This birthday also marks my 20th anniversary as a writer as it was turning 30 that finally kickstarted me into taking my long held wish to write seriously and actually do something about it. My Facebook post tonight looks a little at how much has changed in terms of what is available to writers now over that 20 years.
So what family and other traditions exist in your fictional worlds? Are birthdays celebrated and, if so, how? Are presents given? What sort of presents would they be? I am thinking of the gifts given by the fairy godmothers to Sleeping Beauty at the start of that story so there is a precedent here. Can gifts backfire? Are there things that can only be given to royalty/nobility? (I'm not just thinking in terms of cost here but perhaps a particular gift is reserved for their use only).
How much effort do your characters go to when trying to please someone they care for? On the opposite end of the scale, what gifts would be considered to be acceptable bribes (and what would make those bribes necessary)?
What celebrations does your fictional society hold and what is the purpose of them? Is everyone expected to join in? If so, what happens to those who refuse?
I hope these questions trigger some interesting story ideas!
And here's to my next 20 years as a writer...