#creating your world

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[theguildedtypewriter]

Oops I Forgot: Worldbuilding Like a Pro

Science fiction and fantasy books have the unique ability to transport the reader to a totally different world. Magic, new cultures, animals, plants, sights, smells, sounds. They all have a special quality to them when they’re a part of this new world. 

When we authors are building our own worlds, we often forget a few areas that can really pack a punch.

From the bare bones of the world’s basics to developing smaller aspect with such complexity these new worlds feel utterly real (I’m looking at you J.R.R. Tolkien), worldbuilding is important. Below I go over a few areas often overlooked when you’re worldbuilding.

1) Myths/Legends: 

Myths and legendary figures exist all around the world. They are a cherish place for inspiration, and they play directly into our culture now. Our zodiacs, symbolic creatures like unicorns, and definitions of a hero are our myths and legends. Your fantasy world would be influenced by their own myths, their own “backstory.” From magical creatures to heroic figures. These aren’t people or things that directly affect your main character(s) plot. These are things about how the world was made, who discovered it and named it, and where they believe magick comes from. These short mentions, dropped in as a reference or to provide understand of the world's past. They offer depth.

2) Clothing:

Think about what style might be more in fashion to your culture during the time period. Are certain styles only for the rich, the working class? Are certain colors associated with certain things? Would someone’s rank affect their clothing? Would their job? Are clothes generally more practical, or extravagant? Adding these details about the style of clothes, colors, fabrics used, etc. all help to flesh out your world.

3) Food: 

The type of food available to your characters can say a lot about where they live. Are they eating bread regularly, or perhaps rice? How do they cook their food, or do they? Do they simply take a pill for their nutritional needs, or does your character have to hunt to survive? Maybe some food is only for a special occasion. Maybe your character is a foodie, or maybe they never think about it. Food is something we need and we interact with everyday. Don’t take its presence for granted.

4) Entertainment: 

What your characters do when they’re not working, or confronting a challenge, or fighting a battle, tells a lot about the world and their personalities. Think about having characters chat about a country's card game, or playing a strange sport. For example, remember Quidditch and the dice game from Pirates of the Caribbean. When the characters enjoyed these things is was actually the perfect time for some internal development. It can even be the perfect place to move the plot forward suddenly, surprising your readers.

5) Money:

(That was seriously the only gif I could find with gold coins.)

The money of a world is often a very quick way to tell your readers about what time period you book is set it. Paying with gold coins? Or units? Credits? Or perhaps the barter system, where everything is trading?

These little detail can add so much to a world, a story, and to the realness reader feels when they’re diving into your fantasy realm.

[theguildedtypewriter]

The Newborn City Universe

So, I was inspired by @kclenhartnovels and her amazing worldbuilding facts and I decided to share my own world facts about the universe that Newborn City is set in, which is very much like our own but with some crucial differences.

First things first,

The Dawning. The Dawning occurred on Halloween and was the moment when demon kind, via a spokesperson, revealed their presence. Now, no the demons did not have a meeting about this. A few powerful, human-looking clans got together and decided they wanted to “come out of the pit.” Many demons, especially those who look the part, did not like this decision. 

A great deal of violence occurred at the Dawning and in an attempt to protect themselves and create some sort of peaceful coexistence, Newborn City was created. Newborn City was formed over the “ruins” of a small town in Upstate New York which saw some of the more intense damage of said violence. The demons now consider it their “capital” and most of the humans living there left. There were some that stayed, some braver, less bigoted folks, and some who even transferred to the area to be a part of the social services that were needed, i.e. Lucas Anderson moved there to join their police force.

Demons do, however, still live all over the world and many still have not revealed themselves because different is not often viewed with loving eyes in this world. 

In terms of demon types, they’re as diverse as humans and other species. Basically, if you’ve heard of a mythical creature or god or “monster,” you were hearing a human’s version of a “demon.” Demon was not a word chosen by them, but it became one they took ownership of as a bit of a “fuck you.” For me, this is similar to reclaiming the word “queer.” 

I’m obsessed, like obsessed, with mythology and this gave me the chase to twist and manipulate myths and stories from across the globe, plus make up a few of my own.

Alright, so second thing:

In Affinity for Pain, the first book, the world mainly introduces us to the Chakal and to the idea that demons have clans and families that can be both wonderful and awful, just like humans. See, they’re not so different from us.

The Chakal, Hope’s clan, sucks the big one. They are extremely traditional and refuse to update their values to match the changing roles of demons, females, humans, and of course technology. Hope pretty much hates them and thinks their backward ways are likely to get them killed. 

In terms of physiology, the Chakal are an interesting group. The Chakal is a race of half demons who have been shunned by the demon and human cultures. They are fierce warriors with a proud heritage and blend into society because they look human. They would be able to live amongst humans, but most choose never to interact with them. 

There are females and males just as with humans, the males possess great strength and the ability to sense their own kind. The females possess the ability to feel no pain unless omaeriku is formed. The Chakal live together in great camps and travel from place to place. The fathers and children stay together all their lives, except for the female children who leave once they have reached womanhood. Often the females breed before leaving so the species may continue.

So, what’s omaeriku? 

Omaeriku (oh-may-ree-koo): the bond formed between a female Chakal and her jabalv. The bond is automatic and unpredictable. The only way the bond is destroyed is if one or both partners involved are killed. This fated bond is both physical and spiritual for the Chakal and it gives the female involved the ability to feel her loved one’s pain and sense his presence. The ability to form the bond is passed down from mother to daughter. The bond is also lessened in intensity as the couple moves farther and farther away from each other.

Alright folks that was an intro to the World of Newborn City. Hope you enjoyed it! Let me know what else you’d be curious about. This world is full of twist, turns, demons who think their gods, and some who squirt ink.

Bye!

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