9 Worldbuilding Mistakes ALL Writers Make

In this video, we'll discuss 9 common worldbuilding mistakes that writers make and how to avoid them.
Chapters:
00:00 Pt 0.1 - A Message To New Writers
03:24 1. Audience Buy-In
06:36 Intermission
06:53 2. Worldbuilding Vs. Setting
15:41 3. Familiar Vs. Unfamiliar
20:52 4. Worldbuilding POV
24:39 5. Iceberg Theory/Method
29:12 6. Character's Role
32:12 7. Threats and Conflict
34:04 8. Worldbuilder's Disease
36:10 9. THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT!!
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[@wrestlingwithwords]

Setting Vs. Worldbuilding: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKCvY2t4dqirja8 How to Write Immersive Settings and Amazing Worlds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmm8i6aXmcaaeas

[@quadzxy]

"With worldbuilding, they don't need the know every bolt of the plumbing, they just need to know that when they turn on the faucet, it'll work." amazing quote

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I'm glad you thought so! Thank you for watching :)

[@pvp6077]

On the other hand, if you forgot your story is in the woods without a well, that's gonna be a problem. Or to step away from the analogy, if you just wave your hands and say "it works because i said so" your readers are gonna see your plot holes. To step back into your analogy, you need to know where the water comes from. City water? Well? Where does the plumbing go, sewer or septic? What about the electrical? Is it wired in? Generator? Solar panels? You don't have to know every nut and bolt, but knowing that there's a U-bend under the sink that catches junk that's too big to fit in the smaller inner pipes could be pretty relevant. Knowing where the garbage goes when it gets disposed of, and what happens when someone stops collecting it. What systems are required to keep things running, and what the consequences are if those things **stop** running.

[@brianlockard1435]

One thing I think is worth mentioning is that while videos like these are helpful, there is a 10th rule here...stop overthinking and just write. The more we try to micromanage every detail the whole process becomes a slog. No matter what you do, there will always be a thousand 1 star reviews for your book on GoodReads. Just let loose!!

[@wrestlingwithwords]

YES! That should always be the (sort of) number one rule to go by. And I think that is the essence of all these points. Don't get so bogged down in trying to figure out every aspect of your world. Just get to writing! Thank you for your perspective and for watching :).

[@sovobor7681]

I think there are other 3 important mistakes. Do not know your genre. Do not know your setting. Do not know yourself. First mistake means, worldbuilding for romance looks different than worldbuilding for detective story. Second mistake means detective story from pseudomedieval Europe needs different kind and amount of information than detective story from pseudoprimeval Asia. And last one, every author should know himself. Does author need 1000 pages of every aspect of fictional world to run his imagination? Does author write 1000 pages of novel without worldbuildig? Answer to this and more questions is: Why not? If it is how autor works....

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Well put. Couldn't agree more.

[@danieldaleva]

Just read Shakespeare... Zero world building.. and yet we can see ourselves there. The chats among the characters are enough to construct a world with a little scenery description, almost like a photo caption.

[@ZelphTheWebmancer]

@@danieldaleva I know little about Shakespeare but from what I seen, he seemed like an author that knew himself and the world around him very well

[@sakkoyaba4482]

Hear this What if we mixed all of em?

[@Angelo-uw9eo]

​@@sakkoyaba4482that idea is crazy and wonderful

[@djohns9295]

Typically when I come across “writing advice” I prepare to be mostly disappointed but watch anyway looking for one sliver of knowledge . This one is actually good with a lot of great advice! 🎉

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you so much for saying so! I appreciate you watching and hope to hear more from you :)!

[@dekhrahahoon]

I loved this video. I am writing a sci-fi trilogy, absolutely no fantasy, every futuristic element has a possible (sometimes only maybe, but never 'never') way in real physics or speculative physics as to how it could work. But its main purpose is to discuss philosophy, though I think the story is interesting in itself, at least one professional reader said so. Worldbuilding: I had certain basic ideas: The aliens had found a way to make their civilisation last 10s of 1,000s of years in peace without destroying itself; they have certain metabolic dysfunctions that require them to do disgusting things by human standards; they love nature and animals. I just started writng, tellng that story. All the worldbuilding happened only insofar as our human protagonist had to see and experience their world, and all I did was make sure that everything he saw was consistent with my basic concept. I had no other 'backstory', but as I went, I found that the backstory invented itself. Future incidents merely had to not break previous things. The most significant thing in writing it, I llived in the heads of every character. "What would X say or do now?" and the story wrote itself, literally. One character contrived a devious plot that played out over half the story, but I was unaware of it until the 'pounce' moment when the payoff happened. So I agree with your basic concepts of getting the readers' interest before worrying about worldbuilding. I think: don't let the plot dictate your characters' actions, make their actions right for that character, and find a way to keep the story on track by other means, if the characters move you off course. Flexibility in world building gives you one more tool for doing this without forcing unrealistic behaviours on your characters.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thanks a lot for watching and sharing your thoughts! Always keep your characters in mind when you're worldbuilding. It's through their experience, background, perception, and actions that the worldbuilding will come out on the page. Keep us updated on how the writing is going!

[@tuckernutter]

Hard Sci-Fi, the subgenre you're trying to reference is Hard Sci-Fi

[@friendlyone2706]

@@tuckernutter Formerly known as hard core Sci Fi -- a term I enjoyed spring on my friends.

[@friendlyone2706]

Isn't it amazing how our subconscious is often a better writer than our conscious?

[@Kal-99]

I love the effort you put into this video. I realized that I have been struggling with World Builder’s Disease my whole life. I can’t tell you how many worlds I have built with no story attached at all - just for fun! It has been a unique challenge to build a world to support a story this time around. Wait am I world-building for this comment..? Anyways, great video!

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you for saying so and for watching! I really appreciate it. Worldbuilding can be a fun experience if you're doing it just for that, but when we want to write and tell a story, we've got to at some point put pen to paper on the narrative and not the place it's set in. The biggest thing is to keep writing and not get discouraged if you decide to put a world or story in the trunk!

[@Kal-99]

@@wrestlingwithwords well said!

[@Assirra888]

Struggle with the same problem. Always making worlds and things, struggle to create a story in them. Wish you the best of luck!!

[@kaos1109]

What I am getting from this is that there's plenty of books and movies I should watch, regardless of whether I end up writting a book or story ever, there's lots of interesting stories for me to read and discover that I didn't know entirely a lot about 😅😇

[@wrestlingwithwords]

This is a realization we all face!

[@richierichrich9949]

You use some brilliant analogies. Thank you for a well thought out and insightful video 👍

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you! I really appreciate that!

[@ZarineBashire]

I've found a huge love of worldbuilding because it fulfill my need to info dump without doing it in the story. It's nice to have the backstory in the back and I can just let the story flow organically without needing to explain everything. That being said my best works are in writing for a video game and a ttrpg (in my opinion) I think because the world buidling is such an important part before even starting the story.

[@ChrisBillows]

I really appreciate the practical advice you offer and the definitions you use. Very helpful. I’ve subscribed!

[@wrestlingwithwords]

@ChrisBillows Thank you! And I appreciate you for watching and subscribing!

[@jaywarice7943]

I'm going to drop this here have fun: --- Rules of thumb for storytelling --- Rules: 1. Realism is not God, but verisimilitude feeling is God. Meaning: While it's important for stories to feel believable, adhering strictly to realism can sometimes stifle creativity. What truly matters is the sense of authenticity and immersion that the story evokes in the audience. 2. Characters > Setting > Worldbuilding > Lore > etc. Meaning: In storytelling, the focus should primarily be on developing compelling characters, followed by creating immersive settings, building a coherent world, and delving into detailed lore. Characters drive the narrative and engage the audience more effectively than mere world details. 3. Imply > Show > Tell. Meaning: Rather than explicitly stating everything, it's often more effective to imply information through subtle cues, then show it through actions or scenes when it feels normal and tell when it feels normal. This engages the audience by allowing them to interpret and infer meaning themselves. 4. Every character and reader have limited perspective except for deities and the author. Meaning: Characters within the story as well as readers outside of it, can only perceive events from their own limited perspectives. Only omniscient entities like deities or the author have full awareness of the story's events and meanings. 5. Combat should feel hard and have weight rather than feel soft and floating. Meaning: When depicting combat scenes, it's important to convey the physical and emotional weight of the struggle. This makes the action feel more realistic and impactful, enhancing the overall tension and immersion of the story. 6. Description should flow rather than be bullet points. Meaning: Descriptive passages should be integrated smoothly into the narrative, flowing seamlessly from one detail to the next. This allows the reader to visualize the scene without feeling interrupted by a list-like presentation. 7. Internal consistency > external consistency. Meaning: While maintaining consistency with external rules and logic is important, ensuring consistency within the story's own established world and rules takes precedence. This creates a more coherent and immersive experience for the audience. 8. Pacing should be like the serrated edge of a knife rather than a straightforward linear or curved progression. Meaning: The pacing of the story should be dynamic and varied, with moments of intensity followed by periods of calm, akin to the jagged edge of a knife. This keeps the audience engaged and adds depth to the narrative flow. 9. Conflict is not God, but action and reaction are God. Meaning: While conflict drives the story forward, it's the actions and reactions of the characters that truly propel the narrative. How characters respond to conflict and its consequences shapes the direction and depth of the story. 10. Some characters change, others do not. Meaning: Not all characters undergo significant development throughout the story. Some may remain static, while others experience growth or transformation. This diversity adds realism and depth to the character dynamics. 11. The world itself is a character. Meaning: The setting and world of the story should be treated as dynamic entities with their own traits, histories, and influences on the narrative. They should interact with and impact the characters and events in meaningful ways. 12. Imperfection should be the norm, be it characters, perspective, outcomes, etc. Meaning: Embracing imperfection adds depth and realism to storytelling. Characters, perspectives, and outcomes should reflect the flaws and complexities of real life, rather than striving for idealized perfection. 13. Dig deeper with lore rather than wider. Meaning: Instead of superficially expanding the lore with numerous details, focus on delving deeper into specific aspects to enrich the world and enhance its significance to the story. Quality of lore is prioritized over quantity.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

What a great set of tips. You are totally on the right track here and I think I agree with just about every one of these. Thank you for sharing!

[@jaywarice7943]

@@wrestlingwithwords this is my own set I thought I should share also by the way I'm writing my first book with help of Ai aka I'm an Amateur.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I think that list is a really good start. It takes most people a long time to have a grasp like that, so it sounds like you're on the right track. please keep me updated on how the writing is going!

[@jaywarice7943]

@@wrestlingwithwords I been watching videos like yours and I been storytelling myself asleep for years. also, when it's done, I plan on giving free copies to you and similar people as that's my ad plan.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Sure. And if you ever wanted some feedback or a beta read feel free to shoot me an email. I'm always trying to give back to people in the community.

[@GooberFlute]

I put aside my passion for writing for a long time and this video has really made me think about my passion for writing again, thanks to you I might pick up an old project or start a new one! Thank you, I find the most joy in life when writing a world of my own

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I’m so glad my videos were helpful. Good luck on your writing project and keep us updated on your progress!

[@Selbie_]

I think of world-building as the reflection in the puddle that is story. It adds to the puddle but it does not change its depth much. I like to world build in the context of a scene. For example, if the scene is political, expand on the scene by adding a past or present political event to enhance the scene, especially if it reflects or sets up the current scene.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

That is a really good analogy!

[@Lucknitro]

Just discovered your channel today. You’re pretty smart with this stuff. While I mostly focus on character driven stories since I’m making comics and that’s what comics are all about. I still liked the video and it did help a bit. I usually always have the characters learn everything for the first time so that it makes sense when people lore dump. Still loved the video keep it up 👍

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you so much for watching and for your comment! Honestly, most of my content so far has been about characters, but I think worldbuilding (or at least understanding how to effectively worldbuild) can be just as important. What I would suggest, regarding lore dumping, is to have that information come up gradually and to not be afraid of leaving some information out. Comics however is a different thing, than written prose, so I am by no means an expert in that regard. Thank you again for watching and for your comment!

[@lintrigant3382]

A really huge thank you. I really got lost in that, and you showed an end to the tunnel. I think i’ll come back to it later, for these are precious thought. Just, if you could - and I know it can be a very painful subject - be a little merrier and spontaneous on the rhythm, it would be perfect. Because you give very good answers.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you for watching and for the feedback! I am glad you found this helpful and I will take your comment into consideration. I've only been doing this for a little more than a year so I am still learning and am trying to improve my presentation.

[@tobymaltby6036]

This is a much under-discussed aspect of fiction writing (especially SciFi) - I think I've just learnt more than I did after reading the whole of "Save The Cat."

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I am so glad this was helpful! I really appreciate your comment and that you watched. :)

[@AzeAlter]

Super helpful. Thank you my friend

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you for watching and I am glad it was useful!

[@jovenc4508]

The biggest problem I have is once I have a basic idea and setting I get caught up in event making without figuring out how the characters get to those events. I also second guess myself over everything.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

What I've found is helpful is going back to those scenes a few times. The first time might be just set designing--getting everything in place with the characters and figuring out what is going to happen at the start, middle, and end. Then, with every revision you can go back and flesh out each part, gradually building out the scene.

[@DirectorDelta]

real

[@DaveShap]

Great channel, glad I just found you. Please keep up this clean, thoughtful format. I'LL BE BACK

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you so much for saying so!

[@seandalston]

In the novel "Dune" Atomic bombs were used to make a gap in the shield wall that protected the city "Arakeen" for worms attacking the city so that the Fremen could ride them in to attack the Harkonnen army and capture the emperor.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Yep, true!

[@MrLeFilipfloppyvelarde]

This is great, you as a writer need to prioritize a cool story first, in the path you will construct some stuff, but don't get lost in the sauce, remember that the main course is the most important

[@wrestlingwithwords]

YEP! You are exactly right. Thank you for watching!

[@heatherkline6766]

You talked about building conflict into the world. I am currently working on a long-term project that will be an epic/high fantasy story, and one of the first things that got me excited about my idea was how I integrated the villains. I made them the main driver of the misconceptions and prejudice that exist; prejudice that benefits the villains. They and their magic system are twisted versions of other types that already exist. My story follows three siblings, one of whom is being pulled gradually towards the darkness, and my main character who is more powerful than anyone would have imagined. I have one non-human race, and a few human subgroups each with specific skills. Truth be told, this intire thing was sort of set off by an add I saw for the video game Endwalker; I thought I could do better and so gave it a shot.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

That's great! Making the world reflect the central conflict is a really effective storytelling technique,

[@zeroworldcraft]

This wasn't long. I enjoyed it.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Glad to hear that!

[@alexhscheuermann]

Well put!

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you!

[@426mak]

Thanks for the video. I am an amature writer and started in fanfiction, which helped anchor my imagination.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I'm glad you found the video helpful!

[@higurashikai09]

Interestingly the current project that I am trying to put together has been kind of the opposite where I have a story I am trying to tell that's connected to one specific location but I'm stuck in a position trying to flesh things out and make sure everything works together. My setting is small but the world building is seeping into everything from how this particular setting affects the fashion, culture, life of those who live there.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I think that is sometimes a good problem to have! You have a lot of freedom now to go deep into what is important to the story that you have.

[@theflowerhead]

Great job! 👓

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you! 😁

[@BK-hq7tn]

Damn good video!!!! Thank you.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you for saying so! I am glad you liked it!

[@KalpanaWorlds]

I'm not really a writer, I would like to if only to allow my worlds to exist to other people. I have world built since I was a kid (I was a kid in 90's), and do it because I enjoy getting lost in the creation of a thorough scifi or fantasy world.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

And I don't think there is anything wrong with that. Worldbuilding for the love of worldbuilding can be a good passion project or even hobby. However, if you want to share that world with others, there are tons of ways you can do so. I've seen people jump into video games or TTRPS or even a D&D homebrew with this. Or there are people who partner with an artist and create an interactive website of sorts, showcasing the world. Or you can always write a story set in that world. There are plenty of other things you can do too that I am sure I haven't mentioned or even thought of.

[@DirectorDelta]

I have like same thing, not for as long though, only about 3 years old and it barely resembles what I started with 😅

[@absolutelycitron1580]

Ok glad im not the only who's gone ham about my world's geophysics 😅

[@wrestlingwithwords]

It was a rabbit hole I loved and hated to go down... Loved more than hated :)

[@manolgeorgiev9664]

I am not a writer, but I like concocting my own worlds and stories. I like the world building, but I always keep it concise. I make a rough exterior in which the story takes place, while my main focus remains on the story and characters. As a result the world is often half-baked, but I adjust things as I go along and use it to service the story, not the other way around. I always try to look at it from a viewer's perspective, not a writer's perspective - what would I find enjoyable in this as a viewer? - and often times the world building just ends up taking last place on the list. Sure, as a creator, it is fun to make an expansive world with deep complex lore and mechanics, but as a viewer that would be the dullest thing by itself. Conversely, a solid well-thought out story or likable characters, or even just meaningful themes could carry a bland and uninspired world and make for a good viewing experience.

[@DirectorDelta]

ngl, I think you ARE a writer affer all, you write! give yourself some credit

[@johnparnham5945]

A great video. I am writing a middle grade novel about two children who go into the Woods and find themselves in the ice age. I hope that my world building is good enough. Imagine stripping away every vestage of modern life and replacing it with a primitive hunter gatherer society. What does the landscape look like and the animals and when it's humans, how their society works. It's challenging. To help my young readers, a lot of research must be done.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Worldbuilding is more challenging than most people think to to implement effectively. I would suggest having some beta reads to see if they understand your world or if there needs to be more development. I love the concept that you shared! Either way, I really appreciate you watching and sharing your thoughts about your work.

[@UlshaRS]

Building another world, with a magic system, it's remembering to keep a tight narrative and not want to spew out every idea that flashes through my mind before the idea flames out (again) or it gets turned into another self-insert OP power fantasy (again)

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Something that might help is to just get that first draft out. Don't worry so much about holding back. You can always go back during revisions and cut stuff!

[@andyroobrick-a-brack9355]

I haven't watched the full video yet, but I just kinda wanted to record my thoughts in an untainted way before I dive in. I have learned that it's best to start off small if you wanna dip your toes into world building. I've been trying to get into short stories for this very reason, so I can set up tiny little blocks of information for the larger narrative I wanna get up, kinda like The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings. It's certainly possible to make a good world the first time, but you have to be careful and small with it at first.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

This is great. I've always advocated for using short fiction to help improve longer projects. Whether that is to practice finishing a story, exploring a new setting or world, or see if an idea or character actually has enough meat to be a story. Regardless, that is awesome. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!

[@c704710]

4:23, sorry this pot is too cold and not warming up fast enough for me. I jumped out

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Oh no!🐸

[@DOCTORmakenstuff]

This vid was not jiveing with me for some reason and it wasn't till i got to the last point that i knew why. i love world building for me that is the story i like telling storys about worlds ! they aren't just a side dish or a stage to me but the main course and to be honest i dont think ill be changing the way i write its not a mistake its a feature but thank you anyway this helped ! i need to tell my storys for my self if an audience likes it good, if not all is still well because i told MY story MY way ! the story's i make dont just place in a world they are about that world the world is a main character perhaps the most important one i think that may just well be what sets me a part so thank you

[@wrestlingwithwords]

And there isn't anything wrong with that. What is important too (that I might not have mentioned or made clear) is understanding how you tell stories best. If you know that about yourself, that you want to spend your time and efforts on extensive worldbuilding in that way, then that is fine. I just hope you also developed your narrative as well! Thank you too for watching and for your perspective!

[@e.matthews]

As a reader/writer who loves worldbuilding too - the conlangs, the history, the implications of magic, the schools of thought that rise and fall - I have a high tolerance for the inclusion of world details in what I read. I love receiving tidbits and clues and piecing together the grander picture. Malazan is a perfect example. However, the video is completely correct. I love WB, but if you infodump in your book once, I'm out of the story. If you do it 2-3 times, you've ruined the illusion completely. If you're not writing omniscient POV and you convey information the character wouldn't know or care about, then I will not be continuing with the book. And, again, I love this stuff. There's good and bad ways to do it! For a novel, the narrative is everything. For a glossary, we can get away with anything!

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Agreed. I think we as writers should try to come up with creative ways to mask our exposition. It is sort of like hiding veggies in a meal to make it more healthy. This is why I always suggest considering the background and history of the POV character. This can dramatically influence what you are showcasing in terms of worldbuilding and can even make info dumps feel well-placed. A diplomat talking about the historical context of two warring nations feels natural.

[@e.matthews]

@@wrestlingwithwords That's a great example! If an info-dump is integrated fully then the reader hopefully won't take issue! Even Erikson sometimes just lets loose in Malazan. And Sanderson just gave up on subtle info-dumping in the prologue of Way of Kings, and he admitted it on Writing Excuses. The worst of the worst is "as you know" / Maid + Butler dialogue, where two characters are regurgitating info they already know for no other reason than informing the reader.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Yes, exactly. I remember that episode in their podcast. "As You Know..." is one of the SFF 7 deadly sins haha.

[@aSnailCyclopsNamedSteve]

Nice personal touch at the beginning, but 15 min. in and still no problems listed. Every story involves worldbuilding. Even if I am writing an autobiography about my family life, there is plenty I do not know or remember. A better title would have been how much should setting play a part in a story. And the answer comes down to how much scrutiny is expected. Lord of the Rings stands up to intense scrutiny; Harry Potter collapses under far less, but she never expected that much attention. Thus, it makes sense to delve further into Tolkien's world, to speculate who was more powerful, etc. Harry Potter should be left as a good read and the reader move on. Or Snape should simply go back in time and kill Tom Riddle before Dumbledore visits him in the orphanage.

[@aSnailCyclopsNamedSteve]

And Snape or an auror could have certainly gone back a day or so when the Potter house was destroyed and identified who really committed the crime so that Sirius would have not been sent to Azkaban.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thanks for the feedback! I wasn't trying to provide a critique of any of these stories, more so using them as examples of the points I was making. Tolkien is a common author to bring up because of their influence. I think a lot of people see the movies and read the books and want to emulate his massive world, but don't realize the nuance of its creation. As always, thank you for watching and for the critical eye!

[@zacnewford]

good vid. subbed

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you!

[@Drudenfusz]

Nothing new here for me, but I think you put many of those things good into words. I never had trouble with worldbuilders disease, since I went more with atmospheric worldbuilding then getting lost in the minutiae of the story world. The Iceberg thing regarding literature is something from Hemmingway if I remember correctly... or was that only about the narrative and not the worldbuilding? Anyway, I guess character role and PoV came easily to me because of my roleplaying game hobby. And regarding the familiar and the unfamiliar, I had read a long time an author calling that the common and the exotic, and thus that idea is also for two decades now with me.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

First off, I really appreciate your feedback and perspective! Second, I have found that, when it comes to most things, we can never give 100% new information to each other. As an example, I also coach wrestling and BJJ and I always tell people, that I am probably not going to teach them or tell them anything that is "new" or anything that they haven't "seen" before. I think what does change is the way it is said and the way it is described that can sometimes click or reframe how a person thinks about a subject, concept, or technique. That is all to say, I do agree with you, and as is the case with most educational writing channels. You might get some "wholly" new information here and there, but for the most part, it is going to be reframed information, techniques, and advice you might have heard before, but in a different way. Which isn't a bad thing! (I believe) Also, you're correct about Hemmingway. There has been a restructuring of the "theory" thought in the SFF circles. Thank you again for the comment!

[@promcheg]

I don't hear many people say how important it is to keep the mind-bending or physics-defying concepts to a minimum. Every fictional aspect of the story should always be examined against the natural world and all other fictional concepts. The more you pile up, the more likely you are to break your world by creating huge plot holes. Here is one small example (one of my pet peeves): You find instantaneous FTL communication technology with unrestricted bandwidth in most space operas. It kills any sense of adventure, the feeling you get when reading about a wooden ship on the high seas, not knowing what is happening where you just left and never knowing what awaits you where you are going. It kills the fog of war, which is essential in any war story. It trivializes the mind-boggling aspect of the vast emptiness of space. Don't get me wrong. There are stories where such technology is an important part of the story. But if you do not plan to take a second step and think about ALL the implications, then maybe leave it be? I could write a lot here, but some of my favourite authors (Jack Campbell and David Weber) said something like this: "It is not what your characters CAN DO that makes for a good story, but the things they CAN'T DO". Things they can't do: force you, as a writer, to find creative solutions.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Also a good point. There is a balance you need to strike. If these elements are distracting or make the reader start to ask the WRONG questions or question the integrity of your world, you've broken their immersion. Thank you for the comment and for watching!

[@jojobookish9529]

That Martin quote always bugs me when it's framed as a criticism of Tolkien (which it often is; I'm not claiming that it was used that way here). It's like reading an Arthurian romance and asking why it wasn't more like a modern spy novel. They're different stories, written in different eras, with different focuses setting out to do different things. Tolkien wasn't interested in Aragorn's tax policy, so of course it doesn't come up. That's not the story being told. Lord of the Rings puts myth and idealism before gritty reality and that is intentional. It's absolutely reasonable to wonder about those details and imagine more political grit and darkness, and take that off into fanfiction or as inspiration for your own works (like Martin did). But a story can't be and shouldn't try to be all things. When an author tries to do that, they just end up with a mush.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I totally agree. Only the relevant world information should come up on the page as it pertains to the story! I hope my comment didn't come off as critical, it wasn't meant in that way. Thank you for watching and for your comment!

[@pvp6077]

Most stories will just handwave that as "the boring political stuff the advisors make him do in between heroic stuff". Like like that in stories like Merlin or Bridgerton which, despite a distinct lack of realism in other matters, do tske time to mention that those "boring duties" are in fact vital to the regular people living in their worlds. That to a normal person, that king or noble might seem out of touch, arrogant, careless, irresponsible, or selfish to ignore the needs of the people they're responsible for, the people who actually provide them the things they need to live, like livestock, cloth, crops, tools, etc. Power comes with responsibility, and failing to live up to that responsibility, especially in a situation where no one else is legally allowed to take on that responsibility by right, can make them a villian to the common people even when in their own minds, they're fighting for good. And it can be many-layered. In Robin Hood, Prince John is the villain for raising taxes and trying to stop a bandit from robbing nobles. But King Arthur is considered a hero, despite starting a foreign war that emptied the royal cofers and demanding that his brother (who he chose to leave as Regent), supply him with more and more gold, to fight the war, then to pay his ransom when he got himself caught. Because the viewpoint is from Robin, a noble who went to war with King Arthur, had his properties seized for war taxes when believed dead, and worries that John will usurp the throne in the King's absence, but that the restoration of the King will result in the restoration of his own properties and title, we get a very biased view of the political landscape. The King is away at war, the Regent is raising taxes, the people are starving, and they believe that if the King returns home, it will all be over. And that's true. But because we have an unreliable narrator, we don't necessarily understand why. In fact, if the King ends the war, he won't need the tax money to pay for supplies and mercenaries. When he returns, he will reward his political allies and punish his critics. The Regent didn't send the King to war, nor cause him to be captured, and the only way to pay the ransom or for anything else in the kingdom is through tax money. If the nobles keep their own money and extort it from the peasants instead, what can he do?

[@andrewryan2814]

Most world building never makes it to the final story. It's important for you to know the ins and outs of your world, but it rarely propels character arcs.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Learning how to link your world to your character's arc is something I see few people do or talk about, but find it really effective and rewording.

[@andrewryan2814]

@@wrestlingwithwords Rewording.... I assume it was a typo, but if that was an intentional writing pun, bravo sir.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

@@andrewryan2814 typo but I feel like I should keep it as is now 😂😂🤦‍♂️

[@jeffbezos3200]

I conceived of a cyberpunk/fantasy world that I broke ground on. Essentially, inspired by Milton’s Paradise Lost and mixing in a bit of the myth of Hyperion bringing fire to mankind, I conceived of a world where Hyperion was cast out of Eden and sought revenge by giving a bottle of lightning to mankind, which skyrocketed their technological development to where we join them in the present and all of the Wild has been taken over by a corporate dystopia with neon signs, skyscrapers, and only dead lands being uninhabited. And essentially, the protagonist finds out that he’s terminally ill, but the doctor’s erase his memory of receiving the news until he can come up with payment. He inadvertently sells out the way to Eden, the first and last Wild place on a mercenary mission in order to receive his results from the doctor. From there, he realizes he’s dying and his sole mission is to see something beautiful before he dies…and so he goes on a journey to Eden, where he realizes he’s profaned the last wild place by discovering it after he eats a fruit that he plucks from a tree…and he dies knowing that he has doomed Eden, regardless of the fact that he technically succeeded

[@ComicPower]

I made the same mistake on making a huge world but it was for a comic i never finished. Lol

[@wrestlingwithwords]

It happens to the best of us 😅

[@techpriest6962]

Can't say I have ever had this problem, and here is why: 1. (The story comes first.) If you can't draw people into your story they will not care about your world. 2. (Don't info dump.) Mystery and Curiosity are very powerful forces which you must use to your advantage. The reader doesn't need to know everything, only enough to know why the "protagonist" is doing what he does in the story. 3. (Let the world grow.) No matter how much you have thought out your world, it will change based on the needs of your story. So write your outline and see how well your world fits the outline.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

This is good advice and a good set of rules to write by!

[@wrestlingwithwords]

And yes, there is a mistake in part 2's title card... Like if you picked it up 🫠

[@Ang-gh3iy]

I didn’t notice it till you left this comment!

[@Solus-qn3ur]

What novel or light-novels you create?

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I've published over a dozen short stories (and gotten a few awards). You can find some of them in my description, or if you want to see my full 'discography' feel free to shoot me an email and I'd be happy to share all of the free links!

[@almost_harmless]

The iceberg method is effective in that it creates a yearning for more information from that world. Tolkien, as far as I know, went to extremes to make a big world to draw from, as his mission was to create a mythos for Britain like Finland had with their mythos. Even he could not cover an entire world, as you aren't only making the world as your character knows it today, but also what the mythos are, the pre-history, (and for him) languages, making it a truly gigantic endeavor. So, start with an intriguing snapshot of the world you imagine, and perhaps get the big lines in place behind the scenes, then write the story. If you are lucky, you get to visit the place again and can continue to elaborate, hopefully not contradicting yourself in the process.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Exactly. Well put. That is exactly the idea. Omission is something that is HIGHLY underrated in fiction. I wrote an article on it a while back, but think it might make a good topic for a video too.

[@almost_harmless]

@@wrestlingwithwordsPlease do. I find all of this fascinating.

[@capguncarcrash]

The Expanse books have sorta ruined ruined modern scifi for me. i LOVE your takes on in and am so goddamn obsessed myself, anyway great video

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I'm glad you enjoy my content! The Expanse books are definitely a game-changer in the sci-fi genre. Even beyond the sci-fi elements, the characters and everything are just fantastic. Thank you for the comment and for watching!

[@hkay7334]

Building, no; applying, yes.

[@lilrosetattoo]

I recently finished my first fantasy novel and started book 2. My suggestion to avoid worldbuilders disease is to think of your worldbuilding as scaffolding. Get your basics - general idea of the world map, social structures (religions, cultural beliefs etc)and basic history. Keep it simple in the beginning. Then write your story based off that “scaffolding” as time goes on you will realize you’ll be writing the story in tandem with your worldbuilding. You’ll be writing in two directions and over time your scaffolding will be replaced with foundation of lore that is more solid. Allow yourself the opportunity to go back and make changes. Write down ideas as they pop into your head. It took me 6 years to complete my first draft of my book because it took me that long to develop the world and write the story. Give your story room to breathe. It’ll probably flow a lot easier if you are writing and sitting in your characters perspective and not looking down like this god from on high trying to craft a narrative starting with every individual grain of sand.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

This is good advice. There are plenty of strong analogies for worldbuilding and this is one of them. Thank you for sharing and thank you for watching!

[@TheKeyser94]

To me world building, the factions, their agendas, the context and the message that I want to give is always the most important part of the story apart from the ending, I never write something without known how it would end, eve if take me years, right now, I want to write a story, but is so depressing and dark, that I really not want to, I not want to portray the victim as a antagonist, even that his actions for brutal and senseless they are, are righteous, his lose his family, his race, his planet, and want retribution, revenge, I always like to add some component of realism even if there are some fantasy elements in my story.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

It's really good to have an idea of where your story is going and how the world impacts it. This sounds like you're on the right track to understanding the synergy between the world and the story! Thank you for your perspective!

[@Fabulist]

Lord of the Rings is “Tolkien-esque”? You want a second take on that one? 😂 Someone asked George R.R. Martin for the background information on the Dothraki language in his books. He replied, “I’m not Tolkien. I made up 8 words in Dothraki. When I need a ninth one, I’ll make that up, too.” 😎 George Lucas once said that most science fiction films spend so much time designing and building their sets that directors want to show them off, but instead it should just be in the background and shot the way you’d do it if the film was set in a regular house. That’s why there are all these details in the scenes of Star Wars.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Hey, thanks for the feedback and quotes! I feel like George RR Martin always gives such good interviews. But when I said Tolkien-esque I meant common for Tolkien or very much inline with what we think of when we hear/think of Tolkien. Long histories and comprehensive langues was kinda his thing. Which I do realize that esque might have been confusing to say or misleading here. Thanks again for watching.

[@Royalscriber5633]

Despite many years of having a story in the works that I really care for and have put a lot of effort into to through research, imagination, and a lot of time. I'm rather critical and overthink but im also open minded so i bounce back in forth a lot on things that may or may not be necessary in my story. Eventually I created a base for my story that revolves around the eternal struggle of good, grey, and evil. Light, Darkness, and Chaos. These three aspects are relevant in nearly everything that happens throughout the whole story due to these aspects literally being Gods. Three Gods that push forward the events that take place in the world with most races worshiping Light. Most origins and history you will learn through the main character but I've write the story in a way where it always continues even after the main characters life and beyond as new main characters take over in sequels expanding on the world continuessly.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Interesting. What is your main character's background?

[@SonOfSeth]

I'm starting to block channels with obscene amount of ads.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

@SonOfSeth Is that the case? Normally KZbin does that without the channel's input or say so. Thanks for the feedback though.

[@csumentor3]

I have chronic WBD

[@wrestlingwithwords]

We have all been there my friend... 🫠

[@TheKnoxvicious]

I’ve recently been reading Ruin of the Kings and the authors includes footnotes (FOOTNOTES!!) which will tell you things about the world. Many of which never add to the story what so ever. The author clearing spent a lot of time on the world building, but it seems like that is what came first. There’s nothing wrong with simplicity. Story must always come first because I don’t give a crap about the history of your elvish race - you’re not Tolkien

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Well said. Adding bits of worldbuilding or lore/text about your world at the start or end of a chapter is a way to subtly worldbuild on the page. Adding footnotes takes it a step further. And funny enough, that is something I've always wanted to play around with. It could be really interesting if somehow the character narrating the story is a historian or a researcher or some kind of chronicler (thus justifying the footnotes and authorial comments). Either way, thanks for watching and for your thoughts!

[@tedarcher9120]

Star wars is fantasy though

[@wrestlingwithwords]

You know, Star Wars really toes the very fuzzy line that is Sci-fi and Fantasy. I’m sure you can imagine if I referred to Star Wars as fantasy the comment section would probably be filled with people saying it’s sci-fi. I did have a caveat in an earlier draft of this video saying Star Wars is actually science-fantasy, and explained the nuances in these genres and sub genres but it got a little excessive.

[@genghisgalahad8465]

Yes, Dune was an unadulterated error in world building, wasn't it. Virtually unsalvageable. I mean, whatcha gonna do.

[@roleplayerchadwick]

Sorry, but I as a worldbuilder believe there is only 1 mistake a person can make and that is not following the logic of the world. The rest of the so called "mistakes" people make are narrative mistakes. I know I might get a lot of hate for this but the world of Harry Potter is a prime example of this. Rowling gets you immersed into the world then adds something that breaks the logic of the world. And it happens over and over and over again. Do people complain about this, not really. As much as I am aware. Reason for this is she is able to immersed you into the character's point of view. The only thing that matters when telling a good story is to have good characters. That's it. It doesn't matter how good your world is.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I think that is part of the point I was alluding to. A good story with strong characters will make it easier to overlook world plot holes. I would put Harry Potter in the realm of a more atmospheric world. The rules are pretty loose all things considered, and the closer we look at those rules or try to ascribe rules the more it all starts to break. Good example and good point though. Thank you for watching!

[@christopherbaker8595]

Uhhhh ALOT of people have complained about both JK Rowlings world building and writing

[@roleplayerchadwick]

@@christopherbaker8595 thank you and I will edit what I said about this

[@A.Brazao]

A prime example of this is The walking dead. Creating a world , but not following any of it's logic. Though it's still a good watch, at least till a certain point.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

@@A.Brazao that’s a good point too. That does go to show that if you have a decent story (or compelling characters), your audience will forgive quite a bit and suspend their disbelief a lot.

[@JoelCrumbleyAuthor]

Are they really mistakes if all writers make them?

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Of course. I am assuming this comment is a little tongue and cheek, but yes! Everyone can be making similar mistakes in varying degrees of magnitude. Also, thank you for your comment and for watching.

[@thoughtfuldoomguy]

It's not you and it's not even that it's bad, I just have a weird tick about it and it seems to be a very popular trope in video essays, but I feel irrationally upset when I hear the typewriter sound effects used in those intro sequences. Again, it's not you so don't take it as a criticism I just don't know why but it really messes me up lol

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I understand that. It’s just me doing all the editing, writing, and research so I’ll consider that for my next video. Appreciate you watching and for the feedback.

[@thoughtfuldoomguy]

@@wrestlingwithwords thank you! Excellent video! 🙏

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thank you! I appreciate you!

[@WhizPill]

im the target audience

[@wrestlingwithwords]

The algorithmic gods thank you.

[@WhizPill]

@@wrestlingwithwords if you want to really get into story telling explore japanese literature like Dragon shall, One Piece and Attack On Titan i talk about these on my podcast a ton

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Yes! I want to, but man are those waters deep. I feel like I only know surface level stuff on those types of titles. I’d love to but need to do more research 🙌😮‍💨😄.

[@BogotaMusichannel]

What's your secret for not going bald, if you make a channel about it will subscriber too 😅

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I don't think you're at the right place for that kind advice 😅

[@user-gw4oz1rk3i]

#utopia

[@drealgrin]

What blows me away is that anime is a complete fucking mess and it has a fuckload of fans, yet other forms of entertainment holds itself to a higher standard and only horror fans use it as an identity XD

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Hahaha, these are some fighting words!

[@DioThermidor]

Westworld Season 3 was pretty disappointing.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

The series was carried by the earlier seasons for sure.

[@Insomnolant1335]

7:42 It's amperage, not "ampage."

[@OceanusHelios]

Tolkien created the The Silmarillion for himself. He created Middle Earth for himself. And LoTR began at the end of the story and was an update to the tale and the last age. Star Wars (1977) started with episode IV. It started in the MIDDLE of the saga. What does this do? If a writer brings the reader part way into the story, and there are details the readers don't have or do not understand the signficance of in the narrative, then so what. Explaining it all to the readers in a big fat Lore Dump is not interesting because nobody wants to read an encyclopedia from the first volume to the last volume. Yes that information should be cohesive and should be there, but nobody will care. If a character in a story mentions the "Lamboidian Grunk" and doesn't even descirbe it, who cares. That character is very animated in the tale, but it brings the reader into trying to imagine, even more, just what in the hell a freaking Lamboidian Grunk is. That stimulates the mind. - Burkblop, the Lamboidian Grunk

[@antonioemilio5179]

HAVE YOU WRITTEN ANY CLASSIC NOVEL? BRING IT ON! 😂😂😂

[@wrestlingwithwords]

I’m missing this reference 😅

[@joshualavender]

7:05 This "worldbuilding is the structural elements in a house" metaphor is not nearly so self-explanatory as you seem to think it is. In fact, I suspect it's a bad metaphor. How am I to include worldbuilding in a book and make it vital to the book's structural integrity and the functioning of the story yet also make it invisible? Isn't Tolkien's worldbuilding highly visible, even ostentatious with all the poems and songs and historical references scattered throughout the text, the made-up languages and alphabets, the chronologies and appendices? You continue with this "house" metaphor for two whole minutes, and I get absolutely nothing practical from it, no understanding I can put to use. Then you follow up by defining setting as "the *world that we have created* for our characters and our plot and our story to exist within." What distinguishes it from worldbuilding, then?! When you talk about atmospheric versus realistic worldbuilding, citing Tolkien and Martin as examples, then you're actually starting to talk about something substantive. What you frame as the overall point - worldbuilding and setting are distinct - is only muddied, not clearly explained, by the "house" metaphor. When you contrast The Expanse with Star Wars to illustrate realism versus atmosphere in sci-fi worldbuilding, your credibility goes flying out the window. Dude, this is like comparing apples and refrigerators. STAR WARS IS NOT SCIENCE FICTION! It's a space fantasy. The only thing about Star Wars suggesting "sci-fi" is the galactic SETTING and the baddies' threats (planet-destroying weapons), and neither of these are explored as philosophical "what-if" propositions (the threats only exist to create stakes and be destroyed by the good guys). They're *only* the trappings for an altogether different genre of story, a melodramatic action-adventure more interested in the implications of magic (the Force) than faster-than-light travel, i.e. a fantasy. How you can miss this when you *just* said not to confuse worldbuilding with setting baffles me.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

@joshualavender Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and feedback on the video. I appreciate your perspective and understand your concerns regarding the construction metaphor. I've used this metaphor before when explaining that Setting and Worldbuilding is not the same thing (which is a distinction I have seen writers struggle to make, in my experience). I apologize for any confusion it may have caused you though. I agree that worldbuilding encompasses more than just the structural elements of a story and can indeed be visible, but the heart of this point is to help writers understand the degree to which they apply this information and that they are curating the experience for the reader. While worldbuilding refers to the creation of the entire fictional world, including its history, cultures, languages, etc., setting in this regard specifically refers to the environment in which the story takes place (that includes a curated selection from your worldbuilding). I will make sure to provide clearer definitions and examples in future videos! Regarding the comparison between "The Expanse" and "Star Wars," I understand your perspective that they belong to different genres. It is funny, originally, I actually stated a caveat that Star Wars is actually Science Fantasy, but ended up cutting it because I felt it wasn't a meaningful distinction. In the view of the broader public, I think science fantasy is a very niche term/subgenre under science fiction. Again, thank you for your feedback, and I will take your points into consideration to improve the clarity and effectiveness of my content!

[@MelissaSnowden-eh7ug]

Not Toll-kin, Toll-keen. This is how Professor Tolkien pronounced it and how his son, Christopher, pronounces it. It’s not personal, I do this to everyone. ;)

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Ha, thanks for the correction!

[@bmardiney]

People who consider themselves writers (they almost never have any successfully written works, just a scattering of ideas) and focus on world building seem less like writers, more like…children playing with Lego’s. And that’s putting it nicely. Narcissistic megalomaniacs is the mean way of putting it. They want to skip to the end where they are some sort of fictional god, rather than a humble guy creating a small, meaningful story about a few characters.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

@Bmardiney Sadly this can feel like the case. I just want to encourage writers to focus on telling a better story! Thanks for watching and for your perspective.

[@bmardiney]

@@wrestlingwithwords I'm seeing this right now in my TTRPG group. Everyone has an amazing idea and this elaborate world built up with dozens of NPCs, an entire pantheon of gods, 2,000 years of history...and it's all worthless because they can't human well. The stories they come up with are either silly gimmicks or bland as hell. The story always seems to come last for people like this. And it seems like creative immaturity, like where young teens keep creating character profiles over and over towards no discernable end goal.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Ah, that is a real shame. I think creative immaturity is exactly what that is. Within the SFF community, BIG expansive worlds with all the things you describe are a dime a dozen. Finding creators and writers who understand that can be hard, but it's a lesson I feel everyone has to learn at some point. No one cares about your big complex world. They care about the little guy first, then maybe, they can fall in love with the rest.

[@bmardiney]

@@wrestlingwithwords Exactly. I'm no writer, but even I know that the best thing to do is start with your core 2-3 characters, establish them WELL, then build everything out from that starting place, as needed (and only as needed). Narrow and deep, rather than broad and shallow. Something doesn't exist in your world until your protagonist or antagonist needs them to exist.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

@@bmardiney Well, I hope the people you're developing a game with will come around to that. It sounds like you have a good grasp of some of the "seemingly" basic concepts that are actually quite complex the more you start to develop them. Also, sometimes a world can birth a good cast of characters and sometimes a good cast can birth an interesting world. That will depend on the writer and their style. But you are absolutely right about going deep rather than broad. What is the saying? "Wide as an ocean but deep as a puddle?" Nobody wants that!

[@VindensSaga]

Nothing is more boring to read than a wall of text of world building, Give me characters in which this world building is relevant otherwise it is just word salad.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Unfortunately, this is pretty common... Thanks for watching and for your comment!

[@hannibalbarca6510]

You could look up how to pronounce Piranesi.

[@paytonschiefelbein3472]

You have world-building analysis disease

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate the feedback. This is kinda my job, so I think analysis is important.

[@square_hare]

im not sure this enlightened individual understands that his journey as a writer is subjective. no, ALL writers are making these mistakes, surely.

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Thanks for the comment. I just wanted to say first that I am by no means an enlightened individual. Writing, teaching/coaching, and editing is my job. At the end of the day, I am just trying to help writers write better stories. However, that being said, among the writers/stories I work with these mistakes are the most common I encounter. The magnitude of these mistakes does vary, sometimes being a HUGE problem, while other times they aren't really an issue worth fusing over. I appreciate your comment and thank you for watching.

[@square_hare]

@@wrestlingwithwords and you are out there making contributions to the world of writing. that is a wonderful thing. though perspectives can be narrow and titles misleading.

[@urgaynknowit]

Lets hope your world building isn’t as bad as your frog analogy

[@wrestlingwithwords]

Dang. Totally roasted

[@icecreamassassin3006]

Clearly you don't know what "gauge" your studs are either 😂