Using Subsistence Strategies

Using subsistence strategies in stories

How people get the food they need is an important question to ask yourself. Why? Well, let's say you are writing a story that takes place on a space ship. At some point, the space ship looses power and will be adrift until help arrives. Is there enough food for the people to survive until they are rescued? Let's say an army is heading into a desert to do battle with a horde of insects that have been plaguing border farmers. If food can't get to them, the soldiers will be weak or even die. They may perish even before they find the insect horde. So, how will the army be fed?

As you can see, getting food can be an important element used in a story. The need to find food can even be the main plot of a story! This is why you should spend some time thinking about subsistence strategies for the world you are creating. Your answers could shape, or reshape, your story.