feels fake. Has anyone else gotten a simple question that flipped a whole story idea for you?

3 comments

3 Comments

simon_coleman12d ago

Honestly I'd say the kid is missing the point of fantasy. I mean who wants to read about Sir Lancelot picking up milk and eggs. The whole appeal is escaping normal life stuff like grocery shopping. If you add all that boring detail your story just bogs down. Maybe it's just me but I feel like the magic feels more real when you don't explain every little thing. That kid's question is clever but following it could ruin a good adventure.

the_kai1d ago

The magic feeling more real thing, yeah, but a single line about camp chores can actually make the quest feel heavier.

the_cameron12d ago

Guess Sir Lancelot's quest for the holy grail was just a really fancy grocery run, @simon_coleman.