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| "through the lens" - (c) 2007-2014 deranged-mongoose |
As this author suggests, a story set in the here and now would, one might logically assume, have commandments or tenets that mimic our own. But what are these, really? If we were to ask ten people what they think the commandments or tenets are of our world today, I guarantee we would get ten entirely different lists. My list of commandments will differ from yours and yet we live in the same world. Or do we? What defines a world? Or should we be asking, rather, who defines a world?
Successful and compelling story world building--whether fantasy, sci-fi, or the familiar here and now contemporary--relies solely on an author figuring out how to see with their character's eyes, taste with their character's tongue, hear with their character's ears, touch with their character's fingers, and feel with their character's senses. Only when we figure out what and how a character perceives and feels when his or her lens is placed over the world can that world be brought into sharp, specific focus. And only then will a world come to life for our stories, ourselves, and our readers.
(c) emma d dryden, drydenbks LLC
Oh wow, Emma -- this is excellent. I must print this out and refer to it with each book I write. This little snippet also makes me really want to take your World Building workshop. Why do I live so far away?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Beth! Try the exercise and see what results. Write down three commandments of the world in which your story takes place, as perceived by your main character. And then, to start exploring the internal world building of your character, write down three commandments that your main character holds to be true about him or herself at the beginning of the story. These commandments will undoubtedly evolve and change over the course of the story. Enjoy the process!
DeleteYes, writing down the characters rules and tenets sounds like a good plan. I often have students interview their characters but this is a fresh twist on that.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great exercise in addition to the in-depth character interview. Your students are lucky to have you guiding them!
DeleteI love this exercise! It is a reminder of your excellent workshops at SCBWIC last month in Charlotte. As I am writing a new character for my final Sean Gray book - I am using the character interview questionnaire with Rachel, Sean’s new girlfriend. And I am also asking these questions of Sean, a character that I have known for years, who first came to me as an eleven year old. It’s funny how I see him now – answering the questions as a thirteen year old 7th grader - building his world!
ReplyDeleteThis is excellent. I did these exercises with my class last night; it was terrific and got them all thinking! Thanks for sharing it here--just linked to this from my wiki so they could read more!
ReplyDeleteTerrific, Carol! Thank you for passing it on...
DeleteThanks for these fantastic insights into character and story development. I write picture books, and even though they're relatively short -- less than 600 words -- I find that my best work results from in depth world building for all of my characters. Even if their backstory, history, etc. doesn't make onto the final pages, I, as the writer, still need to know all that information because it informs and impacts every single aspect of character behavior.
DeleteI love how the accompanying picture is a great visual reminder of Emma's sage advice!
ReplyDeleteRita D. Russell3/13/2018
ReplyDeleteThanks for these fantastic insights into character and story development. I write picture books, and even though they're relatively short -- less than 600 words -- I find that my best work results from in depth world building for all of my characters. Even if their backstory, history, etc. doesn't make onto the final pages, I, as the writer, still need to know all that information because it informs and impacts every single aspect of character behavior.
THANKS, RITA!