tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post144865494622952838..comments2024-03-28T10:41:26.999-06:00Comments on Blood-Red Pencil: World-Building 101: Geography and HistoryDanihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13423585644494861612013-04-21T15:49:04.480-06:002013-04-21T15:49:04.480-06:00Very interesting. I don't write fantasy, but I...Very interesting. I don't write fantasy, but I set my mystery series in a made-up town, so I have to map the town out.Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-80075862752896347842013-04-21T13:30:45.705-06:002013-04-21T13:30:45.705-06:00World building can be a lot of work, even in a boo...World building can be a lot of work, even in a book which is not a fantasy. Decisions need to be made whether or not to use actual places, virtual places, or a combination. I used a combination in my books, because I didn't want people to complain if I made an inaccurate or unappealing description of their street or a place they visited. <br /><br />Morgan Mandel<br />http://www.morganmandel.comMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-33657962604444256142013-04-19T15:02:54.393-06:002013-04-19T15:02:54.393-06:00Like Linda, I see these techniques as transferrabl...Like Linda, I see these techniques as transferrable to any fiction genre. I write women's fiction and have used maps (for myself, but still) and sought out relevant history (a must!). World building is the responsibility of all authors. Just because a city is real does not mean it offers a fertile setting for a story—it's the job of the author to carve out the relevant details.Kathryn Crafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371458857187160425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-43973172740252927952013-04-19T11:42:19.357-06:002013-04-19T11:42:19.357-06:00How to make clickable links in comments. We'll...<a href="http://blogbooktours.blogspot.com/2010/07/comment-tip.html" rel="nofollow">How to make clickable links</a> in comments. We'll see if I have it memorized yet.Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-70308079521810779572013-04-19T11:39:17.944-06:002013-04-19T11:39:17.944-06:00Hahaha, Christopher. Yes, Debby packs a lot of inf...Hahaha, Christopher. Yes, Debby packs a lot of information into one class. Maybe we can go a little shorter for you next time. ;)Danihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14471919576687777886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-38320171894169308862013-04-19T09:41:43.661-06:002013-04-19T09:41:43.661-06:00Well, Debby, you just outlined several of the reas...Well, Debby, you just outlined several of the reasons why I do not delve into the fantasy genre: geography, history, languages, culture, technology ... good grief ... I had to take a nap after just reading this post! Christopher Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667548312923348614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-79038733831819170902013-04-19T07:52:38.439-06:002013-04-19T07:52:38.439-06:00Seems I'm the odd editor out here because I do...Seems I'm the odd editor out here because I do look at maps. For me, they ground the location and the action, which helps me to visualize the story as the writer intended. Otherwise, I've found that the map created in my mind as I read sooner or later lends to confusion because what's happening won't work with the map in my head.<br /><br />This is great grist for the fantasy mill, Debby, and it transfers well to other genres. Readers need a point of reference, a location in which to place the story and its characters. While that location may occasionally be only in the mind of the protagonist, it more likely will include a physical place for the action.<br /><br />Nice . . . very nice. This is such a practical (aka useful) post. I'm looking forward to the next ones.Linda Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06686488133905538811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-64699678644875082712013-04-19T07:50:59.310-06:002013-04-19T07:50:59.310-06:00Hmm. URL didn't take.
Another try:
http://io9....Hmm. URL didn't take.<br />Another try:<br />http://io9.com/the-most-incredible-fantasy-maps-youve-ever-seen-474420566Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236473658796318350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-92098889839583977042013-04-19T07:49:54.030-06:002013-04-19T07:49:54.030-06:00Here's a timely look at some awe-inspiring wor...Here's a timely look at some awe-inspiring world-building.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17236473658796318350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-70509518966237096132013-04-19T07:08:54.073-06:002013-04-19T07:08:54.073-06:00I'm with you, Elle, I have never referred to m...I'm with you, Elle, I have never referred to maps in any book, fantasy or historical, as I read. But they are interesting after I'm finished with the story.<br /><br />While most mystery writers do not draw intricate maps of their setting, I do block some scenes on paper. Maybe that is natural for me because I do so much blocking in theatre. But it does help choreograph scenes where there are a lot of people and action happening in different places in a room, such as the climactic scene in One Small Victory. <br /><br />Like Diana, I need to have a visual for where I am going to set a scene, and I used to always scout locations to pick out houses or other buildings. Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-13557189048573424542013-04-19T07:04:14.346-06:002013-04-19T07:04:14.346-06:00I recently posted my own musings about creating a ...I recently posted my own musings about creating a fantasy world. Wish I had this article two years ago!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09933372317713863193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-9849712407674806072013-04-19T06:12:25.086-06:002013-04-19T06:12:25.086-06:00Timely advice. I'm struggling with world build...Timely advice. I'm struggling with world building at the moment with a new story set in what was Geneva, Switzerland. I also used an actual map when writing my fantasy series. Even if not writing a different world, I think it helps to layout a house or other setting location to get a visual on the place being used. I like to gather photos of rooms, etc. to help me come up with descriptions. I do agree with Elle that if I have to consult a map (or lineage tree, or side notes)it mars my enjoyment of the book. I think it makes a fun extra for the book and the website for a book (for people who enjoy maps and extras).Diana Hurwitzhttp://www.dianahurwitz.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5704943052235281766.post-84975226489617759902013-04-19T02:08:25.614-06:002013-04-19T02:08:25.614-06:00I prefer not to look at the maps while I'm rea...I prefer not to look at the maps while I'm reading a fantasy book, (until after I'm finished the book). I have found far too often that if I turn to the map, it is inevitably different to the directions I had envisaged and then I have ended up flipping back and forth between the pages I'm reading and the map(s) and getting distracted and it pulls me out the story. I now prefer to let it unfold in my imagination even if I'm wrong.Elle Carter Nealhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02266309723919011181noreply@blogger.com