January 27, 2019 Facebook post
Oh the dangers of world building! Whether a fantastical magical setting, or a high-tech future in space — it’s so easy to become absorbed in the little details. And then, because you’ve spent so much time on it and are so enthralled with your creation, you have to share it all with the reader.
Zzzzz.
During a world-building workshop at the Willamette Writers Conference, author Fonda Lee revealed that she avoids the “rabbit hole” by delving into the minutia of her world only when needed for the story.
I’ve already done a lot of world building for individual stories and created maps for individual realms. I finally combined my research into a single document for my generic fantasy world (based on Patricia Wrede’s list) and drew a map of my fantasy hemisphere. Even so, I still do research specific to the current project.
How does one research a make believe setting? By studying existing locations and cultures (present and past). Tweak and combine them as needed for your setting. No need to ponder how humans adapted to a variety of geographic settings — research the cultures and societies from similar earth locations.
Past earthly adaptations can also guide the development of alien species. We’re also learning more and more about outer space and the habitable worlds out there. Not quite that hospitable a world? There’s always terraforming. As for the limitations of faster-than-light travel — SFF readers are willing to suspend disbelief if you devise a plausible means and tell a good yarn.
I’m still diverted by the project I’m calling “The Crystal Sword.” I’ve worked through “Save The Cat! Writes A Novel” for an idea of the beginning plot points (they can change as the story unfolds). Now I’m figuring out the world in which I’ve dumped my protagonist. Making it darker and more dangerous than originally contemplated.
Oooh! Conflict!
Mary S. Potter 