The eNotes Blog Writers Spaces, Places, and Advice AboutWriting

Writers Spaces, Places, and Advice AboutWriting It starts with this: put your desk in the corner, and every time you sit down there to write, remind yourself why it isn’t in the middle of the room. Life isn’t a support system for art. It’s the other way around.   ~  Stephen King,  On Writing Pictured above is Stephen Kings own attic writing space at his home in Bangor, Maine.   In contrast to his statement above, his desk does appear to be in the middle of his room, but surely he means corner to be taken metaphorically; that is, any place that is quiet, that is yours; the place where  you  sit  to write  your  work.   While there are some writers who purportedly can write in the midst of chaos, most of us require a place of retreat. I believe it was J.K. Rowling who said that she cleared out a walk-in closet, put a desk and a lamp in there, and sealed herself off from the rest of the family while she was composing her first  Harry Potter  novel. Here are ten intriguing places where writers write, along with some advice for all who write: 1.   Neil Gaimans Gazebo/Cabin 8  Good Writing Practices Write. Put one word after another. Find the right word, put it down. Finish what youre writing. Whatever you have to do to finish it, finish it. Put it aside. Read it pretending youve never read it before. Show it to friends whose opinion you respect and who like the kind of thing that this is. Remember: when people tell you somethings wrong or doesnt work for them, they are almost always right. When they tell you exactly what they think is wrong and how to fix it, they are almost always wrong. Fix it. Remember that, sooner or later, before it ever reaches perfection, you will have to let it go and move on and start to write the next thing. Perfection is like chasing the horizon. Keep moving. Laugh at your own jokes. The main rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, youre allowed to do whatever you like. (That may be a rule for life as well as for writing. But its definitely true for writing.) So write your story as it needs to be written. Write it honestly, and tell it as best you can. Im not sure that there are any other rules. Not ones that matter. 2.   Edith Whartons view from The Mount in Lennox, Massachusetts Habit is necessary; it is the habit of having habits, of turning a trail into a rut, that must be incessantly fought against if one is to remain alive. 3. Dylan Thomass Boathouse at Laugharne, Wales Go on thinking that you dont need to be read and youll find that it may become quite true: no one will feel the need to read it because it is written for yourself alone; and the public wont feel any impulse to gate crash such a private party. 4.   Ernest Hemingways Home in Key West, Florida â€Å"Writing is something that you can never do as well as it can be done. It is a perpetual challenge and it is more difficult than anything else that I have ever done.† â€Å"There’s no rule on how it is to write. Sometimes it comes easily and perfectly. Sometimes it is like drilling rock and then blasting it out with charges.† â€Å"Ordinarily I never read anything before I write in the morning to try and bite on the old nail with no help, no influence and no one giving you a wonderful example or sitting looking over your shoulder.† 5. Rudyard Kipling:  Dummerston, Vermont â€Å"I am, by calling, a dealer in words; and words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.† â€Å"I never made a mistake in my life; at least, never one that I couldnt explain away afterwards.† â€Å"If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.† 6. Ian Flemings home, GoldenEye, in Jamaica â€Å"All the greatest men are maniacs. They are possessed by a mania which drives them forward towards  their  goal. The great scientists, the philosophers, the religious leaders all maniacs. What else but a blind  singleness  of purpose could have given focus to  their  genius, would have kept them in the groove of purpose. Mania is as priceless as genius.† 7.   Norman Mailers Fourth Floor Apartment, Brooklyn Heights, New York Ive written at times about the spooky element in writing. You go in each morning, and theres a blank page. Maybe it takes five minutes, maybe it takes an hour. Sooner or later you start writing, and then the words begin to flow. Where does that come from? You cant pinpoint it. You always wonder, Will it all stop tomorrow? In that sense its spooky. In other words, youre relying on a phenomenon thats not necessarily dependable.   (Norman Mailer Interview, The Academy of Achievement, June 12, 2004) Over the years, I’ve found one rule. It is the only one I give on those occasions when I talk about writing. A simple rule. If you tell yourself you are going to be at your desk tomorrow, you are by that declaration asking your unconscious to prepare the material. You are, in effect, contracting to pick up such valuables at a given time. Count on me, you are saying to a few forces below: I will be there to write. 8.   Virginia  Woolfs Writing Desk at Monks House, Sussex, England Mental fight means thinking against the current, not with it. It is our business to puncture gas bags and discover the seeds of truth. To write weekly, to write daily, to write shortly, to write for busy people catching trains in the morning or for tired people coming home in the evening, is a heartbreaking task for men who know good writing from bad. They do it, but instinctively draw out of harms way anything precious that might be damaged by contact with the public, or anything sharp that might irritate its skin. Arrange whatever pieces come your way. 9. John Steinbecks Summer Home in Sag Harbor, Maine The writer must believe that what he is doing is the most important thing in the world. And he must hold to this illusion even when he knows it is not true.   Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.   The discipline of the written word punishes both stupidity and dishonesty. In utter loneliness a writer tries to explain the inexplicable. 10.   Roald Dahls The Gipsy House,  Buckinghamshire, England Dahls Advice on Writing 1.   You should have a lively imagination 2. You should be able to write well.   By that I mean you should be able to make a scene come alive in the reader’s mind.   Not everybody has this ability.   It is a gift, and you either have it or you don’t. 3.   You must have stamina.   In other words, you must be able to stick to what you are doing and never give up, for hour after hour, day after day, week after week, and month after month. 4.   You must be a perfectionist.   That means you must never be satisfied with what you have written until you have rewritten it again and again, making it as good as you possibly can. 5.   You must have strong self-discipline.   You are working alone.   No one is employing you.   No one is around to fire you if you don’t turn up for work, or to tick you off is you start slacking. 6.   It helps a lot if you have a keen sense of humor.   This is not essential when writing for grown-ups, but for children, it’s vital. 7.   You must have a degree of humility.   The writer who thinks that his work is marvelous is heading for trouble.

Worldbuilding in a Novel 120+ World Building Questions to Get it Right

Worldbuilding in a Novel 120+ World Building Questions to Get it Right Worldbuilding in a Novel: 120+ World Building Questions to Get it Right Writing a novel requires more than good writing chops and fancy literary devicesyou need solid worldbuilding in order to craft a realistic image for our readers.And you’ve heard the word ‘world building’ being tossed around a lot, especially in association with the science-fiction and fantasy genre.In this post, well walk you through how to world build in your novel with tips and questions to make sure your book is well-rounded.Heres how to world build in your novel:Understand what world building isBuild the look of the worldDecide on what and who the inhabitants areDevelop a strong world historyForm societal rulesDevelop religions and social customsWorld building questions for fantasyWorld building questions for sci-fiNOTE: If youre ready to take your world and get it in front of readers everywhere, make sure to check out our VIP Fiction Self-Publishing Program, where youll have 1-on-1 time with a bestselling author as your coach! Learn more about it hereWhat is world building?Worldbuilding is the process of creating a fictional world within your novel that can be as complex as designing an entirely new and unique location with exotic creatures, societies, religions, and governments.Or it could be as simple as using the world we currently live in as a foundation, then tweaking it with a few historical, physical, or social adjustments.World building gives the writer a clear understanding of what their world looks and feels like. The imaginary world serves to establish where the story takes place. Its purpose as the setting of the story is to anchor the reader into the book by giving them a concrete location.When a writer makes the decision to half-heartedly world build, it shows. The world they create lacks authenticity and leaves the reader wanting. World building is a chance to capture the imagination of your reader. Once the reader is immersed in your world, they will be able to suspend disbelief and fully engage with the entire story str ucture to enjoy a full experience.But, how does one go about achieving this?World building might seem daunting, but it can be broken down into simple steps that will make the process thorough and fun.It is important to think of how the world you are creating is going to be unique to your story ideas. However, it is just as important to keep in mind how your world will serve the plot and affect the characters.Four general questions to ask yourself before you start building your world are as follows.#1 What does the world itself look like?The physical appearance of your world makes a big difference. Because you have to describe the story setting, you need to know what that looks like.Here are some questions you can use to do this:Is it a small dense area, or a vast world full of different environments? How much of your world are you going to need to show in order to support the story?How does the terrain influence the story?What is the weather like regularly as well as when its sever e?What does the landscape look like? (Hint: this will influence transport and clothing)Are the characters going to be concentrated in one area like a small town, or inside a labyrinth?If so then all you need to world build is that location and focus on elements such as: is this location safe and what is the social structure within this location?An author who does a great job of setting up the world right from Chapter 1 is Jenna Moreci in The Saviors Champion. You can see in the example below, you know what the land looks like, how it feels, and even one of the primary agricultural elements isall in a few short paragraphs.However, if the cast is going to be traveling within your world, then things get more complex, and you may need to create multiple countries or planets.Creating multiple countries means analyzing how they will be different from each other.Here are some questions to get this part right:Where do the borders lie?What are the languages spoken?What are the natural resour ces?What are the various cultures and cultural practices?If you are creating multiple planets, how do they differ from ours? Are there seasons? Is there more than one moon/sun? What life forms exist on these planets?Knowing these details upfront can also help you shape the cultures and customs around the world itself as we have done in this world. Your worldbuilding will appear more natural this way as well.#2 Who are the inhabits?Think of your main cast. Since your characters drive the story, its important to be clear on every type of person involved from the start of the story to the end.Answer these questions for worldbuilding your inhabits:Are they human, alien, or hybrids?What is their population?How did they get to be a part of this world?Is there are class system amongst inhabitants?Is the class system defined by wealth or some other factor?What of gender, race, and species?How do the inhabitants of the world you are building get along?Are there natural alliances between par ticular groups?Are some of the inhabitant’s oppressors towards the others?What resources do the inhabitants have?Knowing these details can not only help you shape the plot, but being able to slide in these details will make your world appear more lifelike and therefore, more entertaining for your readers.#3 What is the history of the world?History is important, it tells of how things came to be the way they are. Your fictional world, just like the real world, is going to have to have a history- and this history can often be very influential to your plot. Therefore, you have to know it.While it is not vital for you to know every minute detail in regards to the history of your world, it is crucial to know what are some of the important events of the past.Here are a few aspects to consider:Who have been the major rulers?What key events took place during their reign?How did their reign change the governments?How did the countries or settlements arrive at the state they are curre ntly in?Is there a recent historical event of note?What are the religious and political historical events that are impactful to your plot?What have been the major environmental disasters? Famine, plagues, flooding?How have these impacted the land and the people?Wars – what nations have been at war with each other in the past? What nations are still at war?Has there been any civil wars?This can be the most fickle and influential part of your world building ventures.An author who excels at weaving history into his storyline is George R.R. Martin in his Game of Thrones series.The more you know about your worlds history, the more opportunities you have for foreshadowing, plot twists, and a more comprehensive story in general.#4 What are the rules of society?Every society has codes of conduct, a set pattern of behavior expected to be followed.Having rules in place will give an understanding to character actions and reactions as well as the overall character development process. A sk yourself what the guidelines in your world are, who enforces them, and how these will affect the plot.Here are more questions for worldbuilding your society:What is the political structure of the world?Who holds power, influence, or authority?Is it an individual or a group?Is there a ruling monarchy?Or is it a form of totalitarianism, authoritarianism, or a democracy? Are characters going to be breaking or bending the rules, or will they be the ones administering them?Are the rules considered fair and just, or is the society at large frustrated by the rules imposed upon them?How are inhabitants punished if the rules of society are broken?This is a great starting point for crafting the mood and general vibe of your book, not to mention building your main character and others to fit these standards.#5 What are the religions, and social customs?Readers and critics generally frown upon a world building so unimaginative that it contains only one race of people.Creating a society fill ed with inhabitants of different races means there will be a variety in the traditional practices from one particular cultural group to the other.A well- developed world will have its national/religious holidays, dress customs, cuisine, and linguistic characteristics. How will this affect your characters? What are the legends and fairy tales that serve as a means of entertainment or education for inhabitants?Here are more religious and social customs worldbuilding questions:What is the religious belief system?What gods, if any, exist?Do the gods play a tangible and active role in the world, or are they entities people believe in?Are there religious services attended to at a house of worship?How much does religion play into the daily life of the lay person?What is considered sacred?Are particular symbols revered?What are some rituals or customs related to religion in your world?How many inhabits believe in the religious system?Are there any quarrels between different religions?Are th ere any specific festivals or celebrations that occur?Do people work all week?Are there holidays?Do people celebrate their birthdays?How do the various social classes behave?What customs to they adhere to?How are gender roles defined?How do families, marriages, and other relationships operate?How is death handled – are services held, and do loved ones’ mourn?Is procreation done out of love or duty?Do people get to choose their own partners?What behaviors are generally considered to be improper or immoral?While there are a lot of questions for this section in particular, these are some of the most important, as they have the power to shape motives, societies, and characters in full.Even if you decide to create a society that is a monolith – where the entire cast is of the same race or religion, you still need to clearly state what the customs unique to your world are.How to World Build for Science-Fiction and Fantasy SpecificallyThese book genres are among the mo st important for worldbuilding.From the halls of Hogwarts, to the Starship Enterprise, to the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, a captivating and unique world is what sets the SFF genre apart from the other genres.When it comes to the science-fiction and fantasy, there are some key world building elements to consider in addition to the above.World Building for Fantasy QuestionsFantasy is a genre that includes magical elements or a supernatural humanoid races/species such as elves, vampires, dwarfs, and fairies and that means it needs a set of world building criteria that differs from the above.World Building for Magic Systems:Magic systems need rules, regulations, and overall, its own set of world building.Here are some world building questions for your fantasy magic system:How does the magic system operate?Who is able to use it and where does it come from?Are some individuals more adept at magic than others?How are magic users grouped and perceived?How do people hone their magic skills a nd become stronger?What is the general attitude towards magic, are people accepting of magic, weary of it, or both?What are the limitations and rules of the magic?What happens when these rules are broken?Are there any exceptions to these set rules and how are they possible?World Building for Supernatural Humanoids:These creatures run rampant in both science fiction and in fantasy, but well touch on fantasy right now.Here are some worldbuilding questions for supernatural humanoids in fantasy:How are they received in society?How ethnically and culturally diverse are they within their own species?Did they evolve or migrate from somewhere?Where do their powers come from?Generally speaking, are they a friendly species?Who or what do they worship?What languages do they speak?Are there any cultures or customs distinctive to what they are specifically?World Building Questions for Sci-Fi NovelsScience-Fiction is a genre that typically deals with futuristic concepts: advanced science/technolo gy, artificial intelligence, time travel, space exploration, and extraterrestrial life.Because of all these elements we dont experience in our day-to-day lives (yet, in some cases), you have to be diligent with ensuring the world makes sense.Heres some help with world building for science fiction.World Building for Advanced Science and Technology:Because this is the backbone of what makes a novel belong in the sci-fi genre, you should spend a great deal of time in this area.Here are some questions to help you world build for sci-fi:What is the level of technological development, how does this affect day to day living?What technologies are used to communicate?What ones are used for entertainment?What technology is used to travel?What is weapons technology like?Who can afford the technology and how does technology affect social structure?Who created these technologies?What are some up-and-coming technologies?What technologies cause the most issues in your cultures society?Which techno logies are the most helpful?World Building for Artificial Intelligence:This is another hot and ever-growing topic in the sci-fi world. Because artificial intelligence is so significant right now, you have to remember to include it and ensure it sounds natural in your world.Here are some questions for developing artificial intelligence in your sci-fi book:Who created the artificial intelligence?How does the artificial intelligence operate?Are they self-aware?What form do they take?Are they easily identifiable?How do they communicate with each other in order to complete tasks?Are AI considered a lower caste? If so are they assigned roles of caretakers of the world?How have humans managed to sustain supremacy over the artificial intelligence?Do artificial intelligence feel the need to break out of their assigned roles?World Building for Time Travel:Another common practice when writing a sci-fi novel is to include some sort of time travel.While not all sci-fi novels have this concept, i f yours does, its helpful to get clear on some details to avoid plot holes later in your writing journey.Here are some worldbuilding questions for time travel:Who can time travel?What is the time travel paradigm?Can people meet their past/future selves?How far back/forward in time can one travel?What are the repercussions of time travel?Does the time traveler physically change upon returning?Does time travel have effects on mental health?How is time travel viewed in society?What happens when the laws of time travel are abused?World Building Questions for Space Exploration:Many science fiction books include space exploration or travel at one point or another.Here are some world building questions for space exploration:Who was the pioneer of space exploration?Is this a new undertaking, or have multiple worlds been aware of each other and living as a large community?How many planets and how many solar systems does a galaxy comprise of?What is the system of travel between worlds?How is the language barrier between worlds solved?Who regulates space travel?What sort of documentation is needed for space travel?Can anyone space travel or is it reserved for specific individuals?What is the purpose of space exploration and travel?How was space exploration made possible in your world?World Building Questions for Extraterrestrial life:Aliens are a natural part of space exploration so if this is in your novel, you may want to work on world building this particular bit as well.Here are some questions for world building with extraterrestrial life:How were they discovered?Are they friendly or antagonistic?What are their goals/motivations?How does their presence affect the community?What do they eat?What are their weaknesses and strengths?How do they communicate?Does the public know of their existence?How long has their presence been known for?World building can be as simple or as complex as the author chooses. Keep in mind, even though you will be developing your world from s cratch, not every single element of your world needs to be revealed to the reader. It is important to not overwhelm your audience, and avoid the dreaded info dump.Elements of your world should be sprinkled in slowly, the details woven into your story in a manner that is enjoyable for the readers instead of dropped all at once in exposition.Your imaginary world will naturally grow and develop as you write. When done correctly, world building can be a wonderful way to enhance your story.Uplevel Your Book TODAYWe know you love your book. And that means you want to see your book in the hands of readers everywhere.We can help you with thatand heres a sneak peek for FREE.