In the beginning...
Since I was a young boy, my imagination has been in overdrive. I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a dreamer, to be honest. As I have grown older, some of my dreams have died, while new ones have taken their place. Some, however, have always been.
Other worlds have always fascinated me. Whether fantasy lands of elves and magic, far-future colonies and starships, or alternate histories of our very own Earth, the idea of escaping this mundane world and losing myself in another compels me, enthralls me.
In the past decade, I’ve written numerous stories set in other worlds. I’ve self-published entire novel series, created characters that, in my mind, I treat as my own children. Yet I must admit I have the most fun when I’m building the worlds themselves.
Worldbuilding is more than just making a setting. It’s about creating an environment that captures the reader’s imagination, directs it toward the author’s vision. Some writers are lazy, and I’ll admit that I have, on occasion, taken the easy way out. But the best stories, in my opinion, are those whose settings feel real.
When I read a novel, I want to be transported away from here. I want to be sucked into the world described on those pages. And when I write a novel, my goal is to do the same for my readers. To me, a story is more than the words. It’s an experience. So why shouldn’t we make that experience as vivid as possible?
The key, in my opinion, is verisimilitude. That is, the fictional world doesn’t have to be exactly the same as ours, but the audience should be able to believe that it is like ours in certain ways. People act like people, not cardboard cutouts. Events make sense in the context of the story. The setting is coherent. Most of all, the whole thing is fractal: even the smallest detail can inspire a story of its own.
I call this hardcore worldbuilding. Not in the sense that it’s explicit, though that may be necessary for some stories. No, it’s hardcore in the “gamer” sense, intensely focused on being the best. Perfection may be unattainable, but that only means we always have room to improve.
With this column, I want to spread that word. I want to inspire other authors to look at their creations with the same zeal. Whether you’re writing a novel, a video game, manga, or a tabletop RPG, I hope you can find something of interest here. I hope I can give you that same spark that ignited the fire in my mind so long ago.
I’ll try to post twice a month to start. Later on, if people are interested, I’ll consider writing more often. Please bear in mind that I have a lot of personal problems that may prevent it, so I really do need your support, your words of encouragement, and maybe even your paid subscription in the distant future.
If all goes well, I’ll see you on the 1st. Until then, keep reading!