The Must Have Elements of World Building Guest Blog and Giveaway with John Swan

[John]

In popular culture, the bar has been set for fantasy writers. We know what readers want because we are just as much an avid reader as we are an author. And with the amazing screen adaptations from some of our favorites, we see what kind of stuff works and doesn’t. When we read fantasy, we do so because we want to enter another world. But we need to believe it. It doesn’t have to be a completely foreign land like Middle Earth or Narnia, but it doesn’t have to be the hidden magical side of England either. It just has to be there and be done well, and there are some elements you must master to pull it off. You have to be able to answer questions from your readers like: “Where did your character come from? What is their homeland called? What is it near? Who is the god that they prayed to on page nine? Are there others?”, because it develops the basic level of depth that must be achieved to make your world come to life and be believable. And I have found that to build a world properly, it usually involves a map, some history, and a story.

The First Element: The Map

The first thing I do when I pick up a novel is what most of us do; we flip it over and read the blurb on the back. Then we turn it back over and open it to see what’s happening inside, and in fantasy we usually come across a map. In world building this is pivotal, because a map creates an immediate connection for the reader. In the human mind, any world has to have a map. And thanks to the author, your new novel now has a tangible base in reality. That place is now forming in your mind, and although you don’t know anything about it, it exists. The framework is set and you haven’t even read a page or met a character. But when you do, it’s as though you already have a heads up and are ready for the story to begin. The map also shows that this new world has a history, because geographical and political boundaries don’t just pop up out of nowhere. They take time, and lots of it. So just by including a map, you’ve added an immeasurable amount of authenticity to your world. But beware! Maps can be terrible and really bring down the overall quality of your work, so take your time with them. (Check out my blog on map making @ http://www.john-swan.com).

The Second Element: History

So let’s say you hate maps or aren’t ready to include one. That’s fine, because you can get away without one, but be prepared to dish out some snippets of history. We live in a linear existence, and with comes a past, present, and future. And just like life, no epic fantasy world is pastless. Every story has a story behind it, and if you don’t include any history your reader will get bored. We have to feel that there is something more back there, even if we don’t know what it is. For example, I wouldn’t need to know anything more about Gandalf the Grey than “he was one of five wizards that came from Valinor.” (That’s not a direct quote, but bare with me.) Right there, in ten words, a history was developed and a depth achieved. The reader immediately starts asking themselves questions like, ‘Where is Valinor? And I wonder what powers the other five had? Maybe I’ll find out later.’ That is what you want, and I think the more of that in your works the better. By having that historical base and knowing it in your head, READS THE FULL ARTICLE HERE http://bit.ly/1qfdM28 >>>& >>>>http://bit.ly/1u2KQoQ