World building Archives

Writing a Novel with Multiple Narrators

August 20, 2015
Staff Writer
Culture, Help with Characters, World building, Writing Tips and Tools
1 Comment

Gabrielle Schwabauer, Staff Writer How can I demonstrate the variety of cultures and people groups in my story world without detracting from the main thread of the story? Surely one-off visits to unfamiliar cultures with one or two other characters (soon to be left behind) would quickly move from a novelty to a gimmick. Reluctantly, I began to consider multiple perspectives.

What Re-Entry Stress Can Teach You about Your Changed Character

June 11, 2015
Student Contributor
Culture, Guest posts, Help with Characters, World building, Writing Tips and Tools
1 Comment

Jake Buller, Guest Contributor Sometimes when people talk about cross-cultural interactions, they put the emphasis on culture shock. What is more rarely spoken of (but common to the experience of those who cross cultures) is what is sometimes called reverse culture shock. It's getting culture shock in your own culture. It's also an aspect of story that is sometimes neglected by writers.

How Culture Shock Can Help Your Writing

June 3, 2015
Student Contributor
Culture, Guest posts, Help with Characters, World building, Writing Tips and Tools
4 Comments

Jake Buller, Guest Contributor The very first time I set foot on African soil, I went straight to a village of mud-brick houses and took selfies with Liberian kids. Then, after nine months of helping people better themselves, I returned to the USA and slipped right back into my old life. Just kidding. That's not actually how it went.

PART 2: Inventing a Language That’s More Than Stock Fantasy Sounds

February 25, 2015
Staff Writer
The Writing Life, World building, Writing Tips and Tools
1 Comment

Last week Gabrielle shared reflections on what learning Mandarin Chinese has taught her about language—and by extension, inventing a new language. She continues the mini-series today.

Inventing a Language That’s More Than Stock Fantasy Sounds

February 19, 2015
Staff Writer
The Writing Life, World building, Writing Tips and Tools
12 Comments

Two years ago I flipped to the blank pages at the back of the One Year Adventure Novel workbook and started sketching out a language. Most of the words were typical first-try fare ending in –ess or –ira or some other stock fantasy suffix. I managed to add only one or two creative elements before realizing that the project was probably doomed.