tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post3381138995936702948..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: VW#3: World-Building IUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-75699213245685278842008-08-03T12:23:00.000-04:002008-08-03T12:23:00.000-04:00Comments for this workshop are now closed and the ...Comments for this workshop are now closed and the giveaways have been awarded. If you have any questions regarding this workshop, please stop by my open Q&A here at PBW on Tuesday, August 4, 2008.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-6788750145447729452008-08-03T12:18:00.000-04:002008-08-03T12:18:00.000-04:00lorrri wrote: I assume most of that information do...lorrri wrote: <I>I assume most of that information does not make it into the story, only relevant to motivation and location type stuff.</I><BR/><BR/>I think when you take this approach to worldbuilding, you create the world inside your head before you begin writing in it. A lot of the details aren't going to make it into the prose, but they will affect the story because they're in your head. <BR/><BR/>For example, one of Akela's character points is that she's a solitary type who enjoys being alone. As part of a hive-mind community, she doesn't get to be alone at all unless she puts some distance between her and the Sisterhood, and her sisters know everything she's thinking, so she's trained herself to put aside her personal feelings. Yet being alone is something that she constantly craves on a subconscious level.<BR/><BR/>Because of that character point, Akela doesn't mind being nipped by Neleh, her surly, uncooperative darkmare (she actually admires Neleh for her bad temper.) She faces a lot of conflict alone and yet never thinks, "Why aren't my sisters here to help me?" as you might expect a member of a hive-mind community would. And when Akela has to make a choice between Jalon and the Orb and all the Sisterhood, she chooses to leave the Sisterhood and go with Jalon.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-57431199806551423312008-08-03T12:02:00.000-04:002008-08-03T12:02:00.000-04:00Tarragon wrote: I also find that I sometimes spend...Tarragon wrote: <I>I also find that I sometimes spend too much time on the worldbuilding process. Is it a good idea to flesh out all the details in advance or just what you need and build the rest as you need it?</I><BR/><BR/>I like knowing my worlds inside out before I try to play in them, so the more details I can get down before I write, the more comfortable I feel. I do know what you mean about spending too much time worldbuilding, though, and I think you just have to set limits for yourself by figuring out first what the story needs and then building the world. The next part of the workshop should help you with that aspect of it.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-51133850545414958252008-08-03T11:57:00.000-04:002008-08-03T11:57:00.000-04:00locksley wrote: The problem I run into seems to be...locksley wrote: <I>The problem I run into seems to be in terms of research. While I can, based mostly on stereotype, associate various cultures in my project to various real-world cultures, I seem to have problems finding the 'whys' behind things -- my logic being that if I can find out 'why' a group of people does or makes or wears or believes in a certain thing, I can change that to change the associated behaviour, if that makes sense... Because it wouldn't make sense to have fictional!culture observing some sort of behaviour that was directly connected to real world happenings, right? I think I'm trying to do too much work here... ;;;</I><BR/><BR/>You might be over-thinking it. Fictional individual and group cultural dynamics aren't going to be exact copies of real life models, but they will share certain things in common. <BR/><BR/>For example, in my story <I>Red Branch</I>, Akela is a member of a hive-mind community (based on bees) born in work castes and subordinate to a single female dominant (like ants and bees) who have arachnid body functions and behaviors (like spiders.) <BR/><BR/>I took the facts from the real life organisms, conglomerated them, and then built my culture on that basic foundation with -- and I can only describe it this way -- what <I>felt</I> right. The result was the the Sisterhood. Granted, it's a simple construct, and I would have built a lot more for a novel, but what I put together served the needs of a short story.<BR/><BR/>When you build your socio-political structures, don't try to be too faithful to the real life model, but don't try to stray completely away far from it, either. The fantasy will wow the reader, but the underlying realism will be what really resonates with them.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-59476109509663609392008-08-03T11:19:00.000-04:002008-08-03T11:19:00.000-04:00Kristi wrote: I love how you're using one of your ...Kristi wrote: <I>I love how you're using one of your characters to explain your method of world-building. Do you ever do that in reverse? That is, write interviews or scenes with the characaters before your story/novel/novella is written?</I><BR/><BR/>I don't do actual interviews, but I do ask every character who pops into my head three questions: <I>Who are you? What do you want? What's the worst thing I can do to you?</I> The answers usually provide me with the basics I need for the initial characterization. After that I fill out a character worksheet, adding in all the details, and then spend anywhere from a few weeks to a few months with the character in my head. I visualize them in various situations, have imaginary conversations with them, jot down interesting bits for dialogue, etc.<BR/> <BR/><I>Stuff that doesn't necessarily make it into the finished product, but helps you work out the kinks in the world you're creating?</I><BR/><BR/>I agree, absolutely. I think the better you know a character, the more fully-realized they'll be on the page. I always try to know much more about a character than even what I need for the story.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-82555120285809118002008-08-03T11:12:00.000-04:002008-08-03T11:12:00.000-04:00rk wrote: Now I am also intrigued about the novel...rk wrote: <I> Now I am also intrigued about the novel notebook...what is it?</I><BR/><BR/>I posted my novel notebook a while back on Scribd.com -- it's basically templates of what I use for my own work every time I write a novel along with some complete examples of worksheets, self-made promo ads, a synopsis for a book I sold, etc. You can take a look at it (or print, or download a copy for yourself) <A HREF="http://www.scribd.com/doc/2309303/The-Novel-Notebook" REL="nofollow">here</A>.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-67821205694182835532008-08-03T11:11:00.000-04:002008-08-03T11:11:00.000-04:00Thank you, Lynn, for your response. This give me m...Thank you, Lynn, for your response. This give me much to think about.Margay Leah Justicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15490126898758440254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-71252200133251544942008-08-03T11:06:00.000-04:002008-08-03T11:06:00.000-04:00Marina wrote: I find it really slows me down when ...Marina wrote: <I>I find it really slows me down when I'm writing along and I have to stop to consider if they have x in this world, or whether the social/economic/whatever structure would allow such-and-such to happen. I guess I need to spend more time considering such questions before I leap into the story. How much of the set-up of your world do you work out before you start?</I><BR/><BR/>I do pretty extensive, thorough worldbuilding notes because I truly don't like not knowing something about my world while I'm writing. But you can never plan for everything, so when I hit a bump like that in the story, I will stop, take the time to consider and craft the detail to fit in with my world, and add my notes to my novel notebook.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-19621306427382725932008-08-03T11:03:00.000-04:002008-08-03T11:03:00.000-04:00Margay wrote: Another writer suggested using a wik...Margay wrote: <I>Another writer suggested using a wiki to keep track of world-building - how do you feel about that?</I><BR/><BR/>I've never done a wiki personally, so I don't know how much work is involved, but I have made my own series encyclopedias here at home, and they've been a lifesaver, especially when I pass the five book mark in a series. I don't think I could write <I>StarDoc</I> without my SD encyclopedia, which after nine books is now over two thousand pages in length.<BR/><BR/>If you'd like to try a wiki, my advice would be to do a test run or a short story on one to see how you like it. <BR/><BR/><I>And if your story is set in modern times in a regular town/city but the characters are paranormal (shapeshifters, for example), how much worldbuilding do you need to do?</I><BR/><BR/>Even with a modern, real-world setting, you should research the details of it (maps, points of interest, climate, social and cultural aspects, etc.) unless you've personally lived there all your life and know all this stuff off the top of your head. I lived in or near Fort Lauderdale most of my childhood and young adult life, and knew it like the back of my hand, but when I used it for a setting I had to research a lot of details for things like the police department, canal systems, beachfront, bar scene, churches, etc. <BR/><BR/>I think you also have to think about your worldbuilding of a real life modern setting in terms of your paranormal characters's lives, culture and habits. Foe example, a vampire protagonist who turns to dust when exposed to the sun and yet lives in Phoenix Arizona will need to know where all the dark corners of the city are, if there's an underground tunnel system or enclosed transportation system for moving around during the day, safe places to hide if caught away from home after sunrise, etc.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-45781432154161247502008-08-03T10:50:00.000-04:002008-08-03T10:50:00.000-04:00Wolverine wrote: I'm more drawn to the natural wor...Wolverine wrote: <I>I'm more drawn to the natural world, so while I like creating characters, I sometimes have trouble defining socio-eco-political stuff and such, because it's just not what I usually think about. Any suggestions for improving areas like this? Any good, broad books that cover some of the different options for these areas, maybe?</I><BR/><BR/>One thing I do is to read books about politics and conflicts that are/were present in a similar real life situation. Much of what I use in my stories is built on or a conglomerate of details from a political or sociological situation from real human history.<BR/><BR/>The best how-to book I've read on the subject is Holly Lisle's <I>Create a Culture Clinic</I>, which is available in e-book and print format <A HREF="http://shop.hollylisle.com/index.php?crn=214&rn=372&action=show_detail" REL="nofollow">here</A>.<BR/><BR/>There's also a pretty good list of links to online worldbuilding resources <A HREF="http://www.specficworld.com/resources/world.aspx" REL="nofollow">here</A>, some of which may help you.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-49265754670302860422008-07-31T00:09:00.000-04:002008-07-31T00:09:00.000-04:00I agree wth aj. what a way to teach. Thank you for...I agree wth aj. what a way to teach. Thank you for holding this workshop.Big Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04866756029868111330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-37159780596552321112008-07-30T23:32:00.000-04:002008-07-30T23:32:00.000-04:00Hmmm I think I may have forgotten to submit my com...Hmmm I think I may have forgotten to submit my comment earlier. . . <BR/><BR/>Hubby (evil, evil man) infected me with an evil plot bunny today, so this will come in handy building the urban fantasy world that needs to go with the idea.<BR/><BR/>:)Lisa Cohenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07530826748768737972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-20632847684994567722008-07-30T23:17:00.000-04:002008-07-30T23:17:00.000-04:00Thanks again for an insightful post. I also want ...Thanks again for an insightful post. I also want to thank you for linking so many bloggers together... you have given me enough information to last years and your not even done yet!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-13915015581057378412008-07-30T23:13:00.000-04:002008-07-30T23:13:00.000-04:00I'm yet another character-driven writer. As such t...I'm yet another character-driven writer. As such the world comes in only when it impinges on what the characters do, need, want etc. Unsurprisingly my world building is very attenuated. I end up using place-holder labels for concepts or entities I need for my characters to respond to. Names are one of my niggling bugbears. I've even been reduced to calling my characters Alpha, Beta, Gamma ... so I could get on with the actual writing.lxzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14898457609552734512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-90300733141627650262008-07-30T23:03:00.000-04:002008-07-30T23:03:00.000-04:00Another great post!Definately enter me for the pri...Another great post!<BR/><BR/>Definately enter me for the prize packs!<BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/><BR/>Terri W.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-22601310534722578442008-07-30T22:54:00.000-04:002008-07-30T22:54:00.000-04:00This comment is really a response to a comment in ...This comment is really a response to a comment in the #VW2 post but comments are closed for that post so I put it here instead.<BR/><BR/>To Annoymous-Shannon who wrote: <EM>FWIW I save my WIP by scenes (scene 1 is one file, scene 2 a different etc) and have them stored in the computer under file folders Act 1, 2, 3. When I make a substantial change to a scene I save it as a new file so in my Act 1 folder I might have files: Scene 1 take 1 and Scene 1 take 2. In the actual scene file, I use headers to write the scene number and take (i.e., version) so I don't get confused when looking at printed copies. This is how I keep track of earlier versions so I don't lose anything on the WIP [I never know when I might change your mind]. </EM><BR/><BR/>Thanks Shannon for sharing your method. It's certainly very systematic and organised. I must say it never occurred to me to keep track down to the scene level. My present method is far more primitive. I write everything in one big file and save the first draft untouched. Then in following drafts if there are any text chunks I delete but might want to reuse I keep them in a single "oddments" file. Luckily, so far my plots haven't been too convoluted but I suspect I might have problems with this method if things get more complicated.<BR/><BR/>Lynn's method of saving the first draft untouched is closer to what I do but I don't edit each day's work as she does.<BR/><BR/>youpsy's process resonates most with me and I think is the most efficient, i.e., don't edit until the first draft is completed. Having a few outliney points to start the next day's work is a tactic I also use.<BR/><BR/>If there are any major changes I want to make to the first draft while working on it, I just make a note of it for the editing round, i.e., I don't do any major reworking until I've completed the first draft. Sometimes though the major change is crying to be made, so I might have a second draft running concurrently with the first draft but lagging a little behind. This is the part of my organising I find untidy and not very satisfactory.lxzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14898457609552734512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-32043480085268076122008-07-30T22:41:00.000-04:002008-07-30T22:41:00.000-04:00I'm feeling very overwhelmed right now. I didn't k...I'm feeling very overwhelmed right now. I didn't know about LEFT BEHIND AND LOVING IT until late last night. This has spurred me to start connecting to my own blog more regularly, if only to be able to keep up with the feeds for all of the writers' pages I SHOULD have been following.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, I also start with characters. Then, as the nights pass, I lie in bed imagining what their lives are like outside the boundaries of the storyline.ninthmuse (roz m)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14052804993066868391noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-77058127768350794072008-07-30T22:16:00.000-04:002008-07-30T22:16:00.000-04:00I've always started plotting with the characters f...I've always started plotting with the characters first(because that's what I thought you're supposed to do), but when I get my ideas, it usually comes from world-building-- An idea in a certain time jingles for me. lolValerie Everharthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06099852413575505130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-58037603000552248162008-07-30T22:08:00.000-04:002008-07-30T22:08:00.000-04:00Great workshop! I'm completely taken with Akela. E...Great workshop! I'm completely taken with Akela. Enjoyed meeting her.Scarlet Pumpernickelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14423325239015775645noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-70204968645067730362008-07-30T21:45:00.000-04:002008-07-30T21:45:00.000-04:00Thanks for the lesson. I'm outlining a new project...Thanks for the lesson. I'm outlining a new project that requires world building. More please.JC Coyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03234200561890842403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-27050506400689628252008-07-30T21:33:00.000-04:002008-07-30T21:33:00.000-04:00Great post. I love world-building workshops. I hav...Great post. I love world-building workshops. I have such a hard time with it.<BR/>C-Corrina Cowanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01056025533978096016noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-37637244718371467372008-07-30T21:11:00.000-04:002008-07-30T21:11:00.000-04:00Now I must go read Akela's story. Thank her for th...Now I must go read Akela's story. Thank her for the tips, would you, Lynn? Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-90307706535114817132008-07-30T20:46:00.000-04:002008-07-30T20:46:00.000-04:00Interesting workshop. I'll have to try having my c...Interesting workshop. I'll have to try having my characters decribe their worlds for me.<BR/><BR/>LavernLJBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00165084511521426399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-77489674558993528742008-07-30T20:31:00.000-04:002008-07-30T20:31:00.000-04:00Another spot-on post. I'm at this point in my cur...Another spot-on post. I'm at this point in my current WIP - realizing I need better world-building to support the story.<BR/><BR/>Thanks, Lynn!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-89852096676793353122008-07-30T20:22:00.000-04:002008-07-30T20:22:00.000-04:00I loved the additional links. You can a lot by re...I loved the additional links. You can a lot by reading the repliesDebbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08516477616699255278noreply@blogger.com