with Enisa Haines
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| Image courtesy of: www.123rf.com |
It's often said that stories are about characters and the conflicts they face. For example: Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy, each immersed in an emotional tug of war between their preconceived ideas of each other and the feelings they struggle against, in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Or Eve and Roarke, both fighting distrust and the emotional chaos attraction brings, in J.D. Robb's In Death series.
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Why are these characters so fascinating, and unforgettable? It's the world they live in. Who the characters are, what shaped them and what happens to them all depend on their imaginary world. For Mr Darcy and Elizabeth it's the customs, constraints and influences of Regency England. A technology-advanced, gritty New York City in 2058 is the backdrop for Eve and Roarke. Worlds that come alive in the reader's mind, worlds that are credible.
What makes them feel so real that readers are intrigued and willing to suspend disbelief and engage in the stories? World building, a term associated with fantasy, paranormal and dystopian tales and known in other genres as creating a sense of space, is the key.
How do we build a world?
- Start with a setting and time period. Visit or research the place if it exists today. If you're writing historical, discover everything you can about location and era. Use your imagination to create a planet/universe/alternate reality if you're writing fantasy/paranormal or dystopian.
- Add the main characters and the surrounding community. Learn how they function, what they value.
- Know past events that influence what happens in the present.
- Add conflict that results in chaos.
- Discover how the environment impacts on the characters and their conflict.
Spend some time on these details, add them together and you'll have a deep and complex world, one that has its own identity, its own unique sounds and smells and sights. You don't have to reveal everything about your world. Your characters and what they are experiencing are what's most important. Keep them in focus and show the details as a backdrop or implied. A backdrop such as the stage where rock star David Ferris performs with his band in Kylie Scott's Lick. Or the Highlands of 18th Century Scotland where former combat nurse Claire Randall is hurled through time into the lead-up to the Jacobite Rebellion in Diana Gabaldon's Outlander.
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| Image courtesy of: www.kylie-scott.com |
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| Image courtesy of: www.tvguide.com |
World building is your guide to your world. It's the essence of your story. It gives it the supporting framework and, most important of all, it make your story real to readers.
Is world building an enjoyable process for you or do you find it a chore?
Love to Love - inspirational quotes. A great boost for my writing muse.
Love to Laugh - sometimes reality is as amazing as imagination.
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Love to Learn - about the fantastic worlds authors imagine. I'm in awe of George R.R.
Martin's Game of Thrones.
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| Image courtesy of: denofgeek.com |
