World building is challenging. No one in their right mind is going to say that it’s easy. It’s fun, I’ll give it that, but it’s not easy. When you’re doing it together it adds to the challenge because although you have two perspectives of what it could be, but you also need to make sure you can get your image into the head of another. I might think that a realm needs eclectic floating neon lights in alternating rainbow colours, but Clara might have an image in her mind of a rustic medieval setting with the haunting light of flickering torches. It’s quite a contrast isn’t it.
Fortunately neither of us have been that far apart with our idea’s of what our world should look like – don’t worry Clara, I have no intention of adding in neon rainbow lights. It’s not one of those things we can just put on paper and call it a fact. It’s when we get to writing or exploring the depths of our characters where we come to realize what should or shouldn’t be part of a realm.
What might have started off as a small scale realm, needs to be bigger than that. It needs to be grand and rich in resources. It needs to show a sense of power and in a way, superiority. It is a realm above all others, and it needs to convey that. It needs to be welcoming and extravagant in its festivities and simultaneously show that they are not to be taken lightly. And with that, we need to think of the reaction from other realms. Would there be honor or deceit?
All of this has been a result of us trying to figure out which of our characters we need, and what we are missing. We mentioned it once before, for every question answered, ten more crop up. It sometimes feels like we are stuck in a never ending cycle of cutting down and adding in. It’s the fine balance we’re looking for, to make sure we represent all of those different elements, and do it properly. Which is a challenge but it’s something neither of us back down from. We like a good challenge, and in the end every change we apply, makes our work feel better for it.
This is where we’re at now. Trying to make sense of the madness, and filling in the gaps that have been created. To figure out the general shape, way and form of our various realms and make sure our images of it line up. From there on, we need to look at what we need within each realm, and make sure they’re suitably represented by fitting and intriguing characters.
Everything is connected, which is perhaps the beauty of building a world of your own. You need to think about how every piece of information can be put together to make a coherent guide into our world. We need to make sure it fits within the other elements and we need to make sure it’s not abundant but plays an active role in the grand scheme of things. It’s not easy, it is definitely a challenge, but it is something I would highly recommend doing if only because being able to envision a world of your own .. for me it’s the ultimate day dream.
Apart from winning the lottery, but I have that daydream well and truly covered and down as a 10 year plan! Deserted island, mansion on the beach and of course.. Some very sparkly neon rainbow lights!
Charlotte
Charlotte and Clara 