Thoughts on World Building
Something occurred to me the other day as I sat musing over what I’d write this week. The process of world building is a lot like pregnancy.
Now wait a minute before you go running for the hills. Yes, male readers, I’m talking to you. I’m not going to say anything gross. I promise.
Like all forms of art, sci-fi and fantasy literature, movies, and television shows begin as an idea, minuscule and delicate. The author oscillates between moments of manic research, quiet reflection, and at times days or weeks where the awareness of its presence, its potential, is nearly forgotten in the press of day to day concerns. Yet it grows: gaining form and purpose, developing systems, and gathering strength until the idea is finally able to make itself known.
Those first nudges are subtle and easily missed or forgotten by a distracted author, but they quickly become more definite and insistent. The author begins putting words to paper, taking care to ensure all needed elements are available and eliminated unwanted materials from the diet. Research intensifies. Preparations are considered, and growth accelerates. Soon the idea is only recognizable as the same tiny spark it was before in its most basic elements.
The first set of revisions and rewrites begin, and the idea, already almost fully formed, matures and gains weight. It occupies the author’s thoughts more now than ever, and the nudges, once so gentle, can be surprisingly strong even painful at times. Arrival is within sight, and the author increases their efforts to prepare.
Soon time for final edits arrives, the shortest and most painful phase for most. All is ready. All remaining is the final push and cleansing before the author holds their world, newly born and perfect in their hands.
Then the hard part begins.
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