Wiki World Building?

[R M Tobias]

So I am at the stage in my world building where I need to come up with a cohesive format to organise all the information, making it easier for me to cross reference the canon with the elements of the story.

At the moment it just a series of documents on my computer. The problem comes when I need to crossreference something that happened in the history of the world with a particular time and place and character location. It sometimes involves searching 3-4 documents simultaneously.

I am considering compiling it all into a wiki, something basic as it would be for my eyes only really but useful all the same. Problem is I know nothing about how to do this.

Has anyone done something similar, or know of a solid primer on how to start a wiki. Alternatively, does anyone have any suggestions as to how to organise this information in a way that is simple to look up and cross reference

Headings include things like;

Continents and Nations
Races
Religions
History (ages)
History (recent)
Families
Artifacts
Notable events
Groups
Characters
Technologies
Magics

etc etc

I am also big into using colours and pictures as prompters (i carry a stack of drawn maps around as part of my writing kit as well as colouring pencils for flags, terrains etc etc).

Looking forward to any suggestions



r m.

 

[LukeW]

Have you thought about just adding a bunch of hyperlinks in your existing documents so that they all link up appropiately (i.e. having a table of contents at the top of the page) and saving them as html files? As it's for personal use you wouldn't have to upload them anywhere and you could view it all through your default web browser.

Personally, I would be printing them out and placing them in some sort of simple filing system, but then I don't really like reading onscreen if I can help it.

Hope that helps.

Luke

 

[assasin]

You could create a hyperlink on microsoft word if you want. Another idea is to create a file with all the headings being files within that.

 

[Arthur_Connelly]

As the others have said, using hyperlinks is easier. I have a similar document set up with more of less the same headings you used along with a fake tvtropes style page covering the WIP. Originally I created it as a plain doc, but I eventually made it into a webpage that I open up in Firefox since tabbed windows let me access multiple sections at once.

I did set up my own wiki server using this guide a while back, but it was so much of a hassle getting everything the way I wanted it that I went back to Word. You can just create a wiki using wikispaces or wikia, both of which are easier, with the caveat being that everyone else in the world can see it.

 

[ktabic]

You could try TiddlyWiki for a small portable wiki that only requires a browser to use (no servers required, it's a single html page)

 

[R M Tobias]

Thanks for the advice people. I think I will try the hyperlinks first and see how I go from there.

 

[Primitius]

I was in your exact position a while back, and after some exhaustive searches I found a really simple and nicely made program called Keynote NF (keynote-nf - Project Hosting on Google Code). Its a notebook style thing with a big drop down tree type menu to the left. You can have multiple tabs too. Its really really good and I couldn't recommend it more. I use it for all my world building stuff...
It can also be run as a portable app from a usb key or whatever which is also quite useful

 

[digs]

I do like the idea of using a wiki - so much more fun and appealing than Word documents! It also suggests cool things like sharing a wiki between friends and each adding to different bits of the world.

 

[goldhawk]

I do like the idea of using a wiki - so much more fun and appealing than Word documents! It also suggests cool things like sharing a wiki between friends and each adding to different bits of the world.

Well, if you're interested, I would be will to act as a maintainer/moderator for a wiki. First, there are some questions that need answers.

1. Is this a private or public wiki? If it's public, then First Rights and First Electronic Rights would not be saleable for anything on the wiki since it's already there. These Rights for any derived work would be saleable.

2. What is its name? All variations of Earth have been used, so try to think of something original.

3. What licencing? I suggest CC BY-SA 3.0. That means anyone can sell an derived work, provided they acknowledge your contributions and their work would have the same licencing; meaning you could use it for your own derived work.

 

[R M Tobias]

Thread has taken an unsual turn. What would be the purpose of this wiki? To create a collaborative fantasy world?

Primitus and ktabic, thanks for the suggestions, both looks pretty helpful. I'll check them out.

 

[goldhawk]

Thread has taken an unsual turn. What would be the purpose of this wiki? To create a collaborative fantasy world?

To create some synergy so our stories will be richer than possible when working alone.

 

[R M Tobias]

Primitus I have been using Keynote for a few days now and it is excellent

Highly recommend

 

[Primitius]

glad i converted you! It is a great little program

 

[Glitch]

A few years ago I went down the path of a wiki hosted on my computer.
I use categories to link all the content together and I think it works really well. I also love the fact it keeps a history of the changes I make.

The other options sound good, although I haven't tried any of them. I would say to setup a local wiki you do need to be a little technical minded.
I haven't tried it, but the following looks interesting Storybook - Open Source Novel Writing Software for Novelists, Authors and Creative Writers

 

[Primitius]

A few years ago I went down the path of a wiki hosted on my computer.
I use categories to link all the content together and I think it works really well. I also love the fact it keeps a history of the changes I make.

The other options sound good, although I haven't tried any of them. I would say to setup a local wiki you do need to be a little technical minded.
I haven't tried it, but the following looks interesting Storybook - Open Source Novel Writing Software for Novelists, Authors and Creative Writers

mmmm storybook looks nice, downloading now to give it a whirl.