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[claudeb]

This morning I came across a good forum thread about the Medieval Stasis trope. Obviously it applies to all writing, not just for games. And sure, it's not easy to give readers a sense of history in motion. Short of making up thousands of years' worth of fictional events, possibly spread across many nations, what to do?

Various techniques are discussed that can help, but my method is twofold: first, to write about a certain moment in time, but one of change, to remind the reader that the setting as depicted is already passing; and second, to focus on a small corner of the same setting, so I can describe it in lavish detail, including how it's influenced by the rest of the world, because nothing exists in isolation.

I'm reminded of an interview with Auguste Rodin, in which he was asked how he was creating his famously dynamic statues that appear to be surprised in motion, and not simply posing. His answer was, capture the subject in-between two acts, for example someone reaching to wave at a passing friend even as they're taking another step. Sounds about right.