What are your tips for doing really good worldbuilding like you've done in DotU?
I’m so sorry it took me so long to answer this question! I’ve been offline for most of this week taking care of some life junk I’d been neglecting.
First of all, thank you!
Everyone has different approaches to worldbuilding, and different approaches can get equally good results. So your mileage may vary, of course.
I’m not the type to sit down with lists of worldbuilding questions or boxes to check off. I build my world around the plot and characters. If something isn’t relevant to the plot, isn’t interesting, and doesn’t impact any characters’ on-page lives or behavior, I don’t spend time developing it. It can be very easy to fall into a trap of over-developing, and I try to focus first and foremost on the elements of worldbuilding that shape the lives of the characters.
For example, in most stories I wouldn’t bother to develop any worldbuilding around the subtle differences in water quality from one region to the next - but BECAUSE we have this dweeb
I ended up going there. Water quality in the underground only matters because Merritt is a frickin nerd who loves water. XD Sometimes worldbuilding IS character development, and vice versa. (Asking, “what’s your main character’s favorite food?” leads to questions like “how often can they eat it,” “is it readily available,” “is it affordable,” “is it healthy,” etc. - which are all worldbuilding opportunities.)
You don’t have to have every worldbuilding detail fleshed out before you start writing. I like to let the plot, characters, and world grow together. It makes the writing process more fun because I get to discover new things along the way. I also find it easier to avoid info-dumping early in the story by limiting just how deep I develop the world in the beginning stages. I can always go back to my draft/script and edit in the details that will make the world feel richer without overwhelming the reader.
I read/listen to a LOT of non-fiction. Much more non-fiction than fiction. I listen to it to get a better understanding of subjects that are related to DOTU that I don’t have a thorough understanding on, or to understand the mentality of a person who’s gone through experiences I feel relate to DOTU. The better I understand my own world, the better I can create others.
A couple examples: around the time I was working on the chapters of Merritt’s Story involving his poison immunizations with Archer, I read The Demon in the Freezer, which is about the history of eradicating smallpox. After that, I read A Higher Loyalty because it got me into the mind of someone who’s driven by an internal moral code that’s as rigid and imperfect as Merritt’s (though in different ways and for different reasons). I have a lot of books, documentaries, and interviews by and about notable hackers on my list. I seek out perspectives from the types of people I don’t always get to spend time with in real life.
I spend ~20 minutes or so a day reading news articles on a variety of subjects - whatever interesting headlines catch my attention - which helps me rack up my collection of random useless knowledge. XD I even occasionally watch some of the toxic political stuff because propaganda and misinformation are a part of DOTU’s world too, and observing the way information is given and received tells you a lot about how a society works - or doesn’t work.
I go to physical locations. I’ve taken many Chicago trips for both visual and worldbuilding inspiration - which includes observing and interacting with other people there. I do this for my other stories too. Reins of Death (Lychgate: Book 3) takes place in Willow Springs, IL, so I took a few field trips there. It made a HUGE difference for me.
I also try to seek out new experiences that are relevant to the world I’m creating. (Yes, I’ve been to some places that are VERY West Sphere. XD) Psst, depending on the type of location/experience and the level of safety, it’s often better to go with friends.
Overall, I think the main thing about my method of worldbuilding is just that I spend a lot of time, mentally, “living in” DOTU’s world. It occupies a lot of space in my head. I think about it while driving, while I’m in the shower, while I’m cleaning. Idle time is great for brainstorming in a way that doesn’t put a lot of pressure on you.
