tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post4069781589959760488..comments2024-02-12T15:15:51.364+02:00Comments on The Five Year Project: Let's talk about world building. Misha Gerrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-10643269980697852232013-08-20T06:24:58.986+02:002013-08-20T06:24:58.986+02:00I usually skim through intricate world building in...I usually skim through intricate world building in books, so I avoid the same in mine.<br />Like you said, I give just the much that is necessary at that point, and trust the reader to understand.heycatharsishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17605406565232169588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-69357905077106260432013-08-19T10:06:05.524+02:002013-08-19T10:06:05.524+02:00Yeah books with the right balance are amazing to r...Yeah books with the right balance are amazing to read. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-67909646004511168242013-08-19T10:04:56.699+02:002013-08-19T10:04:56.699+02:00I'm the same. :-)I'm the same. :-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-83914217267887881112013-08-19T09:59:31.477+02:002013-08-19T09:59:31.477+02:00I'm also thinking about that. My series is bas...I'm also thinking about that. My series is basically one huge story told over multiple books. And I can't spend pages on pages explaining everything twice, so I just hope that people who read book 2 will understand enough to know what's going on, and will want to read book 1 to understand more. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-67490770979154218312013-08-19T09:57:52.877+02:002013-08-19T09:57:52.877+02:00I understand what you mean. I have a very complex ...I understand what you mean. I have a very complex world as well, but I only use the details I need to explain why someone thinks the way they do. Or why something's happening... That sort of thing. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-22622307808361139912013-08-19T09:56:37.508+02:002013-08-19T09:56:37.508+02:00Yeah, sometimes description can start feeling like...Yeah, sometimes description can start feeling like getting stuck in clay.Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-72653336580994040092013-08-19T09:56:04.703+02:002013-08-19T09:56:04.703+02:00By jove! I got my message across!By jove! I got my message across!Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-19261377307403567752013-08-19T09:55:38.196+02:002013-08-19T09:55:38.196+02:00I agree. Although I love Tolkien, the pages and pa...I agree. Although I love Tolkien, the pages and pages of exposition did get to me.Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-91915008361572815582013-08-19T09:55:05.774+02:002013-08-19T09:55:05.774+02:00Exactly! I'm the same.Exactly! I'm the same. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-81040880629731988782013-08-19T09:54:39.062+02:002013-08-19T09:54:39.062+02:00That's very true. Believe it or not, I've ...That's very true. Believe it or not, I've never really thought about it that way. :-DMisha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-31174865701478055522013-08-19T09:52:22.923+02:002013-08-19T09:52:22.923+02:00Thanks! :-)
I also like it when the setting is i...Thanks! :-) <br /><br />I also like it when the setting is its own character. Just not when it tries to steal the limelight.Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-19738608476973068342013-08-19T09:51:00.881+02:002013-08-19T09:51:00.881+02:00Yeah I'm the same, preferring to reveal little...Yeah I'm the same, preferring to reveal little bits at a time. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-14690950999750933642013-08-19T09:50:20.931+02:002013-08-19T09:50:20.931+02:00Thanks so much!Thanks so much!Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-82448044129471839792013-08-19T09:49:41.737+02:002013-08-19T09:49:41.737+02:00Hahaha I knew someone like you was out there. ;-)Hahaha I knew someone like you was out there. ;-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-34815034041237925752013-08-19T09:48:15.307+02:002013-08-19T09:48:15.307+02:00Thanks!
I'm the same as you. Prefer to learn ...Thanks!<br /><br />I'm the same as you. Prefer to learn the culture and world as the character takes me through it. Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-8483843150104111282013-08-19T09:39:56.889+02:002013-08-19T09:39:56.889+02:00Thanks so much!
I also like sprinkling in just e...Thanks so much! <br /><br />I also like sprinkling in just enough to keep the reader feeling like they're on the same page as me. :-)Misha Gerrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06364173848456424521noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-82128114367546240002013-08-19T06:19:17.637+02:002013-08-19T06:19:17.637+02:00World building can be so fun. My favorite types of...World building can be so fun. My favorite types of books to read, have fast paces, but richly built worlds, like Brandon Sanderson books. I try to write in a similar way, but I'm still learning.Jessica L. Celayahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13725283349220405323noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-82093522356732532013-08-19T01:05:25.813+02:002013-08-19T01:05:25.813+02:00I think world building is lots of fun, but I use i...I think world building is lots of fun, but I use it more as a backdrop to the plot which I try to move along as quickly as possible. Generally, certain aspects of the world should be relevant to the plot, or important to the overall story, but the details should be shared i bits and pieces so it doesn't bog down the pace.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-90819330245865146352013-08-18T20:29:58.600+02:002013-08-18T20:29:58.600+02:00I've written both, but after reading Dean Koon...I've written both, but after reading Dean Koontz, I'm sold on the thriller angle. Keep the reader flipping pages. There's always enough room to pull the needed details of the world, but you have to be smart about it--here a little, there a little. What I'm scared about is writing book two and trying to reintroduce ALL the amazing world building it took the entirety of book 1 to reveal, and then add some on top. How is that going to work? ;) Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-48479705480841327712013-08-18T09:22:15.782+02:002013-08-18T09:22:15.782+02:00I wonder. Take the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Th...I wonder. Take the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The book had much in it that wasn't necessary for the plot. The inclusion of the meeting with Tom Bombadil (I think that was his name, in the fellowship) the one guy they met that was extremely powerful, the meeting was completely unnecessary to the overall plot, but it did enhance the mystical qualities of the world. There are other details like it in other books. I suppose stuff like that is more number one.. yet the Lord of the Rings didn't rally make that a goal until the prolonged dénouement- the last 2/3 or so of book three. As a wannabe writer, I have thought bout world building quite a bit. I did develop a rather detailed world for my NWMP series of stories....<br /><br />At the end of the day, I think details, even incidental ones can be pointed out, even if they're not wholly explained. The reader can do the rest. Torggilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10334950543060001029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-33170082382340101652013-08-18T05:17:57.266+02:002013-08-18T05:17:57.266+02:00It depends on the book. What I don't want is o...It depends on the book. What I don't want is overabundance of detail. A book I tried to read once was so full of details it killed the story and was left unfinished. Thanks for sharing and world building differs from person to person. One important thing though is to keep the reader clued in.Sheena-kay Grahamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17712661419116636671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-64819702652360458122013-08-17T23:53:04.422+02:002013-08-17T23:53:04.422+02:00The most important piece of information I garnered...The most important piece of information I garnered from your informative blog post today is: keep the explanations relevant to the moment, though.<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your knowledge!Gail M Baugniet - Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11543343067963247963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-52803976089539410522013-08-17T21:46:56.863+02:002013-08-17T21:46:56.863+02:00When I read speculative fiction, I don't want ...When I read speculative fiction, I don't want a lot of details. I don't want pages and pages of exposition like Tolkien. I've always thought Anne McCaffrey did well to balance it all.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-8357684310818542192013-08-17T19:47:56.445+02:002013-08-17T19:47:56.445+02:00I like quick plots, too. I also like being given l...I like quick plots, too. I also like being given leeway to use my imagination, assisted by the author of course. So while I like world building, I want just enough of it to get me going, and then back to plot.<br /><br />Excellent post, and excellent points. I'll be tweeting this one!!randi leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14207001299508931034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5190412120537448720.post-7588318244513455292013-08-17T18:46:35.216+02:002013-08-17T18:46:35.216+02:00Particularly in a series, I think a faster pace wi...Particularly in a series, I think a faster pace with minimal detail works better. You have the time for it all to peel away like an onion.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14932408372240147454noreply@blogger.com