Creating a Universe

[Ben.ak]

I recently read a post on creating a fantasy land and I thought I'd post on how I prepare for stories. I am very fond of space and future based Sci-fi and often times I do make a map. Since a universal map ends up pretty bland I often sit down and spend some time writing news headlines aswell.

I'll make a list of 10 or 12 headlines and then write a short blip about each event. Some are very significant and some are not significant at all. No matter what I come up with it gives me some background to more than just my character and the universe in general. The background story gets dept, culture, and character in itself. It also helps me brainstorm and I can turn some of those ideas into events in my story.

 

[Mitth'raw'nuruodo]

That's an interesting way to come up with a locale.

 

[Enadil Moonweaver]

What I do when I am setting up places is just generally let the story write itself the chronicle the events places and people into a companion volume.

 

[SpaceShip]

Maps are always useful - I tend to draw mine as the story unfolds; also if I make it large enough I can place markers on it which helps me know where my characters are when I need to pull them back into the story.

 

[Rider of scaled wing]

I'm just getting started on writing my first truely origional story, and hope to get it published eventually.

For a while, I was just going into it from scratch, but before long, I realised I had no idea what my world's basis was, what motivated all the characters, where they came from...

So, i sat down and wrote another story.

A creation myth.

Once had outlined the basis of my world's origins, at least by the inhabitant's understanding, I had a more solid grasp on what motivated them, and it was actually alot different than when I'd started.

 

[The_Warrior]

Cool,yes I love making up universes, I have some ideas in mind too.

 

[Talysia]

Whenever I start a new story, one of the first things I do is draw up a basic map of continents, lands and boundaries, followed later by types of terrain, lakes, forests and suchlike. Once I've got that, the history of the world I've created largely depends on the type of story, so a lot of that will evolve as I write.

 

[Sapheron]

I make a blank map at first, then every time I mention something in my writing I mark it on. This means I have plenty of room to make new things, but also means I know what's there so I don't make myself look silly later. Maps are definately useful. As for the actual creation of the world though... well I guess I just think through the general idea over and over until its all up there, then I can write things that fit the theme.

 

[monomaniac101]

When I began thinking up the dimension of Razhen, from my novel I'm sort of writing, I kind of just took a map of America and drew out borders for each of the six kingdoms. But then I realized that it needed a bckground so that I could relate to it and I didn't leave potential readers hanging. So I took Raihe (RAY), the kingdom where the story is centered, and plotted a history for it. I included its original development, how the triarchy was established, adn the war with the kingdoms that followed. I also put in little economic tidbits. I did this so I could relate to the kingdom's culture and econmoy more and better understand what I'm putting in my story.

 

[Interference]

Why do these threads all seem to be petering out just as I'm getting interested???

My series includes aspects of Time Travel, some of which seemed a little old-hat, though necessary. It was quickly apparent that I'd need to know how Time Travel works, what effects it has, how it fits with scientific thought. Before very much longer, I discovered that I'd need to know how the Universe itself works, this Universe, our Universe - or a reasonable facsimile.

Reading is one thing, remembering another and understanding the biggest bugbear of the lot. Every time I thought I understood Einstein (enough for my purposes), I'd find Hawking with a couple of spanners for the celestial works. Eventually, though (and I'm talking about a process I started about ten years ago), I arrived at an understanding of the fundamentals that I could work with, an understanding that includes (and this is only possible in fiction, sadly) the moments prior to the Big Bang and several possible endings, from which I still need to select a favourite.

This fundamental basis for all existence has informed practically everything I've written since as it has aspects that even impinge on human nature and on a variant of Asimov's Psychohistory. I've found the expanse of the canvas so stimulating that I am in serious danger of never writing anything that isn't a part of --

Interference

(I don't get out enough)

 

[daisybee]

I start small, and work my way out. The idea of the story usually informs the map-rather than a map inspiring a story,although sometimes strange squiggles can be as inspiring as anything else.
Being rubbish at maps, I draw the smaller settings instead, which gives me a more immedaite feel for the environment I want to write about. And it's easier!
As science defeats me too-I write creation myths,rather than a mechanical working and go from there. I never get too worried about the intricate workability of my environment-that's why it's fantasy right?? As long as your characters are believable as poeple wherever they go and whatever they see can be believable too. In my opinion.

I fill in cultures and places and faiths as I go along, I have an A4 A-Z book, and basically fill it with my ideas for that world, so if things clash, the basics are there in one place for me to cross reference- and I can note down extra stuff, (see B) etc. I have found this to be a really useful way to create a world and have it all in one place.

 

[Dragonlady]

I tend to focus on culture and the parts of geography that affect culture, eg what plants are likely to grow here, why did they put a town here, and only come up with accurate/detailed maps if needed. I create 'characters' from different parts of society and get to know them to get my head round the culture.

It's interesting to see how everyone does it differently!

 

[chrispenycate]

I enjoy creating universes, to the point that sometimes putting a story in one is sometimes a let down. I have even created a few for other people, including a nice, three star system for a three-day competitive writerthon, where I had to be able to instantly answer any technical query, and judge technical feasibility afterwards (in French) These were mainly fine arts students,too. 'Twas fun, but I doubt I'll ever do it again.
However, the silly I'm working on - no, it's me, playing at nowI've only a tiny portion of the planet prepared, and as characters travel I build the scenery just ahead of them. Most unlike me.

 

[AphroditeMSC]

I tend to build the world around my character. Wherever he/she goes and whatever the place is called... I wrap it up in my mind and visualise it. Then I can cross reference it. I do keep an A4 book like Daisybee, but it's more incase I have to leave the story in a hurry and don't get back to it for quite some time. Otherwise, it's all fresh in my head. All the time. I have this thing where I can tell you exactly where a character I made up last year is right now, and how long it will take someone else to go from one fictional town to another, and yet, sometimes I find I can't remember what I went upstairs for. It's quite odd.

 

[drosdelnoch]

Now this is quite a tricky thing for a lot of first time authors. I however start with a character, I write short piece about him, then draw up a character sheet for him/her. Its an easy way to have some material to refer to in times of hardship. This will include everything from things that are good about them, though to negative aspects.

I also draw a basic map up, I start with a village/town map and from there work out from where it is to get a fuller picture. For example how far from the nearest town is the village, what are the peoples, cultures, weaponry/armour etc.

Then I begin work on an enemy, do the same for them, I now have a folder full of stuff for a book although I suspect it could technically be a series. Will have to see how it goes however Im one of these people that detests it when authors draw out a simple plot to over ten books when they originally promised a trilogy. No names mentioned here of course.

Designing is different for each person but I have definetly found that creating character sheets is a big help, theres sometimes stuff on there that you wouldnt have thought of and forgot after original creation.

 

[jezelf]

This is an interesting and exciting subject!

I would let the characters and geography work together in my writings. Sometimes I'll imagine a situation or encounter and let that dictate the environment - which when asking the great 'why?' would inspire another few pages of developing what happend before, after where they are going etc.

Sometimes looking out the window while travelling (mostly on train journies for me) around in the world around us will inspire stories by pulling that 'cool' location out and and dumping it into the story asking the 'what if' question. What type of creature/race would live there? or is is a good piece of 'eye candy' that your characters can stop off to rest for night, or would create a good place for an ambush or threat?

Another good one, espically for SF is to use scale. Good for alien planets with 'alternate earth' landscapes. It's a well know concept art technique. find something small scale it up and turn it into something else. I recently found some shrubs that when you get to a worm eye level, it can be a great new looking tree that isn't in the world already. Complete with huge strange growing fruit (once you change the their colour and shape even). Or gravel could be huge boulders streching for miles, but what force put them there? The good thing about that one is that you have instant authenticy because mother nature has provided it for you! The macro world is a great source of inspiration.

Then I'll find inspiration from sites like webshots.com. Type in 'mountains' - or anything you want - see what pops up. People post their holiday snaps from hiking trips into the mountains and theres some great images taken.

Of course theres always google earth and Nasa sites of the earth. looking down at mountain ranges ,lakes and seas, islands can also inspire ideas

Just take the good bits for your stories/locations. I think it's important (for me at least) to make sure your place has some decent grounding. Climates are true to their place on the planet - that kind of thing.

If you have Photoshop here's a fun little thing to do for you to create inspire your world/map making if you're blocked..

1:make sure you have B&W colours (though not essential)
2:create a new image give it a good resolution, lets say 2000pixels X 1500pixels
3:filter>render>difference clouds>ok
4: (optional) hit Ctrl+F as many times as you like to add more detail
5:image>adjust>threshold>play with the threshold level till you're happy>ok

you should now have some instant continents or islands!
There are many 3d packages out there like Bryce that could take it further.
and there's more you can do in PS.

Its all something to play with and inspire ideas

best wishes
Jez

 

[hairymunky]

you should now have some instant continents or islands!
There are many 3d packages out there like Bryce that could take it further.
and there's more you can do in PS.
Jez

I use terragen, which lets you create landscapes, clouds, and modify them, then renders them in a 3d viewport

Terragen™

As for creating universes', I use my old Traveller RPG rulebooks to generate the systems, and planets, makes things a bit more random, which I like