World Building and Story Beginings

[Jason]

One of my favorite things to do with stories is world building and it is what I always start with. I am wondering what other people are into. How do you start your stories? Where do you start? What is your favorite part? Do you start with characters, plot, world, or is there another concept piece that spurs you on?

[lynntaylor0]

I love world building, but my stories usually start with more of a theme. By that I mean they spring from a “what if?” or “what’s the point?” question.

The world building can often happen in parallel with me, but by starting with the theme, that helps guide the way the world comes together to support the story instead of the other way around.

[Jason]

That’s great! Do you have some examples of questions you have used in building your worlds and stories?

[lynntaylor0]

Not really. But then, I haven’t really built any stories that require a detailed and precise rule book for how the world operates. I imagine, if I ever decide to create something absolutely off the wall, I’d probably just do a general Google or Pinterest search to see what suggestions other people have for questions to ask.

In general, my approach is a pretty straightforward and informal evaluation. Something like asking:

1. How does this element of the world serve the story?
2. Is it internally consistent with everything else already introduced?
3. It is plausible in the context of the story? (Which includes two subquestions: Is it internally consistent? Do I need to lay the foundation for why it works this way earlier in the story so it’s not a shock when it actually matters in the story?)

How about you? Any questions, techniques, or approaches that work well for you?

[Jason]

My general approach is to keep asking questions and trying to find answers to possible problems. Coming up with actual story is where I struggle. I can come up with details about a world for days… actually making a compelling story out of it I really have to work at. Questions like is there magic? (I tend to work with fantasy most often) If so how does it work? What are its limits? What are common perceptions of it? What are the downsides? But this doesn’t just apply to magic, they can be applied to anything that deviates from the primary (real) world.

Jason