A Brave New World
I’m in a world-building phase. I don’t know what’s up, but I’ve invented three new worlds in the last couple weeks. I’m loving it. I’m getting a lot of snatches written, but most of it is foundation rather than word-by-word prose.
Nathan Bransford wrote a great post on world-building, “What Makes a Great Setting.” (I suppose it was about setting rather than world-building, but they’re so closely related.) He mentioned three important elements to a good setting: change underway, personality and values, and unfamiliarity.
Sarah Jae-Jones adds to the discussion in her post, “Publishing Phenomenons.” She points out part of the magic that makes Harry Potter:
“I mean, everyone immediately recognized whether or not they were Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, or Slytherin–by the way, I’m RAVENCLAW ALL THE WAY. There’s something about this series that makes you want to crawl into the wizarding world and find your place in it.”
Then things get messy. The main character needs to be firmly and organically rooted in the foundation of the world. If we just stick a character into a world, it doesn’t feel right.
The Reluctant Hero
Nothing is quite so egotistical as a character who thinks he can save the world, but when you’ve got a world with change underway, the main character is likely going to be the cause for the end-of-series world peace.
So often you have the reluctant hero. He can be so humble and true-hearted, like Frodo, that you can’t help but love him (Lord of the Rings). Or she can be thrust into a thick of things to save a sister, and her strength and values and choices can inspire nations (The Hunger Games). Or he can be after a simple thing, like rescuing his lover, and gradually an army builds behind him that changes the power structure of the world (10,000 B.C.).
Motivation
Somewhere in the world-building, the main character needs motivation to fight for (or against) change. To save a world, you need extreme motivation, but this motivation often starts small, like avenging the death of a friend, a family member, or a village. Saving a loved one. And the steps they take from that small, personal motivation sets them on the path that will later save the world.
The character needs personal stakes in the change of the world, but people are rarely motivated to save themselves as much as they are to save someone else. Somehow, this BIG BAD EPIC THING that’s got change underway in the world must get small and personal, and must do some awful thing to the main character, in order to set the main character on the path of saving the world.
And what makes the main character special? Why do they have the power to change the world, anyways? What personal cost will their power have? What limits?
I’m just thinking out loud. My third world is still building. I love knitting together all these stray bits to make a tight weave of characters, motivation, plot and world.
What do you think about when creating a world for your characters? Where do you start? How do you make it all feel organic?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
World building is the most fun of all, I think.
I’m enjoying it!
My world is usually something I’m familiar with so far. Two books ago, I did create a fictional small town that I based on a town I know, though set in a different state. I drew a street map of the town, included post office, library (of course), shop and restaurant names. Even a cemetery. I couldn’t write until I had that clear in my mind.
Oh neat, Edie! I’d really like to play with drawing maps.
Natasha! This is so interesting. How do you think these things fit in with Stephanie Plum? She is definitely a reluctant hero, but I get the sense about “The Burg” that it’s always the same and doesn’t really change – even though the characters in it are hilarious and at times subversive.
I kind of like the way the stable home-y “Burg” contrasts with her often stressful and always-changing adventures. What do you think?
Good question, Darcy! I agree totally. I love the Burg! And the characters! Have you read the latest? I didn’t yet. I’m currently in a snit because I’m tired of being denied Ranger.
I never really put much thought into world building, or viewed it as the same as setting. But you’re right, they’re the same. That said, your post gives me pause. My creations begin with a simple thought – the “what ifs” or maybe “what’s his/her story.” For instance, my present wip began from a tv commercial featuring some older dude in a wet suit, surf board under his arm (no, not a viagra commercial, lol). And I wondered about an older guy on a beach, how he fit in and “what’s his story.” Soon it evolved, beginning with “who,” threaded with “where” and ending with “why.”
Oh wow, Kath! I want him, LOL! Yummy!
I love hearing how people create. Gives me ideas when I’m stuck!
I have dreams about him – oh my!
It amuses me. Trinidad thinks he can save his small part of the world (he can’t, not really, he’s not strong enough to stand up against the tide of humanity) so I guess that is egotism on his part. Castile calls him on it some, but I’m guessing maybe it needs to be more.
LOL, Betsy! I don’t know Trinidad, obviously, but from what you’ve mentioned of him, it seems to fit his personality.