Leslie D. Soule - Building Fallenwood

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Building Fallenwood by Leslie D. Soule

Thank you for joining me today! I intend for this blog to be a sort of world-building walkthrough for fiction fantasy writers, as an example of what considerations ought to be addressed in this strange and wonderful process. At the time that I have started writing this, I have notes and a blank piece or poster board taped to my closet. Ah, the glamorous life of a writer! Yet, this is how all worlds begin.

It strikes me that an explanation of the purpose of world-building is in order. I recently returned from the RT Booklovers’ Convention in Los Angeles, where I had the chance to speak with fellow e-book author Robert Roman – who impressed me with his mastery of fictional world-building. He wove tales that held me spellbound and as I listened, I realized that there is a point where the lines between fiction and reality blur, and where something resonates within. He was talking about a fictional character in a made-up land, who saw a fictitious woman and knew that she was his light. The telling of it left me with a longing for something nameless. That one idea held my love and sorrow, and a realization of when I’ve seen light in human form as well.

So I begin my world-building by determining the resources I have to draw from – an old, very basic kingdom map I’d created with Microsoft Paint, my Fallenwood manuscript, and the short prequel myth I’d created, called “The World’s Divide”. When I first wrote Fallenwood, I knew that I would need at least a basic map of kingdom boundaries. Boundaries are important for determining alliances and relationships between royal houses. I’m beginning my world-building by taking this very general map of kingdom borders and sketching it onto the poster board. Being an artist, I’ve found that looking at a blank canvas can be quite daunting. So with something on the map, I feel better now.

Everything should be sketched in pencil, for now. Before I start adding things to the map, I’ll be using whatever resources I have to determine locations I’ve already written about. Onto the map, I begin labeling kingdoms with their names. A few locations had been marked on the basic map, and here’s where we get to begin creating symbols and a map legend. I rifle through my taped-on notes, to find that the sequel will require large crystals to be interspersed throughout my kingdoms. I denote these with stars. Another note informs me that plasma craters must be drawn in and have to follow the locations of the crystals. Once my notes are no longer helpful, I must move on, to the largest resource in my arsenal – my manuscript of Fallenwood. Fortunately, I’m familiar with what parts I can skip and which chapters might hold pertinent information.

Suffice to say that after adding in all of my reference material, I was left with a map that was still surprisingly empty, and yet full of possibility. Map creation is a stepping stone, and an important one, but a small step in the huge task that a writer has, of building an entire world from nothing.

Whew! What a process! Well thanks for sticking with me through it. What techniques do you use for “world-building”? One lucky commenter will win a copy of my short story “The Devil’s Bidding” in e-book form.

Leslie D. Soule
http://lesliesoule.com


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