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Embarking on a Journey: Crafting Your Own Fantasy World

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In the realm of literature, there are few experiences as exhilarating as the creation of a fantasy world. It’s a process that combines the boundless potential of your imagination with the structured craftsmanship of storytelling. Whether you’re an aspiring author looking to pen your first fantasy novel or a seasoned writer aiming to delve deeper into the genre, the adventure of world-building and character creation is both rewarding and intricate. Let’s explore the essentials of creating your own fantasy universe, rich in detail and vibrant with life, while drawing inspiration from my own journey with the current novel I’m writing.

The Foundations of Your World

1. Geography and Landscapes

Topography: Begin by sketching the physical features of your world. Are there sprawling mountain ranges, dense forests, or vast deserts? Each landscape can influence the culture and lifestyle of its inhabitants. For example, in my work, the varied terrains shape the resilience and adaptability of the characters. Think about how different environments can provide unique challenges and opportunities for your characters.

Climate and Weather: Consider how the climate affects the environment. Does your world have distinct seasons, or is it perpetually shrouded in mist? Weather patterns can add layers of realism and affect plot progression. The shifting seasons in my stories often play a crucial role, testing the endurance and survival skills of the protagonists. Imagine how extreme weather events could force characters to make pivotal decisions or alter their paths.

Natural Resources: Identify the resources that are abundant or scarce. This can shape economies and lead to conflicts or alliances. A region rich in magical crystals, for instance, could become a hub of power and conflict. Think about how access to resources affects social structures, trade, and power dynamics in your world.

2. Cultures and Societies

Races and Species: Populate your world with diverse beings, each with unique traits, histories, and societies. Think beyond humans to include elves, dwarves, dragons, or entirely new creations. The diversity of races in my stories adds depth and richness to the narrative. Consider how different species can bring unique perspectives and skills to the story.

Languages and Dialects: Create languages or dialects that reflect the diversity of your world. Even a few unique words can add depth to your setting. In my writing, the use of ancient languages holds secrets and power, providing a sense of history and mystery. Developing a lexicon for your world can enhance immersion and provide clues to cultural nuances.

Traditions and Customs: Develop cultural practices, festivals, and rituals. These elements enrich your story and give readers a sense of continuity and history. For example, annual festivals and rituals in my work serve as both cultural touchstones and pivotal plot events, bringing characters together and revealing societal values. Think about how traditions can reveal character traits and advance the plot.

3. History and Mythology

Ancient Legends: Craft myths and legends that have been passed down through generations. These stories can influence present-day events and character beliefs. The legends in my current projects provide unifying myths that drive the characters’ quests and shape their destinies. Consider how ancient legends can create a sense of depth and continuity in your world.

Historical Events: Outline major historical events that have shaped your world. Wars, alliances, natural disasters, and technological advancements can provide a backdrop for your narrative. In my stories, past conflicts and their aftermath set the stage for current tensions and alliances. Think about how historical events can influence the current political landscape and character motivations.

Breathing Life into Characters

1. Heroes and Villains

Protagonists: Your main characters should be relatable and complex. Give them strengths, flaws, and motivations that drive their actions and decisions. In my writing, each character has distinct strengths and weaknesses that contribute to their individual arcs and interpersonal dynamics, creating a rich, character-driven narrative.

Antagonists: A compelling villain is as essential as a memorable hero. Develop their backstory and motivations to create a nuanced adversary. The antagonists in my projects are not just sources of conflict but characters with their own goals and history, making them formidable and believable opponents. Think about how your villain’s actions and motivations can challenge your protagonist and drive the plot.

2. Supporting Cast

Allies and Mentors: Introduce characters who aid the protagonist, offering guidance, skills, or resources. They can provide support and challenge the hero’s beliefs. The mentor figures in my stories help the protagonists navigate their journeys, providing wisdom and skills crucial to their success. Consider how mentors can shape the protagonist’s growth and development.

Rivals and Foils: Characters who oppose or compete with the protagonist add tension and conflict. Their presence can highlight the protagonist’s growth and development. Rivals in my writing constantly challenge the protagonist’s decisions, pushing them to become better leaders. Think about how rivals can create dynamic and engaging subplots.

3. Character Arcs

Personal Growth: Ensure your characters evolve throughout the story. Their journeys, both external and internal, should be marked by challenges and revelations. Each character in my projects undergoes significant personal growth, learning to balance their individual desires with their responsibilities to each other and their world. Consider how challenges and successes shape your characters’ development.

Relationships: Develop meaningful relationships between characters. Friendships, romances, and familial bonds can drive emotional investment in your story. The bonds between characters in my writing provide strong foundations for their adventures and conflicts. Think about how relationships can enhance the emotional depth and complexity of your narrative.

The Magic of Plotting

1. Building a Strong Narrative

Conflict and Resolution: Every great fantasy novel revolves around conflict. Whether it’s a battle against dark forces or a personal struggle, the resolution should feel earned and satisfying. In my work, central conflicts involve both external battles and internal struggles, creating layered and compelling narratives. Consider how different types of conflict can enrich your plot.

Subplots: Weave in secondary storylines that enrich the main plot. These can involve supporting characters or delve into the history and politics of your world. Subplots in my stories explore themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption, adding depth and complexity to the main storyline. Think about how subplots can enhance the thematic richness and character development of your story.

2. Pacing and Structure

Tension and Release: Maintain a balance of high-stakes moments and quieter, character-driven scenes. This rhythm keeps readers engaged and invested. My writing balances intense action sequences with moments of introspection and character interaction, creating a dynamic and engaging narrative flow. Consider how pacing can enhance the emotional impact and readability of your story.

Cliffhangers and Hooks: End chapters with questions or revelations that compel readers to keep turning the pages. Each scene should contribute to the overall narrative momentum. In my projects, cliffhangers and revelations keep readers on the edge of their seats, eager to discover what happens next. Think about how you can use suspense and intrigue to maintain reader interest.

3. Themes and Messages

Core Themes: Identify the central themes of your story. Whether it’s the battle between good and evil, the quest for identity, or the power of friendship, these themes should resonate throughout your narrative. Themes of brotherhood, sacrifice, and destiny are central to my writing, providing a unifying thread for the story. Consider how themes can add depth and coherence to your narrative.

Moral Dilemmas: Challenge your characters with ethical choices that reflect the complexity of real life. These moments can add depth and provoke thought in your readers. Characters in my stories face numerous moral dilemmas that test their values and beliefs, adding complexity and realism to their journeys. Think about how moral challenges can enhance character development and thematic richness.

Creating an Immersive Experience

1. Sensory Details

Visuals: Paint vivid pictures with your words. Describe the colors, shapes, and movements within your world. The richly described landscapes and environments in my writing transport readers into the heart of the story. Consider how detailed visual descriptions can enhance immersion and create a vivid setting.

Sounds: Incorporate the sounds of your environment, from the rustling of leaves to the clashing of swords. The auditory details in my stories add an extra layer of realism. Think about how sounds can create atmosphere and enhance the reader’s experience.

Smells and Tastes: Engage all the senses by mentioning the scents of a marketplace or the taste of a celebratory feast. The sensory details in my work bring the world to life, making it tangible and immersive. Consider how incorporating smells and tastes can add depth and richness to your descriptions.

2. Emotional Depth

Inner Monologues: Delve into your characters’ thoughts and feelings. This insight creates a strong connection between the reader and the character. The introspective moments in my stories provide valuable insights into the characters’ motivations and fears. Think about how inner monologues can enhance character development and reader empathy.

Symbolism: Use symbols and motifs to add layers of meaning. These can be objects, colors, or recurring elements that reflect broader themes. For example, in the first book of my “Brothers Three series, there is an item called the Spindelum of Time,” the Time Spindelum itself represents the fluidity and fragility of time, adding a layer of meaning to the characters’ quests and journey through the world. Consider how symbols can subtly reinforce themes and add a sense of continuity and cohesion to your narrative.

Conclusion: The Art of Fantasy Writing

Creating a fantasy world is an art that requires imagination, patience, and attention to detail. It’s a journey of discovery, where every element you design contributes to a rich and immersive narrative. As you embark on this adventure, remember that your world is a reflection of your creativity and passion. Embrace the process, and let your story unfold with all the wonder and complexity that fantasy offers.

Personal Reflections and Encouragement

As I work on my own novel called The Brothers Three which is a coming-of-age high fantasy novel with multiple books in the series, I find that the most rewarding part of writing fantasy is the ability to explore new ideas and push the boundaries of my imagination. This genre allows us to create worlds where anything is possible, where the only limits are those we set for ourselves.

For those of you venturing into fantasy writing, I encourage you to dive deep into your creativity. Let your imagination guide you, and don’t be afraid to take risks. Your unique voice and vision are what will make your world stand out. Happy writing!

Creating Great Fantasy

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creating-great-fantasyWhile some have looked down on fantasy fiction as derivative, poorly written or childish, the fact is that our oldest literature is fantasy fiction. From The Epic of Gilgamesh or the Odyssey, or one of my absolute favorites Beowulf! All of these stories that have survived the disappearance of ancient civilizations are stories of gods and magic and quests and monsters. It’s undeniable that fantasy is one of the most popular and favorite of many across all ages.

J.R.R. Tolkien is generally considered to be the father of modern English-language fantasy fiction for adults. There were fantasy novels written prior to Tolkien’s The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, such as Lud In The Mist by Hope Mirrlees and The Worm Ouroboros by E.R. Eddison, but it was the commercial success of Tolkien’s work that kicked the modern genre into high gear.

Like every genre, fantasy is capable of producing fiction that is well-written and thoughtful with original characters, settings and plots. Modern classics such as the Earthsea series by Ursula K. LeGuin or Jack Vance’s Lyonesse series stand as proof that fantasy series can have wide appeal among readers of all ages and reading preferences. One of the biggest hits of today’s generation is, George R. R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series which is wildly popular with critics, readers and viewers of the TV series adaptation, Game of Thrones.

Despite the success of G.R.R. Martin, some still argue that the last thing the fantasy genre needs is more long series of novels. However, this view does not appear to be shared by either readers or writers.

Writing A Series That Contributes Something New:  A Few To-Do & Not To-Do’s

Read A Lot of Fantasy
This advice is sort of a cliché in itself, but something that is quite necessary in my opinion. If you are thinking about writing a fantasy series, then you are probably already well-acquainted with the genre, but you may only read a certain type of novel or a handful of authors.

Becoming familiar with the genre’s clichés and pitfalls means reading a lot of fantasy novels. This includes the good, the bad and the awful, and as you are reading think about the plot and what works, or doesn’t work. Read what is popular and what is critically acclaimed as the broader the scope of your reading, the better you will know what kinds of fantasy worlds and subtopics are still to be told.

In addition to reading contemporary writers, you should also read older fantasy. In part, this is important for understanding the history of the field, but it’s also important because it often provides insight on where clichés come from. When Tolkien penned the Lord of the Rings trilogy there was nothing cliché about elves and long quests and magic rings and using Northern European myth as the basis for a long fantasy series, but that is no longer the case.

Knowing the history of the fantasy genre and the realm you’ve decided to dive into will help you understand how to write a fantasy series. It also shows that elements of the fantasy genre that critics sometimes ridicule are not inherently bad but simply have been done 30 or 40 years ago and have been worn thin through overuse.

Forget The Big Guys

Tolkien, C.S Lewis, L. Frank Baum, and a countless number of others are the best the genre has ever known.  They have in sorts cast a very heavy shadow across the field. Too many would-be and actual novelists who hope to follow these giants and their footsteps have shoddily constructed languages and maps and worlds and created thinly veiled versions of his characters.  I myself have even been inspired by these authors, but it’s important you move away from big authors like this as to not get sucked into any overused work.  Burly dwarves and angelic elves can be interesting, but if you use stock characters such as these, try incorporating them in an innovative way in your fantasy books.

Fantasy Traditions

Some writers feel that using the traditions of a culture that is not your own is a kind of appropriation, but we could say that about any genre of book if we take an honest look at the author’s inspiration.  Drawing inspiration from the history, art, literature, and folk lore is just good practice for great idea churning! This does require a level of sensitivity and a lack of condescension, if you want to steer clear of possible backlash, but it’s quite possible to do without offending a culture or misusing these ideas.

Looking at a lot of culture and legends that have been used over the fantasy genre, you can look no further then Europe.  Some people say it’s been overused in the modern fantasy but George R.R. Martin turned this so called overused idea into a fantasy classic with his Fire and Ice series.  He chose a period of history that is largely overlooked and he approaches his novels as if they were historical fiction.  Martin brings something fresh and rejuvenated even though his inspiration seems to come from a part of the world that has been reworked to death by fantasy novelists before him.

Stop When It’s Time to Stop 

One of the biggest complaints about fantasy novels / series is they don’t end.  At times the story is lacking depth and stretches to broadly across many books.  Don’t overstay the book series welcome among the readers as they can quickly be burnt if you don’t know when to stop.  Leaving the audience gritting for more is the best way to end a book as it’s way better then complaints rolling in about you needing to throw the pen away ages ago. Keep track of when you write, how long the series are running and what kind of feedback you get and it will make things much easier on when to stop writing vs. continuing something that’s not working.

How Do I Get Readers Hooked Across Story Arcs?

If you are looking at having multiple books then planning is key!!!

I can’t stress enough on how important it is to have the overall story arc planned out and tracked.  Each book should be plotted out and each individual story arc should be tracked as well.   You simply cannot write a three, five or even eight book series that sustains the necessary narrative drive and focus to keep readers interested without some idea of where the story is going. Planning also helps you avoid introducing subplots and characters in earlier books that go nowhere.  Errors like this can be frustrating enough to make your reader put your books down halfway through the series and never return.

Your books must be self-contained to some degree as well. You must balance the progress of the overall arc along with the smaller arcs.  Readers will easily become frustrated and may lay the book down if you move away from the main arc for an extended period. This becomes a fine balance of holding the readers attention and being able to switch between multiple stories through a books overall story arc.  Different readers will naturally have some characters and story lines that interest them more than others, but you need to keep all of your story lines engaging enough to keep the reader turning pages. One way to do this is by writing emotionally-engaging characters. Another is to ensure that the main arc of the story is furthered through subplots.

Finally, one of the most important points to keep in mind is that writing a fantasy series is in many ways no different from writing a novel. You ultimately have to approach your series as though it is one very long novel.  This can be very tough and challenging because you need a fully realized world that engages characters to inhabit, a plot that is going to draw readers in, and the mix of conflict / tension that will keep the readers turning pages for more.

Fantasy remains one of the most popular series among readers of all ages.  Avoiding the pitfalls of clichés and planing a strong story arc that drives the story to completion and produces something readers will grab a hold of.  Keeping the main story arc central is key throughout the novel series but avoiding the addition of too many subplots is that fine balance between readers being hooked, and dropping the book like a hot potato.  Stay focused and have fun while you write which will help you move the story along.

A Fantasy Writers Process

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tumblr_static_tumblr_static_4eo5pzujbwcg8gws0gcc8oc0s_focused_v3.jpgIt’s hard to start writing a niche genre like fantasy when you’ve got the passion for it, but no idea where to start! Maybe you have an idea, but you’re afraid to take the first step because you’re afraid of failing. While the writing process is frustrating and yes, your story may not work out, but if you do your research and work hard, you will find yourself creating an unbelievable story with a world you can mold to your liking.  It’s going to take a lot of patience, will-power to push through tough areas, and learning a few tips along the way from fellow writers.

This is my “Where Do I Start List” on the most important parts of the writing process that I use all the time.  None of these steps are chiseled in stone by any means but these are all tips / tricks I’ve learned over the years….and taken the good advice of better writers who helped me along my journey.

1. Write down EVERY SINGLE IDEA you have!  When writing a novel it doesn’t matter how silly an idea may sound, you thought of it for a reason so write it down.  These ideas can always stem into another and cause creativity and imagination to be boosted.  Plus this is a great way to keep track of the “Idea Process” which is how you personally pop out ideas.

When writing ideas down it could be as simple as (random word here) or it could be a bit more complex and you take it a step further.  Try something like this below and see if it helps with creating new ideas.

  • “Maybe (insert random name here) came across a clue (insert random stuff here) and discovered a great secret.”
  • “Should (name) be a knight or a king, or just some (random person in the story?)”
  • Keep track of how you use ideas and organize them.  See my post on mind mapping a novel to get some ideas of what to use and how to use this method.

2. Look at the setting of a story first before anything.  If you are a fantasy writer like me, then I’m sure you’ve spent a good bit of time doing this already.  Remember this is your story and you can make it however you like, but it’s always a good thought to look at other writers and see what imaginative thing they’ve come up with.  Does your world rely on magic, or maybe it’s inspired by a real place and you’ve put a twist on it.  Depending on what you choose, your characters must reflect the cultures and upbringing in this world. My novel is set in a fictional world but still close to home with traces of European cultures with kings, queens, monsters, tall tales, and hero’s alike.

3. Character development is an absolute must!!!! Make sure you take your time and plot out each character…give them some love as I’ve seen to many times where a story could have been great but the characters were very underdeveloped and it ruined the story. Pay close attention to those minor characters in the book because they can become key to a great story.  Take a look at a post I did on writing minor characters.

4. Character Names have to tie into the cultures you use in the story.  Think about that for a second as this can go a lot of different ways.  Do you have a made up language like Tolkien, or maybe you’ve pulled from Greek mythology, or just classic names from different cultures.  Most of my book I’ve created comes from a European background with a lot of made up in between.

5. Make a timeline because this helps keep everything consistent throughout the story, especially if you use days/weeks/months in your story. This will also allow you to go into accurate detail about places, seasons, weather, people etc.  My book i’m currently working on, Brothers Three, ranges over the course of a 10 year period for the main story.  This story begins with the birth of three brothers who were separated at birth to disguise who they really were, but picks up when the boys are 10.  The story begins on a spring morning, so I made sure to describe the temperature and what the “Spring” season was like which also affected the terrains and landscapes of course. Always make sure to keep in mind the time of year and how long time has passed in your story so that it’s consistent. A timeline also helps with events leading up to your main story. Every major event in the story, whether it actually occurs during the present or not, should be recorded on the timeline. If something major happened to a character in the past, it should be recorded. If something major happens before a main character is born, record their birth-date on the timeline.  I don’t want to give any spoilers away for my book so I didn’t want to share my timeline but one day in future posts I hope to share that process.

6. Make an outline of your entire plot. Some people argue against this process as there are authors who just write great work as they go along, but in my opinion making an outline worked great for me.  Your timeline you created can help a great deal with creating the outline as you should be keeping track of all major plot points and how they roll across chapters, major / minor characters, minor plots, climaxes, etc.

7. Editing, Editing, Editing!  Once you’ve typed out your manuscript, edit it yourself into multiple drafts….Why? Because you don’t want to lose the thing for one, and you are going to butcher this thing when editing it.  I would take a few chapters at a time, print them out, and use a colored pen (I prefer red or blue) but any color you choose will work to cross out, change words, or fix punctuation. It definitely helped me to have a thesaurus and grammar book for quick reference as well.
These are the main points I like to use when writing and getting things ready to edit. Everyone is different and each has their own methods they will develop and enjoy to use. These are mine and I hope they might work for you on the writing journey.  Good luck to all of you with your own writing adventures!

Blogging Is A Journey

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blog-typeBlogging is a great outlet for writers who want to grow and connect with an audience or just to have an outlet for something you enjoy…”Writing”!  This provides us a way to go in depth over a social media post, aka micro-blogging outlet like Twitter.  I’ve enjoyed blogging for years and it’s given me a place to hangout with others in my little corner of cyber-space.  If you’ve spent anytime at all blogging or writing, you know it can be tough and at times bring some stress with it.

Over the years I’ve learned by being burnt by fire and gleaming knowledge from others who were better writers than I was.  So here is my list of some tips I use that I hope will help you in your blogging journey.

 
1. You never know when a good blogging idea is going to pop up, so put those blog ideas down on paper, or keep a digital list of sorts.  I personally go old school and use a notebook for my blogging ideas along with sticky notes as I use different colors for different topics.  It may sound like madness but it works for me and helps keep me organized for my writing schedules.

2. If you have time and can do it, schedule posts throughout the week.  With my schedule a week or two out is all I can do but most of the time it’s 4-5 days out.  Keep a backlog of posts if you are trying to hit a specific count of posts per week or month that you can quickly choose from as well.

3. Find you some blogging friends that will allow you to do guest blogging, and or co-blogging as that’s a great way to market your content and grow each others sites.

4. Browse through images you want to use for your blog posts and keep a stock in a folder for future posts.  This will help with the last minute search for an image, though lately I’ve been making my own depending on the topic.  See what works best for you and your schedule.

5. Make yourself a list of items to check before you hit that publish button.

6. Break up your posts into multiple parts if they are running long. This will help keep the readers attention and also coming back for those additional parts.

7. Use those comment sections as it can be a gold mine.  Watch for questions and good topics for conversations and even potential notes for future posts.

8. Life happens and if you are like me well then blogging is a hobby, so don’t stress if you don’t make those post counts you wanted.  Best thing to shoot for is consistency but when you can’t don’t sweat it.  I try to post twice a week but that doesn’t always happen.

9. Don’t fret about reusing previous posts or topics either.  You don’t want to repost the same exact post you’ve already used, but when you are in a crunch rework an old one and use that thing.

10. Give yourself some grace. This is a journey full of learning and it’s going to be filled with mistakes, and curve balls so when you find that crazy typo or sentence that doesn’t make sense, don’t worry.  Learn from those mistakes and make this blogging journey fun and something you want to become better at.

These are my bread and butter items I use whether I’m writing a small blog post, or working on my novel series.  I would love to hear from you all on any thoughts or comments you have.  Would you all add anything to this list?

Writing Fantasy – Do’s & Dont’s

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writing-a-bookFantasy is a fun genre of fiction that uses magic or other supernatural elements as a main plot element, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic and magical creatures are common. Fantasy is generally set apart and crosses paths with science fiction and horror as they all three have sub-genres in the fiction world.

Fantasy is one of those genre’s made up of many creative things and frequently includes elements from the Middle Ages.  Most fantasy is adventure based, with a conflict between good and evil which is usually the common theme of plot.  When you here fantasy you probably think of things like wizards, elves, magic, etc…Fantasy is often based on myths, legends, and folklore, that could stem across multiple cultures.

If you’ve thrown around the idea of writing fantasy then here are a few things to do.  

  • Read a lot of fiction in the fantasy, science fiction, and horror genre’s. Soak up as much as you can about the way the books flow, plot layouts, structure, etc.
  • Do the real world research on any folklore, culture, and traditions those era’s had you want to pull into the book.
  • Ask questions, find writing mentors, learn new ways to bring an idea to the page.
  • If you are setting your story in medieval times or using elements from those times, research medieval life in the real world.
  • Plan your fantasy worlds before you start, figure out all the details you want the readers to know about.  This will help you during the writing process as it will become more natural and eliminate any doubt you might have on the topics.
  • Set limits for your world and hero / heroine of the world, as this creates obstacles within the story for readers to be evolved with and helps get to know the world.
  • Bring your fantasy to life with lots of detail.  Give the readers a chance to meet everyone in the book, and make them feel at home like they are actually in the world you are describing.

Here are a few things not to do when writing fantasy. 

  • Don’t disclose everything you know about the fantasy world you’ve made.  The planning you do up front is for you to make sure the story is told correctly, but that doesn’t mean that every detail you write needs to make it to the book.  All the prep you do up front will give the readers something real to look forward to and enjoy. Give the readers some play room with things that you know about the world but they don’t yet.  Let them come up with there own ideas and conclusions about a specific personality of a person, or maybe a place in the book.
  • Don’t break the rules of the world that you have planned.  This in a way will give the readers a false sense of reading and make them feel cheated like what your telling isn’t worth the time for them to read it anymore.
  • Don’t copy people, places, things from other fantasy authors.  Use your imagination to create this magical universe you want the readers to be a part of.
  • Don’t lose track of the story and where you are at with it. Map the book out, the ideas, and all the fun details you get throughout the days while prepping to write.  It’s fun to create worlds with magical tales to tell but don’t get so caught up with the tiny details that you forget to create the main plot of the story.
  • Don’t forget to save MULTIPLE copies of this story and the details, along with any planning materials you have along the way.  You don’t want to lose that work and not have a backup to revert to.

Mind Mapping a Novel

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Writers-Block

Are you struggling to start your book?  I struggled with this idea for a long time before I dove into the deep end of the writing pool, and then when I dove in it was a bit overwhelming and at times felt I was drowning.

Many people don’t write books because they simply don’t know how to start.  They possess an idea for a book, but they don’t know what to do with it. They can’t imagine how they get from initial idea to finished manuscript which isn’t a small feat at all so don’t think I’m playing this down.

It wasn’t until I began using the “Brain Dump” method to get my ideas that were just floating around that space in my head, to the paper so I could have a visual.  Some call this mind mapping, but for me this is just an old fashioned Brain Dump.  Whatever you like to call it doesn’t really matter, just the methodology and way it’s used. Brain dumping will take you from a few grand book ideas, to a detailed book outline you can work from to make a manuscript.  This ultimately becomes the go to place for when you need a guide to take you from start to finish of this novel you’ve dived into.

It’s funny how our brains work as we have an analytical and creative side, so mapping those ideas out for a book when thinking about that can be tough.  Basically mind mapping allows you to bring the two sides of your brain together in one location so that all the thoughts and information are easily visual and accessible. Once you’ve learned how to wrangle those thoughts it’s time to take a look at the actual brain dump.  This is the point where the thought has to become a reality.  So….how do you make the brain dump happen?

Well multiple ways, but my favorites are using a large white board to map out my ideas and plot pieces of story together.  My journal is always a go to, though lately it’s littered with sticky notes from ideas I need to go back and form into the story section I need it in.  Another favorite is the sticky note and poster board which is always fun for me as you get to move the sticky notes around and write on the poster board as well.  Maybe this is a super writing nerd kinda thing, but this is very relaxing and enjoyable for me and that’s why i’m writing this post.  I’m hoping this sparks some ideas for you as well and lights a fire so you can get to moving on that great book idea you have.

Think of the brain like this and hopefully it will help you picture what needs to happen.

Brain Dump Process

  • Creative Right Brain is where the ideas flow from and all the magic happens.  The fun stuff clicks on this side of the brain.
  • Analytical Left Brain is where the organization of all that creative material you just dumped to the paper happens.  This is where the structure of the book comes from and where your – table of contents, and outline of the book will look like.

If you’ve lined everything out and keep a good record of the book and use this process then you can produce some very detailed information and great chapter outlines for your book.

Now let’s look back at the Sticky Notes and how they will help you map this book out. This is the easiest way to make a mind map of your book.

My Favorite Brain Dump Process:

  • Grab yourself a large poster board or poster boards, or even a large white board will work. Get yourself a big stack of sticky notes….multi colored is what I like to use as I color coordinate topics to specific colors.
  • Take a single sticky note in the middle of the poster board and write your topic on it, or a book title, just depending on what you are working on.
  • Write all the related topics you can think of on sticky notes and place them anywhere on the poster board.  Sounds like chaos I know, but don’t worry about where you place them , or  about organizing them, unless you are absolutely sure the topics relate to one another.
  • Fill the board with as many topics as you can possibly think of as this is the “Brain Dump” phase and when you think you’re done, look again as you will more than likely come up with more topics after taking a break, or a step back.
  • At this point I like to take a picture of the board for reference purposes in case I have to take a break or get pulled away for something.  They are called sticky notes, not permanently held in spot notes.
  • Ok now comes the organization of the topics.  The analytical side of the brain is ready to be worked right? Look for related topics. Pick up the notes and move them around. Take a close look at what you have grouped together as they just might become the chapters of your book. More than likely, this will be the groups with the most information lumped together.  Just remember this is your book and your board so move things around how you feel fits best, and don’t be afraid to break apart groups into multiple chapters if one is too large. Just make sure you use a different colored sticky note to mark that chapter and don’t forget to name the chapter.
  • Use each of the sticky notes you have grouped together under a chapter as a sub-topic that you want to write about in that chapter.  This is where the fun begins as writing guides and book maps are a must at this point.  Sub-plots of a story can make things confusing if you don’t.

 

Ok now get ready to write as it’s going to take a lot to get that story from your head to paper so what are you waiting for?  Sit down, start slow, think it out and enjoy the process of making that next best book anyone has ever read!

Writing & Building a Fantasy World

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8da509b65cfd623939820230f39dc6d9As with most things in writing, there are a lot of ways to build a world well, and a lot more ways to do it poorly.  First, let me start with the fact that I am still working on my first novel series, and the world building early on became overwhelming.  This is no one’s fault except mine as I rushed into a very large project that at the time I wasn’t quite ready to tackle yet.  Many years of writing short fantasy / sci-fi stories, and personal blogging gave me the feeling I was ready to take on a novel of epic proportions.  Ultimately, I’ve loved every minute of this writing journey I’ve ventured into as it’s helped me grow as a writer, and building worlds was a huge step into the creative for me.  These few paragraphs are  just some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned a long the way to make world building easier, and more enjoyable.

When looking at the world you want to build think of it along these two lines: first, you need to establish what you know about the world.  Start looking at everything the world needs to have….Does the world have technology based on some time period we currently have or seen?  Does this world fit into a specific time period that we already know?  Maybe it’s set in the colonial age, or maybe some time period we’ve never even seen before. If you’re setting your world into a specific time period, you can answer a lot of questions for yourself as we have the history to study on it. The more different you make your world than any culture in earth’s history, the more challenging it is both for you as a writer and for your readers to imagine.

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Secondly, you’re going to have to think about how the world works which is where the writing gets fun!  This portion of the story creation is where you let the imagination run wild most of the times!  This is where you get to ask the big questions: Does this world have magic in it? What are the economic systems in this world? What kind of ruler or rulers will you have in this world? See, the fantastic thing about writing fantasy is that you can make up almost anything you want – as long as it makes sense and can be explained to some degree. If your world feels too weird, it will be hard for your readers to buy into what you’ve created. So in some ways, the weirder you make things, the more you have to make sure that readers see that your characters experience these weird things as normal everyday living. Think of the most normal objections readers would have to the weird things in your world, and don’t be afraid to confront them head on within the story.

So looking back at our first line of thinking, you really need to make a big decision of how this world actually works and functions.  Brain power is all this takes, along with gallons of coffee, and caffeine!  Really though, this just takes some time and deep thought, but coffee just goes well with that process!  It may take some serious study, as you look into how societies operated. Or it may just take time thinking. Whatever it is, you want to have the broad outlines of how people interact in your world figured out and settled. Secondly, you can look at layering other cultures into the story and process of how the world functions.   Does the kingdom next door have no nobility? Or not believe in magic, or believe in whatever you want really. This can get very mind-boggling though but if you are willing then go for it. Basically, there’s a lot of hard work here, and none of it will show up on the page. At least, none of it will show up as extra words that you write.

Third, do things out of the box and differently.  Don’t just copy some great authors ideas down and try to copy what they’ve created.  They became great writers and created those worlds because they did just that, thought differently and outside of the box. This will make your world more interesting. Doing things differently from what you’ve always seen is a good habit to trait and continue to cultivate that as a writer.

writing-fantasy-1920x1200Fourth, You’ve decided how your world works, you’ve decided your characters’ places within this world, and now you have to write, write, write. I tend to give very broad outlines of my world and the inner workings; then as the characters move through the world, I bring out those specifics.  My plot within the story moves very fast and at times the world building takes a back seat, but all in all the creation of the world takes place and ultimately becomes immersive.

Fifth, the greatest thing about world building is it’s your imagination and it’s not limited to a keyboard, or whatever walls you dwell in while writing.  Whatever you find fascinating and want to pursue for your book, go after it with vigor and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.  Whatever you find fascinating, can make your book stand out from every other book that has ever been written – as long as you make it fascinating to the readers.  Most of the times this is an easy task as you know what you like, and what draws you to enjoyment while reading.  If you find something your passionate about it is extremely easy to communicate that as it’s just that a PASSION!  Just remember take care to communicate with the readers.  If you can do that within the flow of the plot and overall book, they will more than likely enjoy and love what you’ve written.

Don’t let building a world of fantasy be something to constrain your imagination, instead let it be the freedom you enjoy while writing what you love!

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