Line #26 SoYouWantTo/WriteAnAlternateContinuity


1	[[WhatIf What if]] [[WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse Peridot was part of the Crystal Gems from the start and]] ''wasn't'' the antagonist who made a HazyFeelTurn?
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3	What if ''Series/DoctorWho'' had a series of stories set in cities such as Oxford, Manchester, and Glasgow, ignoring BritainIsOnlyLondon?
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5	Well, this is a guide.
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7	Don't confuse AlternateContinuity with AlternateHistory. The term AlternateHistory refers to RealLife history [[AlternateTimeline if it had gone another way]] - an AlternateContinuity is a {{Continuity}} mutually exclusive of the main one.
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9	An AlternateContinuity is when a continuity has details that are irreconcilable in terms of timeline and plot from the main continuity, and the events don't match up with the main one. However, there can be a fair amount of ''overlap'' between an AlternateContinuity and an AlternateUniverse.
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11	There is the related page SoYouWantTo/WriteAFanfic, but here, this article specifically focuses on one element; {{Continuity}}, the events which happen within the work.
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13	!'''Necessary Tropes'''
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15	First of all, you have to have an existing continuity to use as a starting point.
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18	!'''Choices, Choices'''
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20	There's a wide selection of choices; do you use a LiveActionTV continuity like ''Series/GreysAnatomy'', ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', ''Series/BetterCallSaul'', ''Series/OrphanBlack'', ''Series/TheCatch'' (PoliceProcedural and medical drama), or do you go with {{Anime}}, or even WesternAnimation such as ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' or ''WesternAnimation/BoJackHorseman''?
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22	You could even use comic-books as a starting point; Creator/DCComics and {{Creator/Marvel}} are good choices. Pick any character, any one. ''Series/TheFlash2014'' or ''Franchise/{{Batman}}'' are good DC Comics examples. Or how about an AlternateContinuity involving Quake (Daisy Johnson)?
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24	But it's not just fiction that can have an AlternateContinuity. AlternateHistory is this to ''the real world''.
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26	!'''Pitfalls'''
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28	Problems include deciding how far differently to go, but keeping within the canon itself, and how your OriginalCharacter will fit into the new continuity.
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30	Other problems include working out the minor details
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32	!'''Potential Subversions'''
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34	----
35	!'''Writers' Lounge'''
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38	!!'''Suggested Themes and Aesops'''
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40	In general, you could go DarkerAndEdgier or LighterAndSofter. Equally, what about, for those who write about ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'', a CrapsaccharineWorld plotline?
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42
43	!!'''Potential Motifs'''
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45
46	!!'''Suggested Plots'''
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49	----
50	!'''Departments'''
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53	!!'''Set Designer''' / '''Location Scout'''
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55
56	!!'''Props Department'''
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58
59	!!'''Costume Designer'''
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62	!!'''Casting Director'''
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65	!!'''Stunt Department'''
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67	----
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69	!'''Extra Credit'''
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72	!!'''The Greats'''
73	* One example might be the ''{{Franchise/Transformers}}'' but the pitfalls of this are ContinuitySnarl and too many characters.
74	* Another is [[ComicBook/WhatIf Marvel's What If]], presenting continuities that result if canon events occurred differently. It's [[WesternAnimation/WhatIf2021 animated adaption]] covers universes that result from events in the [[Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse Marvel Cinematic Universe]] being played different.
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Context SoYouWantTo / WriteAnAlternateContinuity