Creating Worlds

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.

Forget 'Beginning, Middle, End...'

First point: The daily goal thing has been going pretty well and I've been regularly exceeding it. I've aimed for 1,000 words per day and by the fifth day I have just over 8,000 words written. Yay me.

Second point: As much as it pains me to say this, I was wrong. I take back what I say about the chapter-by-chapter plans, at least in my case. But hey, we all make mistakes. It seemed like a good idea at first and the point still stands that it is a big help for writer's block, but after five days of writing i've found that it stifles my creativity.

I'm still following a basic version of the plan that I have stored in my head, but I'm mainly making it up as I go along now, which is working well and I'm starting to get into the flow of things, which brings me to --

My main point: after getting past the difficult opening, which I always struggle with in everything I write, I'm starting to get the hang of it. Now everything's coming to me quite quickly and boy, I'm loving it!

This had led me to a little theory of mine. I think a manuscript - be it a novel, novella, novelette or whatever - can be split into three sections, from a writing point of view that is.

These sections are the opening - the awkward part where nothing much is happened because you can't just jump to the point, but you have to introduce everything and still be interesting. This is, in my opinion, the most difficult stage or writing.

Second, the body - the majority of the manuscript, where the story unfolds and it gets easier to write. The most enjoyable part from most writers, I reckon.

Third, the very end - the last chapter or even just the last page where the writer has to think of an ending that will wrap the story up nicely and make the reader pause for a moment and smile before moving onto their next book. It can be easy to worry about this and fret about what you're going to write, although, thankfully, it's not as difficult as writing the opening. Plus, once you've finished, it'll make you pause and smile, too. Nothing like the sense of accomplishment in finishing something you've written.

So, it may just be me, but that's my opinion. Thoughts?

Chapter-by-Chapter

So this is a pretty good way to plan a novel, I reckon. If you're going to have difficulties with length, it'll show you that before you start writing. If you're prone to writers block, this should help, as you'll always know what to write next. And it gives you something to aim for with each chapter.

For anyone who can't guess by the title, it basically includes planning out what happens in each chapter of your novel from start to finish. Simple.

I would advise it, although for some writers and even for some particular projects, it might not be the right thing. Sometimes it's just easier to write as you go along.

Openings

This is a problem I've recently run in to. And I'm sure it's a problem for many writers, too.

The opening of your novel.

So, you know what's going to happen. You know what the complication is, you know who the bad guy is, and you know how the whole thing is gonna be resolved. And then your mind turns to the opening. And the anvil drops right on your head.

Do you introduce your characters? Do you jump right into the whole thing starting?

I decided to start by introducing the three main characters, one in each chapter, as they go about the beginning of a normal day of their lives. I'll make this interesting by adding an amusing comedy scene, and once all this is out of the way I can jump to the part where the day takes a turn for the worst.

And the best part, even if the opening comes out terrible, I can forget about it and worry about the rest of the novel. I'll worry about the opening again when I start to rewrite.

And that's probably true for most authors. So don't fret. Hm. Fret. That's a funny word.