Most authors have their own world-building techniques that are based on the progress of others. From real-life ancient mysteries to fictional landscapes, we all find inspiration in a variety of ways. So, how did I come up with the world for the Witcham series?
Initially, it started from a basic fun idea and grew as I continued to write Kingmaker. The end result was an ever-expanding landscape, alive with its own populace and ecosystems.
However, developing the world wasn’t where I started. From the moment I began chapter one, I had no idea what was going to unfold before me.
Creating a Fantasy World
One of my favorite things about creating a fantasy world is that you have absolute control over what is happening. As long as your reader can accept the descriptions and the landscape is interesting, you can easily bend the laws of physics.
This is especially true if your world uses magic or some kind of mystical power that is well-written.
What makes it even more fun is how you can adapt any genre to fit into your fantastical world. For example, the Wild West could have happened in a similar fashion on another planet with a few additions such as magic.
Or, you can base your world-building on Earth with one of the continents being swallowed up by the oceans several million years ago. Perhaps you want to include fantasy creatures in present-day Earth, such as they did with the Netflix movie, Bright.
Being an author gives you a plethora of possibilities. All you have to do is write one of them that your target reader is willing to buy off the shelf.
So, how did I start world-building for the Witcham series?
Inspiration from Other Sources
First of all, the original idea for Kingmaker was based on a fan fiction I was going to write for Wattpad. It all started with the story, Despair.
I was planning to roleplay the plot while actually rolling dice as it was all based on Dungeons & Dragons. Whatever the dice roll happened to be, that’s how the story continued.
So, it was very possible main characters would die. Not to mention that I really didn’t know how the story was going to unfold as the dice rolls could have varied wildly.
When I started writing, I thought of the different ways I would change the rules of Dungeons & Dragons to fit my story. Shortly thereafter, I began creating a unique world pulling in inspiration from a variety of fantasy books and movies.
In other words, the world began morphing into its own unique landscape rather than a fan fiction based in Ravenloft, the gothic horror realm associated with Dungeons & Dragons.
Unfolding as I Write
I didn’t sit down and draw out a map of the entire landscape. I am the type of author who lets the landscape form in front of him. As the story progresses, so does the map.
This lets me put a waterfall in the path if I need one for the story, or maybe a rushing river that is too powerful to swim across. The landscape unfolds as the plot develops. Then, those landmarks are set in stone for future continuity throughout the series.
In essence, I don’t know what’s in front of the characters until I need something in particular.
Adding in Other Humanoids
Like most other fantasy worlds, mine includes a variety of humanoids. Although some have the same trope as their counterparts across movies and books, I have changed a few or changed them to become something else.
For instance, there are hints of an “orc war” in Kingmaker. The Verasule are an elven group of rangers who hunt unnatural creatures. And I have a lizardmen race who are very xenophobic.
Like the landscape, though, I added the other humanoids as the need arose while writing the manuscript. So, I don’t know all of the denizens of my world as more can come into existence as the series continues.
Creating the Map as I Write (Nowadays)
One of the biggest mistakes I made writing Kingmaker was not creating the initial map. I thought I could keep the details in my head and not have to worry about a visual representation.
Now that I am nearly finished writing the second book, it is getting to the point where I simply have too much going on to keep it all together. That’s when I started using Inkarnate to help me keep track of the landscape.
Nowadays, I work on the map itself as I write the novel. That means I have Reedsy open in one tab and Inkarnate in another. I know that if I don’t add those elements to the map as I write, I’m going to forget all about them.
When writing a series, continuity is vastly important. Not only does it make the story feel more real, but it can help reduce confusion for your readers. And a consistent description of land masses and peoples goes a long way to providing a good reading experience.
Notes of Ancient Mysteries
To give the world a bit more spice as I write, I like to add ancient mysteries that may or may not play a role in the plot. The creation of a certain artifact, for example, could provide additional plot points or storylines later on. However, those details aren’t pertinent to the plot development of the current book.
For example, there is a device in Kingmaker that has a mysterious origin. No one knows why it was made, only that it’s powerful. I could easily turn the device’s origin into another book or drip details throughout the series. But that specific information isn’t needed to enjoy the book.
As a fantasy author creating your own world, you literally have a plethora of paths you can take for any story or idea. You’re only limited by your imagination.
Using World Anvil to Maintain the World
Something else that can help keep the continuity in check for your planet or universe is World Anvil. This online tool lets you keep track of virtually everything from individual buildings of interest to your own myths and legends.
The only thing World Anvil doesn’t have is a map-making system. However, you can upload a map and add points of interest.
I started using World Anvil for two reasons: a) to keep track of the small details of my world, and b) to market the series of books. That’s because you can share your world with others and start to amass a following.
I’m currently putting together the details, but you can see the Witcham series unfold on World Anvil as I add them. It’ll probably take a while before I can add the map, as I am currently organizing that in Inkarnate.
As I continue to work on the Witcham series, I already know that I plan on expanding on the world in general. I’m sure I’ll write more solo books as well as another series or two. It just depends on how the world evolves as I write.
Opening the Doors to Incredible Possibilities
Being a fantasy author building your own world means that you have an abundance of possibilities to expand. You don’t even have to use the same characters as you could write an entire epic with a new hero and villain.
Of course, you don’t have to be a fantasy author to have those potential ideas rolling around in your head. It really depends if you want to expand on the world you’ve created or simply want to publish a one-off book.
The more you flesh out world-building within your story, the greater the potential for a variety of tales. From a summer romance to a gory and violent fight against the undead, you can write it all based on the universe you create.
I had no idea the world was going to expand like it did when I began writing Kingmaker. But the longer I sit here and think about it, the more incredible the stories are that I want to base on the world I’ve developed thus far.
And yes…eventually, I’ll have pirates sailing the seas.
My point is that world-building for a series of books can immerse readers into a fantastical experience as they roam around in your imagination. Perhaps you can get to a point where others can write books about your world to perpetuate it further.
Possibilities Are Endless
One of the beautiful things about being an author is that the possibilities for stories are virtually endless. As long as your imagination is active and you can convey to readers what you see in your head, there’s literally nothing you can’t accomplish in books.
The best part is that it doesn’t matter what genre in which you decide to write. There is no limit to possibilities for the author who lets the imagination run wild.
What world-building techniques are looking forward to trying?
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