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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/5352-World-Building.html
Fantasy: November 06, 2012 Issue [#5352]

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Fantasy


 This week: World Building
  Edited by: Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature. ~ Ernest Hemingway

The only reason for the existence of a novel is that it does attempt to represent life. ~ Henry James

It takes more then fifteen minutes to build a world. ~ Prosperous Snow


Word from our sponsor



Letter from the editor

In order for the characters in a fantasy or science fiction novel to be "living people" the world they live in has to have elements of reality. The world has to have a history, which includes cultures, religions, politics, governments, and rules for a well run or badly run society. The question is How do you build a world in which your character interacts as a real person? The answer is to sit down and write a background or draw maps of the world where the character lives.

A writer needs to answer several basic question when building a world for the character. What is the political climate? Who are the governing bodies? Is it a world governed by tribes, city states, nation states, or a planetary government? What are the religions? What are the laws governing society? Who enforces those laws? How do the citizens and various other elements of society interact with each other? How does the character respond to the elements of his or her world?

Those are some of the basic questions for building a science fiction or fantasy world. These questions can be considered as part of the plot construction if the novel is not part of a series. If the novel is part of a series then the questions can be answered in fifteen or twenty minute writing exercises focusing on one or two questions at a time. The write needs to answer some of these questions in order for the novel to " represent life" and the character to appear real in the context of the novel.


Editor's Picks

Stories and Poems


I Saw a Dragon Open in new Window. (E)
They strolled along the ocean sand . . .
#1895487 by Magoo Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: I saw a dragon yesterday
who pulled his wagon through the clay.
He dragged it down a puddled street
while stomping with his muddy feet.


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1866539 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Their space ship came, and we watched the aliens land.
Our humans fled west to escape the aliens' demands.
The aliens emerged from their spacecraft and waited.
The aliens said, “We are Borg. You will be assimilated.”


 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1890383 by Not Available.

Excerpt: I think most people have had the misconception that living in space is exciting or adventurous. It isn’t. There is nothing more boring.

 Digital Wench Open in new Window. (E)
Andy seeks marital therapy...
#1897184 by Hyperiongate Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: “And how does that make you feel?”

 Shadow Dancer Open in new Window. (E)
A primitive psychologist struggling to surpass the alchemists.
#1897451 by Voodoo Shampoo Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Dancing, he dances to awake his shadow, to turn life into it, making it a living being. He relies on magic knowledge.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1897330 by Not Available.

Excerpt: Dread settled over the city as night fell once again. The normal sounds of drinking and revelry had long since died. The torches lining the streets spluttered and cooled, sending acrid smoke rising in the air and filtering into the windows of homes and businesses alike.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1888498 by Not Available.

Excerpt: “Once again, young man. What is your name?”

 Deep In The Woods Open in new Window. (E)
Avery didn't know why he wanted her, all she knew was, she needed to run.
#1897791 by J. A. Cunningham Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: Avery ran as quickly as she could, Darian was right on her tail. He swore that if he ever caught her alone, no one would ever see her again. She had never understood what she had done so wrong, all Avery knew was right now is, she needed to run.

 Happy Endings Don't Exist Open in new Window. (13+)
A twisted fairy tale about a young girl who meets a creature out of a story book.
#1897807 by SidheAshe Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: “Do you want me to read you a story before bed?” Lidia’s mother asked as she helped the little girl into her bed. Lidia shook her head. She didn’t want to admit it, but the fairy tale stories that would have thrilled her weeks before were only scaring her now...

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#1898730 by Not Available.

Excerpt: “Don't look at me. I don't know what's going on either,” Shara said, petting the neck of her dragon to take the harshness from her words. Words her dragon, Elnori, would have been unable to hear over the wind had she not used her thoughts to project the meaning directly into his mind. “All I know is we have been called back from our patrols, and that can't be good.”

Submitted to the Newsletter


 Revolution of Humans and Anthros Intro Open in new Window. (18+)
Intro to my Interactive. Two friends discover the truth about their races' history
#1705434 by BIG BAD WOLF is Merry Author IconMail Icon

Excerpt: "Now Jessabel, remember, you must be presentable at all times," said an elderly anthro vixen.

 
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Word from Writing.Com

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Ask & Answer

{suser:voodooshampoo)} writes: thanks for featuring my story! i promise that more of doctor Harsh will be available by the end of the month ... maybe i shouldn't promise, but i know for sure i will try to get the next story out

what you can expect is a story that isn't as pressed by a word limitation of 1000 words, instead it will be 2000 words limit
You're welcome. Prosperous Snow celebrating Author Icon

jim1184 Author Icon writes: Great news letter. I am slow, it takes half a day for me to get 1,666 words. Butt in seat and write is the answeer for me. Word of caution be careful mixing hand written and typed. I have a bunch of notebooks and computer files. I have to mesh into the novel it was suposed to be. Major chore. Thanks Jim.

BIG BAD WOLF is Merry Author Icon writes: Idea pops into me head- and it burns until I start to type.

readsalot writes: This helped e in a way. I have my own plann to writing but I do want to think the writer of this newsletter on giving me advice to write the story print it then edit. I would also like to give the readers of this newsletter my own plan. I write it down in a notebook then once I'm done with that I go look and edit. After that I write it on the computer then I write it in another notebook.

Thank you for sharing your plan. Each writer has to have a plan because without a plan noting is accomplished. Prosperous Snow celebrating Author Icon

Are there any questions about world building that I forgot?{{/c}
Prosperous Snow celebrating Author Icon


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