Yesterday was so action-packed that I immediately fell into bed and vowed to post a comprehensive update when Windycon was finally over. Saturday was chock full great panels that discussed everything from creating believable characters to how SF/F has helped push boundaries and address societal taboos. Combined with a Celtic folk rock concert from Tricky Pixie and a fun art auction, the panels made Saturday fly by.
Sunday morning was dedicated to a writers workshop where I had the chance to get eight separate critiques on a chapter from my work-in-progress. It was amazing to get so many fresh eyes on the piece, and the advice I gained regarding breaking down and strengthening the story will be essential for my rewrites. It was a wonderful way to close out the weekend and propel me back into writing.
Archive for the Category »Writing Process «
14
Nov 2010
Nov 2010
10
Aug 2010
Aug 2010
As I polish up a short story for contest submission, I find myself in a world building dilemma. I know that the story is just the first step into a future series I have planned, and all parts of the series will need continuity between them. The main framework and details of the universe are worked out, but are not on the same level of detail needed for a novel. It’s hard to project into the future to see what little fly-away details in the short story will hamstring any later world building for the series as a whole.
Of course, a contest submission won’t necessarily be published, and most continuity points can be ironed out later when I have more time to flesh out the universe. In any case, how do you deal with this problem? Are there any main world building issues that you make sure to develop first, or others that provide a little wiggle room if something needs to be changed later?
02
Aug 2010
Aug 2010
Building a believable city, whether in SF or fantasy, requires many layers of detail. Odds are that your protagonist will visit a new city (or large town) at some point during his or her journey, so it pays to create a fully-realized destination for them to explore.
In the beginning, basic world-building (geography, weather, size and breakdown of the population) is paramount. But these basics can be expounded by viewing them from a different angle – the tourist’s angle. Tourists, like your reader, approach new surroundings with fresh eyes. Their alternate perspective may allow you to brainstorm various backdrop details, enriching the location.
Some ground work can get your creative juices flowing. Flip through some real-world guidebooks and see what is deemed worthy of a visitor’s notice. A field trip is fun too – try visiting a city near you and notice what interests you, how you interact with locals.
When you feel comfortable with this framework, apply your experiences to your fictional city. Either write a scene about or mentally explore how a fictional tourist would interact with your new city. You may be surprised by details that pop out and become useful for the plot.
Some questions to ponder:
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What are the landmarks that a tourist might visit in the city?
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Are there places that locals would consider “insider” destinations? What makes them different from the tourist traps?
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Are there actual tourists that visit the city? Do they come for entertainment, religious pilgrimages, or other purposes?
What helps you create your locations?
Category: Research, World Building, Writing Process, Writing Tips
Tags: World Building, Writing Process Leave a Comment
26
May 2010
May 2010