Question

I’m writing a story about animals who are as advanced as humans but there aren’t any humans in their world. they’ve “evolved” so they can eat a lot of things that are Toxic irl, have a larger lifespan, and hold things. Is that too unrealistic?

Answer 1

As a writer, you have the creative freedom to build a fictional world with its own set of rules and characteristics. While the concept you described may stretch the boundaries of realism, it is not uncommon in the realm of science fiction and fantasy to introduce elements that defy our current understanding of the natural world. As long as your story is internally consistent and engaging, readers can be willing to suspend their disbelief and immerse themselves in your imaginative world.

Here are a few considerations to help make your story more plausible and compelling:

1. Establish Rules and Limits: Even in a fantastical world, it's essential to set some consistent rules governing the abilities and characteristics of your advanced animals. By doing so, you create a coherent framework that guides the reader's understanding of the world.

2. Provide a Plausible Explanation: Consider incorporating a backstory or a scientific premise that justifies the unique features of your animals. It could be a result of evolution, magic, genetic modification, or any other creative explanation that fits your story.

3. Character Development: Give your animal characters depth and complexity, just as you would with human characters. Make them relatable, with emotions, motivations, and conflicts.

4. Explore Societal Implications: A world of advanced animals without humans opens up fascinating opportunities to explore themes of society, politics, culture, and relationships between different species.

5. Conflict and Challenges: To create a compelling narrative, introduce conflicts and challenges that your characters must face. This could involve external threats, internal struggles, or moral dilemmas.

6. Showcase Diversity: Just as humans are diverse in their abilities and traits, your advanced animals can have a range of unique attributes that set them apart from each other.

Remember, the success of your story will depend on how well you weave together the elements of your fictional world and how effectively you engage your readers' imaginations. Many beloved works of fiction take liberties with realism to create captivating and memorable worlds, so embrace your creativity and have fun with the process!