When creating a world as a writer, most often than not, using Earth as a foundation is easier for most than creating a brand new world from scratch. This also goes for science fiction universes; where Earth, Mars, and the rest of the solar-system are represented in a fictional story. But my focus is on creating entire universes from scratch by still using concepts & themes that have come before to tell incredible stories.
My question for you is are you building your world/universe from scratch? If you are, what concepts are using to help guide you in the process? If you aren't, have you or will you ever try building a world from scratch? What is stopping you/holding you back?
I’ve toyed around with a variety of ideas for building worlds and I hope to explore that within the year, now that I’ve discovered Substack. Generally I use “periods of earth’s history” as a starting point for my ideas. I like to imagine changing the environment or technology of a culture and running with it from there. (For example, imagining the culture of the Mayans in an arctic setting.) I would say, however, that I regard that as being incidental to the character development, since it’s difficult for me to immerse myself in a world, however unique it might be, if the characters aren’t complex or engaging enough. Around 1998, I was participating in a newsgroup-hosted SIM based on Star Trek. The other participants were so imaginative that the combination of the characters and the ideas they were coming up with for the planets we visited made it a real treat to take part in.
That's an interesting way to come up with unique concepts for settings! And yes, I agree, making sure to have complex characters is needed in order to make the environment more immersive. I would also say, just have the inhabitants of the setting showcase a rich and vibrant culture helps with the immersive nature. Whether it be rituals, traditions, or even some type of events that occur in world, anything that can add depth is great!
I've been slowly developing a planet called Havek for about 7 years. It's got a rich timeline now that I've managed to write two separate novels based in different time periods. I won't go into the details on those because I don't know if I want it to be revealed quite yet. I also plan to have the stories set on my version of Earth to eventually be set within the same universe as Havek. Will I ever write all of the stories in my head and publish them? That awaits to be seen haha.
As for the exact process, I like to think of a setting that I'd like to explore, then I ask myself what type of character would inhabit that setting, with an emphasis on character here because it's vital to how the reader will then view the setting. For example, if it's a harsh environment for our standards, but the character has developed some way to navigate the world that nullifies the harshness, then that makes a significant difference how the setting is portrayed to the reader.
After character I tend to focus on plants and animals, because that's an interesting thing for me to explore and solidify that the world is vibrant and expansive. I do tend to lack on explaining food, culture, religion, and technology though. I need to figure out how to weave those into the plotlines of future stories, or find some way to mention them in passing.
Great topic, Matthew! This has given me food for thought on how to improve my worldbuilding.
Very nice! I do recommend having Havek and your version of Earth be set in the same universe, even if they are so far apart that it isn't possible for the characters to interact. But it could add for interesting plot hooks, such as an alien mineral from Havek appearing on Earth and causing a massive scientific discovery, or more concepts that can be explored.
Setting up cultures is a difficult thing to handle, especially if you're making it up. That's actually one of the reasons why I use Tabletop RPGs for my worldbuilding, bcuz then my players can add their own ideas into their characters, which in turn expands my universe in the process.
Very cool. I don't write a lot of fantasy, but Winston, if you want to introduce culture, use something from the past and just expand on it. Use, say, Hinduism.Change the names of the gods and come up with short little snippets as to their stories. I'd think ancient religions would be great for that. Zorastism, Mithraism, Roman and Greek myths, Babylonian. No one says you can't borrow and change things up! I say go for it!
I’ve toyed around with a variety of ideas for building worlds and I hope to explore that within the year, now that I’ve discovered Substack. Generally I use “periods of earth’s history” as a starting point for my ideas. I like to imagine changing the environment or technology of a culture and running with it from there. (For example, imagining the culture of the Mayans in an arctic setting.) I would say, however, that I regard that as being incidental to the character development, since it’s difficult for me to immerse myself in a world, however unique it might be, if the characters aren’t complex or engaging enough. Around 1998, I was participating in a newsgroup-hosted SIM based on Star Trek. The other participants were so imaginative that the combination of the characters and the ideas they were coming up with for the planets we visited made it a real treat to take part in.
That's an interesting way to come up with unique concepts for settings! And yes, I agree, making sure to have complex characters is needed in order to make the environment more immersive. I would also say, just have the inhabitants of the setting showcase a rich and vibrant culture helps with the immersive nature. Whether it be rituals, traditions, or even some type of events that occur in world, anything that can add depth is great!
I've been slowly developing a planet called Havek for about 7 years. It's got a rich timeline now that I've managed to write two separate novels based in different time periods. I won't go into the details on those because I don't know if I want it to be revealed quite yet. I also plan to have the stories set on my version of Earth to eventually be set within the same universe as Havek. Will I ever write all of the stories in my head and publish them? That awaits to be seen haha.
As for the exact process, I like to think of a setting that I'd like to explore, then I ask myself what type of character would inhabit that setting, with an emphasis on character here because it's vital to how the reader will then view the setting. For example, if it's a harsh environment for our standards, but the character has developed some way to navigate the world that nullifies the harshness, then that makes a significant difference how the setting is portrayed to the reader.
After character I tend to focus on plants and animals, because that's an interesting thing for me to explore and solidify that the world is vibrant and expansive. I do tend to lack on explaining food, culture, religion, and technology though. I need to figure out how to weave those into the plotlines of future stories, or find some way to mention them in passing.
Great topic, Matthew! This has given me food for thought on how to improve my worldbuilding.
Very nice! I do recommend having Havek and your version of Earth be set in the same universe, even if they are so far apart that it isn't possible for the characters to interact. But it could add for interesting plot hooks, such as an alien mineral from Havek appearing on Earth and causing a massive scientific discovery, or more concepts that can be explored.
Setting up cultures is a difficult thing to handle, especially if you're making it up. That's actually one of the reasons why I use Tabletop RPGs for my worldbuilding, bcuz then my players can add their own ideas into their characters, which in turn expands my universe in the process.
Very cool. I don't write a lot of fantasy, but Winston, if you want to introduce culture, use something from the past and just expand on it. Use, say, Hinduism.Change the names of the gods and come up with short little snippets as to their stories. I'd think ancient religions would be great for that. Zorastism, Mithraism, Roman and Greek myths, Babylonian. No one says you can't borrow and change things up! I say go for it!