Welcome Guest Blogger Michelle Styles!
One of the current big buzz topics in the fictional writing world is world building or world creation. It perhaps started with fantasy but really it is applicable to every type of fiction writing. And it is a particularly hot topic in historical circles and so I thought I’d share my thoughts..
One of the major aims of the writer is draw the reader into a world and keep her there for the duration of the novel. But because I write historical romance, this means that my world is always going to be anachronistic. To write in a historical time period means that you have had to research the period, rather than directly experiencing some aspect of the world. And the themes and situations that attract me as someone living in 2008 are probably different from someone living during that time period. The things I notice may be different as well.
So, for example, Jane Austen is a contemporary writer, but Georgette Heyer wrote historical fiction even though they both use the same time period for their world. It is quite possible that Jane Austen would find Georgette Heyer completely unrealistic. But Georgette Heyer’s world works for a large swathe of readers. And the difference can make some writers be wary.
It also means the sort of research I do is probably different from the sort of research that a contemporary writer do. Directly interviewing someone about their occupation is generally out for me, particularly when writing about Viking warriors or Roman gladiators. (And yes, I know about re-enactors but they are again basing their actions on research rather than direct experience!) And while I can visit places and museums, I do have to be careful about dates and indeed wear and tear, fading colors etc. Also the past, in particular the ancient past, can change depending on recent research and archeological evidence. We do not know as much about the past as sometimes we think we do. The present in many ways is much more set in concrete.
Anyway, sometimes, world creation can make my head spin and so I hold try to hold these points in my head as sort of talismans.
1. The world exists entirely in the writer’s mind. It is not a world that the reader or indeed the writer has ever directly experienced, even though it may reflect places and situations.
2. The world needs to be a world that the reader can understand, and unless told differently the reader will assume that the world operates in the same fashion as her every day world. Logic for breaking a commonsense rule helps keep the reader within the story. Keeping your eye on the doughnut rather than the hole (the exception) can make things easier.
3. The world will never ever be an exact duplication of reality. Things need to happen for the sake of the story and story dialogue is never an exact duplication of speech in real life.
4. The world is always experienced through the filter of someone – whether it is a character POV or even the authorial voice, the reader really has no direct contact with the world.
5. Because the reader’s own world is a sensory world, the world of the story should be as well.
6. It is the details that bring the world to life and it is also the details that are most likely to pull the reader out of the story. Those unknowns unknowns and those things you think you know the answer to are the things are likely to get wrong.
And there is a caveat – if the story is holding the reader, they will be more forgiving and more likely to skim over the little details. In other words, the story is always king.
Anyway, it helps me because there are times, particularly when I am changing time periods that I am apt to want to curl up in a corner and burble. Are there any other points about creating worlds that you think of when you are writing? Or if you are a reader, what things have you noted, like or dislike? Does anything particular suck you into a world, or pull you out of it?
Hi Michelle!
Michelle, welcome to Cigars! What a great post, and I absolutely love your cover!! It's gorgeous. My husband and I lived in Europe for five years, and one of my favorite places was Normandy. The tapestry that hangs over the bed on your cover reminds me of the Bayeaux Tapestry, which I loved so much that I bought a replica piece, had it matted and framed, and it now hangs in my family room.
When I read a book, whether it's an historical or a contemporary, it's #6. that's important to me. For me, it's all in the details. As you said, I'm even willing to forgive the author if some of the factual stuff is inaccurate, so long is the story is compelling and the details are enough to make me feel immersed in her fictional world.
Hi Karen!
Thanks for welcoming me, Karen. It is lovely to be here.
Did you know that the editor podcast for Blaze mentions your name btw? It was new authors and Tawny Weber's name was mentioned as well. I think it justw went up. Anyway, it is fun listening to various editors talk about the lines. The Blaze one takes about 20 minutes.
Yes, I think the tapestry on my cover looks like Bayeux tapestry as well. I love the rich warm tones of the US version as the UK version was slightly bluer.
And I lovereading thedetails as I think details really help make the world. Robert mcKee talks about this a bit with the movie Alien and how the little details really help give you a sense of place and how they can bring something to life. And often I find it is the little details that linger in my mind.
Michelle Styles
Taken by the Viking (Harlequin Historical May 2008)
Interesting...
I bought into the idea of world building for a bit, but then I realized, like you say, that fiction is all about world-building. Anyone who writes a story, long or short, is world-building by its very nature. It doesn't matter the time frame or the genre, all stories are worlds we invite readers into, and the worlds have to work. Some people go through elaborate setups, but I find it usually works for me to just write more organically, becoming part of the world as I write -- which is a good sign readers might be able to become part of it, too.
That doesn't mean they have to be perfect, and I always think it still comes down to the characters -- characters are the ones who keep us in a world, even if it's not perfect. Buffy is the best example for me, or even Veronica Mars. With both, I can name a lot of problems or inconsistencies, or gaps, or mistakes, or things that are difficult to swallow BUT I love those characters so much, I want to be part of their world while I'm watching so I don't care, or, even if I care, I forgive them.
It's interesting to see what keeps us in or throws us out of a world...
Sorry we seem to have a slow day here, Michelle! Must be the sun is out...
Sam
Oh that is all right. I have
Oh that is all right. I have had terrible troubleb with my computer tonight. I will come back and answer everything about 6am my time.
You would like Dwight Swain's creating XCharacters,Sam as he is very much -- some people do it organically.
Michelle Styles
Taken by the Viking (Harlequin Historical May 2008)
Back
Ok, my eldest son has been over the computer again. It seems like the problem is solved. ARGH. So it is porbably just as well that it was a slow day.
World building is actually old. Swain talks about it in his 1965 book -- Techniques of the Selling Writer. But basically if you want an explanation, that is a good book start. Anyway, because he started out writing pulps, he is very much that much of the world building exercises are a waste of time. Basically you do need to world build but you don't need to have the worksheets etc. Some of it is make work, and does it really matter if your character prefers lemon squares to brownies... if you never show your character eating such things any way.
Michelle Styles
Taken by the Viking (Harlequin Historical May 2008)
While I think it's important
While I think it's important to get major facts right, the fact is...I might not know dates and times and when a certain fabric was used for clothes, but I *can* figure out if a story is engaging me and keeping my interest! I like details but unless they're details I already know, I don't really need lists and pages of description to prove the author did her research, you know?
Then again, don't have your Regency characters hopping in a Porsche...
M, writer of contemporaries mostly...and futuristic, so I can make stuff up!
details need to further the story
Every writer needs details but details need to further the story. Simple as that. It does not matter if you write historical or contemporary or even futuristic. Description for description sake serves no real purpose. it is a great way to lose pace and send your tension down to zero. Clunky details detract rather than add to the story.
Even contemporary writers get things wrong. For example PD James gets letters about why did she use a particualr make of motorcycle as it was impossible for that make to do what she asked. Finally though, someone wrote to her and explained, if it had a two s troke engine, than maybe. And then once she sent her characters by the wrong station in London. London does not have a central station, but depending on where you are going, you go by a certain station. To this day, she doesn't know why she did it, but she does get letters.
I think it is a problem for every writer. BUt if the story is strong enough, the reader forgives because it does have page turning quality. And thre must be a certain internal logic to the rules/ if you have planted something than the reader will forgive. But otherwise, sometimes the character will look TSTL. For example, there are spots in Britain where mobile phones don't work. SOme of these are surprising and the average reader might think a mobile will work at the back of the Albert hall, but it doesn't. And so if the author is going to use the fact, they may have to plant the detail early on, or the readers may object or be pulled out because they think mobiles should work everywhere in London. It all has to be done subtly.
Michelle Styles
Taken by the Viking (Harlequin Historical May 2008)
The details are important to
The details are important to me. Color of hair, eyes,etc. I hate for the hair color or eye color to change part way thru the story.
keep track of details
Estella,
Detail are important and it can be very annoying for readers when little things change.
Readers remember. And they are not stupid.
Part of the process of editing is making sure that all the details tally. It is also a real problem when you are writing several books in a series. And in the first book, you give a character two children and by the third, he has never had any.
It is wny some writers keep huge files where they list all the details. I know Anne McAllister has timelines with each character and where they are. Each book's details are in a different colour. But then she has been writing the same series for many years.
Changing the details on readers means that the required suspension of disbelief doesn't happen. Certain readers get pulled out of the story.
It is why it is useful at some point, may not in the first draft, but in some draft, to actually go through and check the details consistent. And also to check that all the minor threads are tied up. For example, another author friend gets letters asking about what happened to the mother's wedding ring in a certain story. She had forgotten to say and it bothered some people. Now she keeps a notebook and physically crosses off the thread when it is complete.
Michelle Styles
Taken by the Viking (Harlequin Historical May 2008)