It's a day with the possibility of answering asks! What is one (or more) element of worldbuilding that you often forget to expand on until the plot bumps into it? (I'm having a day, hope that's coherent)
Well, this is tricky, because I usually only world build the bare minimum for what I need to get through the plot, because otherwise I’ll get too bogged down in it all.
But I reread LORE Book 1 recently and so there is one thing I’ve been considering..
TLDR I’m trying to figure out whether to make hella revisions related to language barriers between Ash and Zach, or just leave it the way it is.
BUT one thing I am considering is the way Ash and Zach speak the same language. They’re from separate areas—so separate that Ash didn’t know people lived across the ocean. So there’s an argument that it doesn’t make sense for two such divided communities to speak the same language.
AND I already have translation elements at play in book 1 with the Alkusians. I could extend those same dynamics to Ash and Zach, because there’s already worldbuilding I have about Ash’s faery companion being able to translate stuff that other people say,…
But I know a whole convention of fantasy is a common language, and even if I’m not doing that between humans and other races, having ash and Zach speak the same language does mean they are able to talk to each other easily, and argue…
Unfortunately for me, there’s pros and cons to both! The way I have it now, they’re able to bicker back and forth immediately, and discuss difficult emotional topics with ease. This helps the reader understand both of them, makes for an easier read.
The downside to this is that having them speak the same language may have led me to rush their friendship arc a bit? I have a whole other book to get through before they visit Zach’s hometown in book3, and they’re already in a fairly good place at the end of book1. They need to be friendly by the end of book2, and Ash seeing Zach’s home life and working with him to solve plot problems there solidifies their friendship (just in time for her to need to rely on him for the disaster that is book4).
If I revise it to have them need to work through the language barrier, it adds a layer of frustration to the arguments they’re already having, and could also introduce a fun dynamic throughout book 2 where she tries to learn parts of his language while doing other stuff… it’s really tempting.
If you made it this far, you should tell me: which way would you go?
Change it — it adds realism and expands on what you’re already writing
Keep it — the clarity is worth it and you have language barrier stuff elsewhere
Voting ended onFeb 11
