Because the list is in alphabetical order, my questions are not in order of importance for building a world. Minor details will be mixed in with major ideas. I hope the list will help someone creating their world for their book or short story. Even contemporary stories set in small towns 'world build' as the author creates that make believe village.
As you check out the different themes posted today, my advice is to take a chance on a blog not in your area of interests. It's tempting for me to only look for blogs that are about writing but there are lots of other wonderful blogs to follow. One of my favorite blogs, The Happy Whisk, posts mostly about cooking. I love that blog and Ivy is so funny, she makes me smile every day. You're going to find some lovely bloggers with great things to say. Just my humble advice.
Do you have a theme this year? Do you have a favorite blog that isn't about writing? Do you have an interest in world building?
29 comments:
I'm looking forward to your A-Z posts, I'm still fairly new to world building so it'll be good to get some useful advice and pointers.
I'm doing a daily haiku for each letter of the Challenge. I'm trying to get them all done and scheduled so I can spend more time during the month to visit new blogs and discover new things.
This will be one of the blogs I follow during April as I have a strong interest in worldbuilding. More than that, each month I post articles on the subject of worldbuilding, though right now I am doing actual design of your world then plan to discuss the particular things.
Please come check out my site and would love your input on worldbuilding, amongst other things.
http://writing.chrisvotey.com
My theme is short, fun and interactive... bloggers get to play along if they want to.
Susan, your theme sounds wonderful. When it comes to world-building, I need tons of help...
I hear you with regards to taking a chance on non-writing related blogs. There are some great ones out there. I think I'm going to aim for at least one "non-writing" blog when I'm out and about visiting...
Writer In Transit
Taking your suggestion, I am going to follow your blog for the challenge. Whilst I am working on my first draft, my blog theme is definitely not about writing.
My next novel is the first one I've written that isn't set in the modern day world, so I'm sure I'll be checking in all throughout the challenge to get some advice from you. :)
When I started this blogging adventure, I wasn't looking to build a writing platform. I wasn't even writing (anything other than this blog). SO... I looked for blogs that were fun and interesting to read. In fact, I wasn't even looking for writing blogs until I started working on my novel. Then I realized I could use all of the tips I could get.
And, I do like the tips. But, I wish more writers wrote other things, too. I think part of the "platform" has to be letting the reader in a little bit. If all you ever write about is writing... who is your audience? Other writers? Well, that is great, but it isn't going to sell you any books. Or not many.
If you write about your life, that makes a person like YOU... and then they want to read your books. Or maybe they read one of your books and they want to find about the person who wrote them.
Anyway, all I know is that I enjoy non-writing posts (even from writers) more than the rest. And when I worked commission sales no one bought from me (initially) because I had the best product. My product was as yet untried, so they couldn't know. They bought from me because they LIKED me. Something I wish more authors would recognize. If they like you, they will buy. If they don't... it doesn't matter how good your product is, they aren't buying.
I am not sure why I posted that here on your blog, except that you asked... but I think you do a better job than most of the writer blogs I read of mixing it up. Some stuff about you. Some stuff about craft. I wish more writers modeled after you:)
Looking forward to the tips on world building because you're right - no matter the setting for our stories, we're building "worlds" for readers.
One of the things I love about A-Z is that it provides an opportunity to find so many creative and imaginative and inspiring blogs that I might not otherwise come across during my usual online wanderings.
Great idea for a theme. Looking forward to a conversation on world-building. :)
I loved your class on world building, Sue! I'm so glad you're doing a recap here. Can't wait!
I'm going with what we talked about: reruns. You've seen them all before, but you're the only one, which puts you in a place of great esteem in my book (though not just for that reason, lol).
World building is a great idea.
This sounds really useful. Bookmarking it to follow!
anna @ Deeply Shallow
I've never attempted world building and am so impressed with those who do it well. Looking forward to your posts and I'm sure I will learn a lot!
Sounds like an interesting theme, I'm terrible at world building. Looking forward to reading your posts :)
An excellent theme, and some really good advice. I enjoy a lot of blogs that encourage me to learn new things this way.
MJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches
Oh my gosh, Susan. I stopped by today and you gave me a big honkin' smile on my face. Thanks for the shout out and for being such a great blogger buddy/commenter and overall super supportive.
You rock.
Cheers and boogie boogie.
Themes are great, although if the posts are good, I'd read them either way. This year I do have a theme, but that wasn't the case last year. Love your idea, take a chance on a blog outside our interests. I'm off to do just that.
Silvia @
SilviaWrites
Great idea for a theme indeed, I'm just gonna wing it. But they all rhyme, there is my theme lol
Yikes, now I'm worried. I'm only doing the ones associated with our IWSG blog, but they sure don't sound very exciting any longer. My theme is wriring related, sort of. Well, I haven't thought up all of them yet. Susan, you're a huge inspiration. Thanks.
Looking forward to reading more about world building. It's one of the things I have difficulty with.
I'm obsessed with world-building, so...needless to say...I love your theme! :)
World building is so much fun! Such a great theme. Looking forward to your posts. :)
I love world building. Can't wait to see your posts. I'll be participating this year with a group, Untethered Realms. We're doing fantastical creatures!
World building is an important topic for writers and can be an interesting topic for those who don't write.
Lee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
I'm looking forward to reading your posts!
I will be here since I'm doing quite a bit of world building for Killer Stilettos. Looking forward to this.
Hugs and chocolate!
Cool. I find that the biggest problem with world building is balance. Where some authors use their novel as a dossier for every single country in their world, others leave their worlds so anemic that the reader isn't sure if they are stepping into the desert or a bog. I look forward to this one!
Awesome theme, Susan! I don't write spec-fic, but I've found that good writing advice is applicable in one or another way, regardless of genre specifics. I'm in!
I love your encouragement to visit blogs outside our regular areas of interest; you're right that expanding our bloggy horizons enriches our lives--and our content. This year I have two blogs in the challenge, pretty different focuses on each, and I'm hoping to make new friends, like-minded and not, for both.
Thanks for stopping over at Life In Dogs on Friday, and my apologies for taking so long to return the visit. So glad you joined the reveal!
I will be writing alphabetically about letters my grandfather wrote my grandmother from 1909 - 1912. I do family history and within that context, I try to build a picture of the world my ancestors lived in. I'll be reading to see if your world building posts will help me!
Ahhhh another blog doing world building for A to Z! Can't wait to read these as well!
My theme is focused on Personal Positives, since I had a rough go of things over the last year...
Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z
Caring for My Veteran
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