Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction is a book by Jeff VanderMeer, with illustrations and photographs by Jeremy Zerfoss, and contributions by lots of other writers and artists. Chapter 6 covers World-building.
Notes
- This chapter contains a list of characteristics of well-realised settings (not all of them need to apply to every good setting). These characteristics include:
- coherent and consistent logic
- broad cause and effect
- strategic use of specific detail
- an impact on characters’ lives
- some mystery
- complexity and diversity
- Some aspects of the setting can be metaphorical representations of something in the real world.
- There’s a section discussing the danger (that could be strengths in some contexts) of fantastic elements or details overwhelming other aspects of the story.
- A short article by Catherynne M. Valente suggests asking the question “What does everyone know?” about a culture. (The things that everyone “knows” are often not true, but still very important for how the people in the culture live their lives and interact with others.)
Reflections
Perhaps it’s important for a setting – or at least particular aspects of a setting – to be meaningful. But there are lots of possible ways that setting aspects can be meaningful.
Category: World-Building