In the imaginative realm of J.R.R. Tolkien, Gandalf stands as one of the five wizards dispatched by the Valar to aid the inhabitants of Middle Earth in their battle against the dark force of Sauron. Gandalf’s physical form was mortal, bound by the laws of Middle Earth, yet his spirit was immortal. This duality is evident when he transitions from Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White after his death and resurrection.
Similarly, in the Wachowskis’ universe, an awakened human can instantly learn to fly a helicopter by tapping into the neon binary code of the Matrix. If you are the One, you might not even need a helicopter; a stylish pair of shades might suffice.
Fictional worlds thrive on a set of consistent physical and societal rules, making them believable and intriguing. In reality, the Law of Gravity keeps bookshelves grounded worldwide. However, within the pages of fantasy, such laws can be bent or entirely suspended.
Authors of science fiction and fantasy are architects of entire worlds. They craft rules, maps, lineages, languages, cultures, and universes. From these creations, stories emerge that resonate deeply with readers. When executed well, readers can navigate these fictional worlds and their rules as adeptly as the characters within them, sometimes even more so than they understand the real world.
The transformation of written words into complex narratives that evoke strong emotions is a captivating mystery. Yet, fantastical worlds are conjured daily in our minds, on computers, and even on napkins. The truth is, all you need to start writing a novel is your imagination and a willingness to immerse yourself in your own world.
While I didn’t create iconic places like Hogwarts or the Star Wars Cantina, I have penned some science thrillers for young audiences. Here are some questions and methods I’ve employed to construct the worlds where these stories unfold:
Decide on the place and time of your story, whether it’s a fantasy realm or a futuristic setting in the real world. It’s crucial to know if you’re working in the past, present, or future.
Illustrate how the world came to be. What historical events have shaped its current state?
Delve into the specifics of your fictional world. What rules govern it? Consider everything from physical laws to societal norms and the repercussions for breaking them.
What type of government exists? Who holds power? What are the prevailing beliefs and values in this society?
What is the climate like? Where do inhabitants live, work, and study? What do they eat, and how do they entertain themselves? How do they interact with different generations, and what relationships do they have with animals and plants?
What kind of technology is available in your world? Consider aspects like transportation, communication, and access to information.
Immerse yourself in these details, and you’ll be well on your way to crafting your own fictional world. Once you understand your world as thoroughly as you hope your readers will, let your characters roam freely and observe what unfolds. Consider how this world shapes its inhabitants and what conflicts might arise. Answering these questions will guide you in developing your story. Good luck, future world-builder!
Gather in small groups and collaboratively create a fictional world. Decide on the setting, timeline, and key societal rules. Present your world to the class, explaining the rationale behind your choices and how they influence the inhabitants and potential storylines.
Choose a character from a well-known fictional world and analyze how the world’s rules and settings affect their actions and decisions. Write a short essay discussing how the character navigates their world and how it shapes their journey.
Create a detailed map of your fictional world, including geographical features, political boundaries, and key locations. Use this map to write a short narrative that describes a journey across your world, highlighting how the terrain and societal structures impact the story.
Identify a societal rule or norm from a fictional world and debate its implications. Discuss how this rule affects the society’s functioning and the characters’ lives. Consider what would happen if this rule were changed or removed.
Research a piece of technology from a fictional world and compare it to real-world technology. Present your findings, focusing on how the fictional technology enhances or complicates life in that world and what real-world innovations could be inspired by it.
In J.R.R. Tolkien’s world, Gandalf is one of five wizards sent by the Valar to guide the inhabitants of Middle Earth in their struggles against the dark force of Sauron. Gandalf’s body was mortal, subject to the physical rules of Middle Earth, but his spirit was immortal, as seen when he died as Gandalf the Grey and was resurrected as Gandalf the White.
According to the Wachowskis’ script, an awakened human only has to connect and manipulate the neon binary code of the Matrix to learn how to fly a helicopter in a matter of seconds. Or if you are the One, you don’t even need a helicopter; you just need a cool pair of shades.
Fictional worlds operate consistently within a spectrum of physical and societal rules, which makes them believable, comprehensible, and worth exploring. In real life, the Law of Gravity holds millions of bookshelves around the world. We know this to be true, but we also recognize that in the pages of fantasy, the Law of Gravity can be suspended.
Authors of science fiction and fantasy literally build worlds. They create rules, maps, lineages, languages, cultures, and universes. From these worlds sprout stories that can resonate deeply with readers. When done well, readers can understand fictional worlds and their rules just as well as the characters that inhabit them, sometimes even better than they understand the real world.
The process of transforming written words into complex narratives that evoke strong emotions is a fascinating mystery. Yet, fantastical worlds are created every day in our minds, on computers, and even on napkins. The truth is that your imagination and a willingness to immerse yourself in your own world are all you need to start writing a novel.
While I didn’t create Hogwarts or the Star Wars Cantina, I have written some science thrillers for kids and young adults. Here are some questions and methods I’ve used to help build the worlds in which those books take place:
1. **Establish a Basic Setting**: Determine the place and time of your story, whether it’s a fantasy world or a futuristic setting in the real world. It’s important to know whether you’re working in the past, present, or future.
2. **Create a Timeline**: Show how the world came to be. What past events have shaped its current state?
3. **Brainstorm Details**: Answer questions that draw out the specifics of your fictional world. What rules are in place? This includes everything from physical laws to societal norms and the consequences for breaking them.
4. **Consider Governance and Beliefs**: What kind of government exists? Who holds power? What do people believe in, and what values are most important to this society?
5. **Explore Daily Life**: What is the weather like? Where do inhabitants live, work, and go to school? What do they eat, and how do they play? How do they interact with the young and old, and what relationships do they have with animals and plants?
6. **Examine Technology**: What kind of technology exists in your world? Consider transportation, communication, and access to information.
Spend time living in these details, and you’ll be well on your way to building your own fictional world. Once you know your world as well as you hope your reader will, set your characters free in it and see what unfolds. Ask yourself how this world shapes the individuals who live in it and what conflicts are likely to emerge. Answering these questions will help you develop your story. Good luck, future world-builder!
Fictional – Relating to or characteristic of fiction; invented for the purposes of a story. – In her latest novel, the author created a fictional universe where magic and reality coexist seamlessly.
World-building – The process of constructing an imaginary world, often associated with a fictional universe. – The author’s meticulous world-building in the fantasy series captivated readers with its rich history and diverse cultures.
Narrative – A spoken or written account of connected events; a story. – The narrative structure of the novel allows readers to explore the protagonist’s journey from multiple perspectives.
Imagination – The faculty or action of forming new ideas, images, or concepts not present to the senses. – The poet’s vivid imagination brought to life a world of wonder and enchantment through her verses.
Governance – The action or manner of governing a state, organization, or people. – The novel explores themes of governance and power, questioning the ethical responsibilities of those in control.
Beliefs – Convictions or acceptance that certain things are true or real, often without proof. – The protagonist’s beliefs are challenged throughout the story, leading to a profound transformation by the end.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. – In the dystopian novel, advanced technology is both a tool for progress and a means of oppression.
Details – Individual features, facts, or items that contribute to a larger whole. – The author’s attention to details in the setting helped create a vivid and immersive reading experience.
Society – The aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community. – The novel critiques modern society by highlighting the disparities between different social classes.
Characters – The mental and moral qualities distinctive to an individual, often depicted in a story. – The characters in the play are complex and multifaceted, each representing different aspects of human nature.
