World building. Believe it or not it's one of my favorite things to do, but then I cut so much of it out of my stories. Why? Because somewhere along the way I heard that people didn't want to read extensive world building and setting.
It's a shame really. I have all these amazing places in my head.
However, I finally realized something and I've made a decision. All those people with opinions read and write YA. Youth don't care as much about details like world building. However, I don't write YA. At least Talia's story isn't YA.
I'm traveling to a new planet in the sequel to The Magic Wakes and I'm going to indulge myself in my world building. And I don't plan on cutting it when I'm done with the story. I figure if I'm going to live my dream and write all of Talia's story, then I need to do it in the way that I experience it. And that means the worlds in my head.
You can look forward to a richer world in Search For Knowledge! More descriptions, sights, smells, colors and sounds. There will be a better developed government system and more science to mix with my magical world. And, the third side of my triangle will be introduced. Here's the complete tagline for the series.
Science, magic and religion...
Always at odds with each other,
But what if they originated from the same source?
Here are some great links to questions to help with your world building.
SFWA's Extensive Lists of hundreds of questions
Do you enjoy world building or dread it? Do you prefer a book with noticeable world building or prefer it to be minimal at best?
I love world building once I get past the first stages. Getting my ideas down are the hard part. I know what I want but can't figure out how to explain so the reader gets it. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem. Last night at writer's group I read a piece about a garden decorated for a wedding. One commentor said my phrasing made her think someone had toilet papered the garden. We had a good laugh about it but now I've got to try again on that description.
DeleteI don't do extensive world building - just enough for the basic story.
ReplyDeleteI think you did more world building than you think. The whole Cassan universe was part of it. The telepathy and technology were all part of it. It was wonderful!
DeleteI'm most interested in the story. But I credit those who can do vast world building in their books. Minimal or not it's a lot of work. But I love creating worlds more than writing contemporary.
ReplyDeleteMe too! It's so much easier to keep the "rules" if you make them up yourself. ;)
DeleteSounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteFor me I don't mind a lot of details if they are skillfully woven into the story. If I feel like I'm slogging through the story because of too much description that's when the book hits the wall.
I think this really is the key. People want to be immersed in a world without being indoctrinated. That really does take skill.
DeleteThat's fantastic, Charity! The sci fi/fantasy fans out there LOVE world building. YA readers not so much, but you're right, Talia's story isn't YA. I'm excited about your next book.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get the first draft finished but life keeps getting in the way. We close on our house on Monday and move next Friday. After that, things should calm down (at least I hope!) The good news is I'm in the last quarter of the story. :)
DeleteWorld building is great, until it's time to figure out the nuts and bolts. I like to get a sense of the world in stories I read. I don't want to feel thrown into a place that I can't get a feel for.
ReplyDeleteWorld building will make or break a book for me. If it's done well, I will keep reading, even if the world is strange or unbelievable. Neil Gaiman has a way of introducing worlds that you simply accept and take for what it is. I don't know how he does it.
ReplyDeleteI've put down a number of YA dystopian books because the world building seemed too weak. A gimmicky premise is not enough for me (and neither is a romance if the world doesn't make sense!). The ones who do it well, I highly commend, because it's not easy.