I'm doing a summer NaNoWriMo right now, and the thing I love about NaNo is that it allows you to write without worrying about editing. In fact, as I write, I'm discovering nuances about my world that I hadn't really fleshed out yet, and I simply input it into the story for later, so as I'm going through and editing I've got this tidbit of a gem that screams "REVELATION!" at me.
I love world-building. It's something I absolutely adore to do. In bed at night I sometimes think up a character who has these specific powers, and it is SUCH fun coming up with a world that explains these powers and makes them acceptable. I love that whole element of writing.
My favourite world-building comes from places that I've seen, or lived in, and have experienced.
For instance, awhile ago at work, I thought of this dialogue between two characters, one who is older, and the other who is the flippant MC.
It went something like this:
"Life," said Oldie expansively, lifting his glass to the sun and watching the light dance within the crimson depths, "is like a glass of wine."
He paused, and I waited for him to go on, but he didn't. He just stood there with his glass, and seemed lost in a reverie.
I guess that was all the information he was going to impart at this moment. Joy. I got to wait until tomorrow to see why life was like a glass of wine.
Tomorrow, I doubted I'd care.
Somehow, I visualized this MC as a boy, somewhat flippant and street-smart, but I had no setting for him. I simply had a bit of dialogue, and a definite opinion of who he was: a thief, a (sometimes) brat, but a lovable, loving character at heart.
Then I went to Scotland, and WHAM! I had found my setting. Scotland is the home for this thieving MC, a stone city more ancient than the hills, and filled with a magic that has yet to be born.
I'm into the world-building part now, and that is such fun, because the land is going to resemble Scotland, but there are going to be very different rules for my world, especially concerning magic.
Yay! A new story!
In fact, that story is my NaNo novel. Isn't that something? And, you know what's more exciting? I can see a trilogy being born. Which means, I don't have to let go of my MC sooner than I need to. DOUBLE huzzah!
God bless. :)
Cat
Katrina, I so enjoyed your profile and post. When I read all of your loves, I thought, "She's a creative eclectic," an artistic multi-tasker. I'm glad you're following Refrain from the Identical because you are a living example of my heart for the website.
ReplyDeleteThat's great that you are using Scotland for your world-building. You have great photos and memories to help you there! Good luck, Cat!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!Love it when that happens! ANd Scotland is a wonderful place to be inspired. I could live there quite comfortably in a cottage in the Highlands.
ReplyDeleteJoDee, aw! Thank you. :)
ReplyDeleteKelly, I have so many photos it's not even funny. I absolutely LOVED the cobblestone roads, though they're not fun to drive on.
PK, I agree! I could find me a nice wee place somewhere in the Highlands and say, ta da! I'm set. :)
I had a similar experience when I visited Tahiti. My WIP is love story about a mermaid, a boy who grew up on a black pearl farm, and the son of a movie star.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
Ooh, that's cool, Katie. It's interesting, isn't it, how our experiences leak over into our novels? :)
ReplyDelete