So, as promised, I'm talking today about creating worlds for your books to be set in. Some people create large, extensive worlds for their books, such as L Frank Baum's creation, Oz. This works for some people, no for others.
Then there are people who set it in a fictional place but all they do is give it a name and if a certain part of that place is needed for the book, they can just make it up as they go along, basically. This also works for some people.
As for me, I have it extensively planned out. Not to the point that I have a map of the place (although, I'm tried) but I do have all the information thought out in my head. I have it thought out as detailed as who the mayor of the city is, the school, the magazines, the celebrities and all kinds of things. A lot of this does come into the story at some point or another, but a lot of it doesn't, too.
You'll see worlds like this planned out more in fantasy that any other genre, I think, but it works for others too. I think a lot of my inspiration for the world I've built has come from The Simpsons, which is certainly not a fantasy show. But it is a comedy, and so is Meowsie.
I'll be sure to tell you more about the world I've created once I get more of the series written down, but for now, that's all I can competently explain.
Have you got a fictional world you've built, on paper or in your head? Feel free to comment and share.
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Great post, and interesting that you've got everything but the map. I like to plan my world's pretty extensively, but I often start with the map and never get far without one. I guess, for me, the land and the geography affect who the people are, what they do for a living, what they care about, so it makes sense to start there.
ReplyDeleteOtoh, my world could probably use a couple more celebrities, and I never thought about a mayor. Want to send some of your folks over for a visit, then I'll send them back with a sketch or two?