Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination

by Richard C. White

Lao Tzu said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." But the journey of imagination begins with a single idea-one that can shape entire worlds, if you so choose. And no one knows that better than bestselling fantasy author Richard C. White, who brings his expertise for world building to this reference guide for writers interested in crafting their own storytelling environments. In Terra Incognito, White outlines the detailed steps by which writers can create the sort of countries, populations, governments, and militaries that are essential for building a three-dimensional fantasy world that will engage readers. You'll learn how to: Avoid the pitfalls of naming characters, regions, and countries Apply the technique of "outside in" to develop and then refine ideas for your world Create a world your readers can relate to, regardless of its technological levels Identify how to create backstories and conflict by observing how your world comes together Add details to make your story richer without overwhelming your readers Identify useful resources for research With the inspiration provided by Terra Incognito: A Guide to Building the Worlds of Your Imagination, you'll soon be on your way to constructing the framework for your own fantasy or science fictional realms-and taking readers along for the journey! Includes an exclusive interview with New York Times bestselling fantasy author Tracy Hickman."

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

184 pages, Paperback

First published September 7, 2015

About the author

Richard C. White is the author of the "For a Few Gold Pieces More" collection of dark fantasy short stories being released by Musa Publishing.

Along with writing Fantasy and Science Fiction, Rich has been bitten by the "New Pulp" bug and has several stories coming out by Pro Se Productions in the near future. The first of his, "Notes in the Fog" has been released in the "Charles Boeckman Presents: Johnny Nickle" duology in May 2013.

He also is a media tie-in writer, having written for Star Trek, Doctor Who, and The Incredible Hulk. His novel, "Gauntlet Dark Legacy", was the best-selling tie-in for his publisher in 2004.

Richard is also active in writing organizations, being a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America and the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers. Additionally, Richard serves on the Writer Beware committee for SFWA.

A former soldier, who was stationed with the Third Armored Cavalry Regiment and the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Richard also works as a Technical Writer/Analyst for a defense contractor when not working on his latest story.