I had the great pleasure of guest-posting with Chris, The Story Reading Ape on the writerly topic of world-building – something I can talk about until I’m plumb out of breath. 🙂 Hop over if you’re interested. Happy Weekend!
As a fantasy/science-fiction writer, I’ve stacked up a bit of experience with world-building that I’ve wanted to share, and The Story-Reading Ape’s blog is the perfect venue.
Now don’t run away if you don’t write speculative fiction. Clearly, world-building is a key part of bringing fantasy and science-fiction stories to life, but it plays a role in all fiction, and in some non-fiction as well.
Setting as Character
Most of us probably agree that the physical places within our stories need to feel authentic. But if we create them as mere backdrops to the action, we’re missing an opportunity to enrich our readers’ experiences. In great fiction, setting plays a role in the story. It’s changeable, a help, a hindrance, a metaphor, a mood, possibly even a character in the drama.
Fantasy author Brandon Sanderson is a proponent of the idea of setting-as-character and builds a “character profile” of the…
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Myths of the Mirror 
I write urban fantasy, in which the “world,” as it were, has already been provided. But in order to get it right, an urban-fantasy author needs to be just as well-versed in his “prefabricated” landscape as a fantasy writer who creates his from whole cloth. Great overview!
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Yes, slightly easier with urban fantasy, at least with setting. I think the familiarity can throw off an author, too, as what’s “known” takes over. For example, I’ve read books where the a person with the ability to turn invisible runs from bad guys. Why, when they can just turn invisible? Ha ha. An obvious example, but stuff like that happens all the time. Thinking these things through is part of the fun of fantasy. 🙂 Happy Writing, my friend.
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Ha ha ha. I used this construct of the setting as a character in my berth and was so happy I had learned about this before writing volume reviews.
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Good for you. I think we do some of this naturally, but it’s good to think about as we rework and revise. Happy Writing. 🙂
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Great post! Setting is important part of every book and your post will help writers to make their books better. Thanks for your post.
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Thanks for stopping by to read, Bibhuti. 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed to post. Happy Writing!
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You welcome
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I used this concept of the setting as a character in my post and was so glad I had learned about this before writing book reviews. It helped me to understand the differences in settings, too.
Thank you for this useful post, Diana. As always, warm wishes and regards on your Rose Shield book series and your awesome BIP.
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Thanks, Robin. I’m so glad it was helpful. I love learning about writing and had to share. Yes, I can see how it would be helpful with reviews too!
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Excellent post, Diana! The setting can be a powerful tool in establishing mood or purpose. I think how the setting affects the characters enriches the story (and how the cat who just sat on my lap affects my typing).
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Ha ha ha. Yes, the setting in which we write impacts the story too! Cats, especially 😀
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Brilliant post, Diana, thank you for sharing your expertise 🙂 .
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Thanks, Lynne. I’m glad you enjoyed. 🙂
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A fantastic feature, Diana! 😀
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Thanks, Annika. I have four of them for Chis’s blog, one a month, which spreads them out a bit. I’m glad you enjoyed it! Happy Writing.
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I really look forward to the rest and what a terrific venue for them all! 😀
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I know. It was perfect!
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Whoa. World-building with Diana. I can’t wait to read this. And by the looks of it, I’m going to be bookmarking it.
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Just read. I emailed this to myself. Because. Brilliant. Seriously.
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Yay! You haven’t peeped about your book. What genre?
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I know. I’m awful about that. It’s…wait for it… speculative fiction. *peep*
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Oh Good!
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There will be three more posts with Chris but the other three are geared to speculative fiction. I’m glad you’re intrigued. 🙂
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I am REALLY looking forward to that. 😉
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You’re the perfect person to write this post, Diana.
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Thanks, Mary. I have a few more coming up but they’ll lean toward speculative fiction. This one is a good one for all genres. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Thank you for providing a glimpse into your writing world Diana. Excellent. 🌼🌼🌼
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Thanks for stopping by to read, Brigid. A little dry perhaps for some readers, but I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Your world-building skills are unparalleled, Diana. Hugs on the wing!
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Thanks, my friend. Happy Writing!
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I’ll be right over. I need to refill my coffee.
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Thanks, Jacqui!! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
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Master stroke!🌿
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Thanks for reading. A dry post in a way, but one I’ve been wanting to write 😀 Have a wonderful Sunday. ❤
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thanks D. 🌹
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Brilliant and testing composing… an awesome and charming read, Diana. 🙂 Have a dazzling end of the week!
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Thank you. I’m glad you found the post helpful. Have a wonderful Sunday. 🙂
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This post was aces my friend. 🙂 x
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Thanks, Debby, and thanks so much for sharing everywhere. 🙂
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Always a pleasure Diana. 🙂 x
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Diana, you are one of the best world builders I know!
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You are too kind, Noelle. I’m learning like everyone else and trying to apply it all. Yikes! Thanks for stopping by and stay safe with that storm. ❤
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Excellent! Setting the stage, or should I say writing the setting, is key. E.B. White understood that when he wrote Charlotte’s Web. You do, too.
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Charlotte’s web is one of my favorite books, Jennie. I’ll take that compliment anytime. 🙂 Thanks so much for the visit. ❤
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My pleasure, Diana! BTW, the new book “Some Writer. The Story of E.B. White” is a must for Charlotte’s Web lovers. It’s not a typical biography due to how the illustrator configured the text and the multitude of photos and scripts and lots more. She won the Caldecott! That says it all. Can you tell this is going to be a blog post? 🙂
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Thanks for the recommendation! It sounds wonderful. 🙂
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🙂
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A must read Diana! Thank you very much indeed!
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You’re so funny to leave two comments, Hector. Thanks for visiting, my friend, and taking the time to leave a note. 😀
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Wonderful and challenging writing… a great and enjoyable read, Diana. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend!
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Thanks, Iris. It’s amazing how much there is to learn about this craft. Have a lovely weekend. 😀
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Beautifully written as always.
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Thanks, Bridget. I’m glad you enjoyed the peek behind the scenes. 😀
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Your comment about setting is so true. Setting can become almost a character in itself!
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Absolutely. In London’s Call of the Wild, the antagonist is the weather. That’s the extreme, but setting can certain certainly play a big part in the narrative. Thanks for stopping by to check out the post. Happy Friday!
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