How to WORLD BUILD (Like a Boss!)

You asked for it!! Today's episode of WritersLife Wednesdays is all about WORLD-BUILDING: how to avoid info-dumping and instead IMMERSE your reader into your awesome fictional world.
In this video I share THE ONE QUESTION you can ask yourself about ANY aspect of world building and immediately know whether or not you should spend time on it. Also I give good (and bad) story examples of world building.
Comment below and tell me: what is the ONE aspect of your world that has the BIGGEST IMPACT on your main character's journey?
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[@rhett-says-hullo4229]

any other writer: breathes Abbie: WHY DOES IT MATTER

[@AbbieEmmons]

😂👏😂👏😂👏😂👏

[@zellasteria]

us that has written like 33 chapters but didnt know the meaning: OI

[@Friendship1nmillion]

@@AbbieEmmons Avoided watching this video as I thought Jenna Moreci Or J J Barnes { from the table read videos/social media } would be better teachers of this. When I think about it , everything { pretty much } you said is 💯% spot on ❣ You might come on " a bit too strong " in your delivery of creative writing philosophy *BUT* you seem to know what you're talking about. You scholar creative writing *LIKE A BOSS* 👨‍⚖️📚♑✍

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

Me too!

[@reiserosie]

HAHA

[@syberyah]

DON'T delete your really cool but irrelevant worldbuilding. That's not something you want to ever lose. Yes, delete it from your book, but hang on to it in some behind-the-scenes document or something, and then YOU still have it and YOU can still appreciate it, and hey, maybe you'll even come up with another story, a novel or even a short story or something, that uses some of that worldbuilding. So yeah, delete irrelevant worldbuilding and infodumping from your NOVEL, but not from your computer.

[@bastian9713]

Couldn't have said it better.

[@samanthawade7624]

Always gotta have a dump file for the cuts! You never know when you will want something back

[@taranhartell2459]

Absolutely!! I have a file (or a folder cuz I use scrivener) for just things like that and I just dump everything in there and can just read it back when I need it or want to use it

[@owleyes71]

It’s like having a digital junk drawer haha I have a Fired Chapters folder I shove them into

[@Eluzian86]

Also, if you're world becomes popular enough, then you could use all that information to make an encyclopedia of your world for your fan base. Mine would include all of the detailed maps I've made for my planet showing the climate, ocean currents, tectonic plates maps, and so forth.

[@oatmilk9936]

If you’re writing a novel, this is some great advice. But pleeeeaase don’t stop worldbuilding just because it’s not important to your book. Not only is worldbuilding fun, doing it will only make your story better. Know the ins and outs of your universe, even if you don’t include it in your story. If you have a passion for your world, craft it!!!!

[@johni1622]

All these writing concepts are like spices like world building to me helps solidify the environment and settings the characters inhabit. Cheers

[@furnaceheadgames9001]

I make a world and check if they have story potential. If they do, then I might make that story if else than I'll keep building

[@whiskeyblack806]

Yes! Please do plot-driven VS character-driven stories!

[@misfitcreates]

You can include bits of the world building that isn't necessary to the story, but merely adds to it because it makes the world more real.

[@fabricofdreams.]

absolutely! not info-dumping, but simply making the reader intrigued for what else is going on in this world

[@pippaschroeder4388]

yeah and you can do as much world building as you want and leave the extra stuff out of the book to keep to yourself if its something you love to do

[@pinkypromisevintage]

You're pretty much the only authortuber I trust anymore. Thank you for making these videos!

[@sobeautifullywritten4318]

Agreed!!

[@mateosawyers6059]

I almost can't watch anyone else. ...thanks abbie, I wish I knew someone like you!!!😍

[@bilalkhares9337]

How come you don't trust anyone else?

[@aug1014]

@@bilalkhares9337 for me personally, a lot of writers on KZbin will talk a big game and give advice with a guise of authority, only for their actual books to be hot garbage

[@Pancakerman3]

@@aug1014 I also like shaelin writes

[@natseritt6252]

My problem isn’t info dumping, it’s being so afraid of it I don’t show any of my world at all. 😰

[@april_haruko]

Better to info dump in the draft and edit out what's too much than to not include it at all.

[@IsabelleMarot]

I do thissss

[@sophiejones3554]

@@april_haruko true. I would also add: look for ways to show aspects of your world through your characters. Look at how people from different real cultures behave on an everyday basis. Interjections, insults, table manners, greetings, gestures of respect and affection, titles and kinship terms: these are major ways to *show* your worldbuilding. Fashion is another very important and very overlooked one. Fashion always reflects what people think about themselves and the world: whether they are conscious of this or not. In real world cultures, certain traits of garments are emphasized and therefore are more likely to be commented on. “your sleeves are so full, I took you for a lord”: this character is not nobility, but they are trying to look like nobility. Perhaps because they want to be taken more seriously. How does the main character identify a person whose name they don’t know? By their clothes?what aspect of their outfit stands out? by their hair? what stands out about their style? How do they identify people of different social classes/groups? how do they identify different genders? If a woman comes to talk to the protagonist, tell us what identifies her as a woman to him. Not “a woman came over to me” but “a person, a woman judging by her braids, came over to me”.

[@asmaabdulah1954]

Best world building goes to avatar the last airbender. Hands down one of my favorite worlds.

[@OrpheusO-je9sd]

Um. Tolkien?

[@M3rtyville]

kinda disappointed how it's sequel handled things.

[@TheHunterOfYharnam]

avatar world building is just good enough tolkien is okeyish i just give him an S+ for languages

[@TheBigKaiju]

@@TheHunterOfYharnam Every time I see Tolkien mentioned he usually gets the highest praise for his worldbuilding. What's your opinion and what do you consider top tier?

[@TheHunterOfYharnam]

@@TheBigKaiju I like the world building in Fantastic Planet

[@BMarie774]

One suggestion I got in school was when you have an idea about a story, make up a super minor character of the world. This is just for yourself to use and read. Now, decide that that character is going to go on a trip throughout the land or world. Keep a travel diary for that character and write down about their day and the world around them. Once you finish, go through, and highlight only the most important things. This will allow for that information dump to happen but keeps it from the reader. You get to let’s regurgitate everything and all the ideas you have into something then clean it up later and us all that info as a org of outline of the world and society, etc.

[@taylardotson8100]

This is a great idea, thank you

[@bpoullos]

Divergent... the first and only book I've thrown across the room, so far.

[@bappadityabhattacharya4433]

Abbie has taught me to not buy that book

[@bappadityabhattacharya4433]

@@bora_updates not that bad

[@bookishwriter9460]

You talking about Narnia for several hours? I'd watch it! Just like I would definitely watch a video on plot-driven stories vs character-driven stories!

[@MykkiOnTheCusp]

I think world-building is one of my favorite pre-writing activities. I love to go "top down" and imagine elaborate worlds with cultures, languages, and emerging government bodies. Then I dig down into the nitty-gritty details (something my brain is less equipped at doing, but clearly needs to be done.) I'm realizing I might be the odd one out here, haha!

[@CarlottaStudios]

You're not alone in that! Personally, I've tried worldbuilding from small to big, but I just couldn't do it. It just made no sense to my brain and I stopped.

[@fabricofdreams.]

I'm jealous haha! World-building is the one thing about writing I hate with a burning passion

[@harshvora3227]

Nope, you're not

[@TheDcraft]

Even stories set in the real world still requires worldbuilding. Worldbuilding is essentially setting. No story exists in a vacuum. The setting always matters.

[@jwalker2301]

Why don’t you have millions of subs

[@Nayirg]

Every time I get stuck on one point of my writing I wonder if Abbie has covered this specific topic I'm struggling with, and the answer is usually 'yes'. THANK. YOU.

[@newtoatheism5968]

That’s why I’m doing a comic book so I can visually show some of the world

[@minacvijetinovic7799]

that's so cool

[@yoonglescomfydumb0309]

Same here i do graphic novel 😆 i mean the art will help us explain the world

[@oliviagiordano5987]

Oh wow this video is GOLD. Thank you for the amazing advice. And yes please, a video about character driven vs plot driven stories would be epic. I'd love that, especially considering that that's something I'm wrestling through with my current novel.

[@eugenia6356]

I had an info-dump in my first chapter, and then my classmates in advanced creative writing class told me I was telling, rather than showing. So I definitely agree that it has to show throughout the story's actions, scenes and characters.

[@spiritstig827]

My WIP is a soft sci fi set in the future on another planet. My MC works on a farm so the only thing the reader gets to know about the world for the first few chapters, are things that happens to the MC due to the environmental circumstances. Meanwhile I, the author, just wants to tell the reader every cool little detail about my world from the get-go. Stuff I love and think is so cool, that will probably never make it to the book lol. At least I get to tell my CPs about it.

[@kaylacaven8123]

At first I thought you said “My WAP is a soft..” lol

[@SouperBly]

@@kaylacaven8123 bruhh lol

[@AnotherDuck]

My cheat for infodumping is having the characters discuss world building stuff as it relates to their current situation. Another method is as small-talk when what they say is less important than other things in the scene, such as how they interact with each other. You’re probably not going to be able to fit a lot in there without making it seem unnatural, but that’s the point. It keeps it more spread out and less dumpy.

[@katgreer6113]

Good idea.

[@jishin75]

- We should land on the planet Googi and have some rests - said Paul. -On Googi? They don't even have oxygen on that planet- said Andy slightly choking himself - How can we rest? Do you mean 'eternal rest'?- The point is still: why does it matter that the Googians don't breath oxygen in this story? 😂😂😂 And I totally get this point.

[@stevefritz5182]

I wrote a scene of a shopping mall to place my reader there before introducing my character. Following your advice I can better see where I can describe the mall from the protagonist's eyes because she will see what she likes about a mall instead of the sterile environment I described. You are brilliant Abbie!

[@emmapatterson9797]

I feel like that’s actually a really good point about Divergent’s world building! As you were explaining it, I was comparing it to the Hunger Games’ world building (since they’re both popular dystopian YA novels from the 2010s), which is done really well, only really explaining things to us as they affect Katniss directly. And I think Harry Potter did when Narnia did, where we are exposed gradually to the wizarding world through Harry and how he experiences it. And it’s done in a way as to not overwhelm us, just get us hungry to learn more!

[@CyborgSlayerNila]

I literally just word dumped. ugh I need someone to slap my hand as I write

[@citrusoda]

I've been putting off writing my fantasy story because I didn't want to world build. Your video made it so much less overwhelming and I'm gonna try and start small. Thank you!

[@SpiritedHeart94]

When you talked about the world building questionnaires, all I could think is “Ain’t nobody got time for that!” 😅😂😂😂

[@meganmccullough]

I can't thank you enough for making videos that are actually HELPFUL and to the point! Thank you so much for showing us how to actually world-build with relevance! I always skip over parts in books with long descriptions/mostly irrelevant content, so it's awesome to know how to execute this in my own books! Thanks for another great video, Abbie!

[@jge8144]

When I was little, as much as I liked the duology book series, Lionboy, I recall that one thing I wasn't thrilled about them was the heavy descriptions. I was bored with it.

[@ellbee5139]

Alternately (for the non-plotters out there): if discovery writing/pantsing, keep track of everything about your world in a separate document. Everything you put in the book and everything you think of. A bit tedious? Sure. But also an easily searched side-document with all your world info in it. If you can't remember X about your world in Act 3 (or whatever), you can switch to the world document and search for it, for example. You get the essence of the know-all but don't tell-all method of worldbuilding, without having to do so in advance. Editing will still be a heel, I'm sure, but it's a way to keep world-stuff a bit more streamlined. Anyway! This is a great video, informative even if one isn't planning on worldbuilding in advance. And your positivity is pretty great. As an aside, as soon as you said "bad example" I just knew it was going to be Divergent. AuthorTube and BookTube both complain about Divergent's worldbuilding with relative frequency, haha. Bad worldbuilding go-to seems to be Divergent, around here. Almost to the point where I would like to see other "bad examples" -- I'm sort of "blind" to Divergent as a worldbuiding example, because it seems like everyone mentions the same thing/s. Maybe that's just me!

[@Ward_reads]

Love your writer's life wednesday videos! And I'd also love a plot X character driven story video :]

[@amandastevenson3970]

yes PLEASE give us a character- vs plot-driven breakdown. Watching your videos have done WONDERS for my writing and I can't get enough.

[@duanesunset2339]

There is a cult of adventurism in the main society where my story will take place. I have two main characters who are siblings. They are from an affluent family with a storied history steeped in legendary stories of heroism. They are struggling with the choices they have to make as they pursue carriers (brother wants to be a warrior and sister wants to be a wizard) that are far less glamorous than they let themselves believe. Thank you so much for your Preptober videos. I'm a very stiff writer that has spent the last decade or so writing a wiki for this world I've built for Dungeons & Dragons. You've really helped me tap into my storytelling capabilities that I've only used orally in gameplay. Daps

[@TorchwoodPandP]

Plot driven vs character driven! Yes please! Fantasy - friendship...

[@wellsfiction506]

Amazing! And yes, a video comparing the differences, pros, and cons of character driven vs plot driven stories is something I'd love to see. Thank you Abbie.

[@giseledute]

I agree so much about Divergent!

[@psinaomi]

I'm rewatching most of your videos now, because I've reached 100 pages of my first draft. You have no idea how much this video helped me, thank you so much!

[@amanyhamdy4152]

Oh my God, how do you know exactly what I want, love you so much and great video ❤️❤️

[@hickspnp8078]

This was helpful for writing my memoir in India. I am trying to immerse the readers into the legal system, life on the Ganges, hill station, and life living in the king's fort. Each of these places do matter to me and brought out my fears, desires, and misbeliefs. Thanks for spuring me on to create a story that can make a difference.

[@tillycomedy2194]

this is perfect!!! reading fan fiction is one of my biggest hobbies and it frustrates me when i click on a story that sounds very promising, only to be hit with text walls of exposition. i hate when i've scrolled 3 times and we're still in the middle of the same scene. other times, i click on a story that i'm apprehensive about, only to find myself glued to it for the next 3 days. and before i know, i've already finished it and it's become one of my favs!

[@marthamugnaio5400]

This is the first and only (so far^^) video I don't agree with. I personally could read tons of books only about worlds like a tourist guide and also books about the history of the magic world, but I absolutely love history, so maybe I'm just a freak. Also I need some kind of orientation and guidance when I'm "inserted" into a new world. It's like visiting a new country: I want to know more about their culture and history (even if it doesn't affect me directly as a tourist) and not just lying on the beach getting a sun burn.

[@peyton3364]

This helps so much. I’m writing a big fantasy series that has a lot of world building but I always struggle figuring out what to put in and what to keep to myself

[@wrenblomeley562]

I always make sure to take notes! Your videos are so helpful and encouraging!

[@hannahkay5800]

YASS NARNIA

[@artman2oo3]

I didn’t build the whole world of my book series before I started writing the first one. I created the characters first, though. Another thing I did was write the whole series, at least first or second drafts of each one, before trying to get the first one published - which I’m doing now. After doing more and more world-building with each installment, when I went back and edited, I had the luxury of being able to retrofit things in the previous books to set up things for payoffs in the later books. I love doing that. :)

[@mskmakes2516]

Thank you for this. I have watched many worlds building videos, most of them were saying the same thing. I wasn't expecting anything different from your video, but I clicked anyway. So glad I did!!

[@sobeautifullywritten4318]

Another amazing video! Thank you, Abbie :) I'm pretty much binge-watching your videos as I write my debut novel. :D

[@melissacala2585]

Your videos are always so amazing! I've been writing for over 10 years and I feel like I haven't gotten really solid advice/guidance in ages, but you've been a huge help. I'd be super interested in watching the character-driven vs plot-driven narrative video if you do end up putting it out :)

[@mariangriffin5197]

I am learning so much from your videos. You see things differently than I do and you're expanding my writing world! Thanks for a great look at introducing a new world by starting small.

[@elisabethjohnston2636]

Wow! Different, helpful, and inspiring, as usual! Thanks, Abbie!

[@trixiewalker6159]

Awesome advice, and I love your bookshelf!!

[@ObsidianLeo]

Abbie has one of those channels that you could watch for hours. Love how inciteful your videos are, since I'm getting more ideas on how to go about the story I hope to write :D

[@Obihann]

I subbed today & a vid came out. Love it😆

[@Adventurer4JC]

You are like the Sensei of writing. Thanks for all your hard work girl! Super clear and helpful!

[@sidneyburke1046]

Abbie: I don't like to be negative on this channel . . . Literally every negative element on this channel: DIVERGENT

[@MLBedits4U-bc1sp]

i've always been fascinated by the way writing stories is, i feel like i have always considered writing like you being able to create your own mini-world which is why i LOVE building characters and plots and worlds which is one of the many reasons why i love writing so much

[@lemonblue6282]

I'd love a list of Fantasy and or Epic Fantasy and or High Fantasy novels you recommend and why. There's a lot of fantasy out there but I love the way you break down writing and would love to see examples of what you point out in the form of fantasies. This world building one was great; I've never actually read Narnia so this was really helpful. Ty.

[@mallorycarpinski1160]

This is the 5th of your videos I've watched today (first day of discovery; drawn in by the strong female character trope problems video, fyi) and I really enjoy all the info you're giving, the way you lay it all out, and really love your style and decor! Just wanted to say all that 😁

[@roohvarz9942]

This is awesome. Currently I am working on a contemporary but am planning to write Fantasy later and this helps a lot. I would love to see a video on character driven and plot driven stories.

[@StephanieBourbon]

Hi Abbiee---I absolutely love this video!! I was going to create one about world building but you covered it so well that I'm just going to send people here!! You rock!

[@caceymalone4566]

I am such a discovery writer! I feel like I discover the world I'm creating right along with my characters as well as who my characters are. Maybe that's just because I am working on the first story that I feel like I must share with the world and I want it to change people. So maybe I'll build more of the world in advance in the future, but for now I'll just have a lot of cleaning to do on my first edit. I love the advice to only world build what is important to your characters. That is how I have written so far, but a friend was wanting to know more about the world and I just don't think it's time in the manuscript yet.

[@adamhanson7197]

This was extremely helpful. I would love to see more videos about world building from you! Thank you!

[@yyuikuni]

this is such a helpful channel and I found it at the same time I'm currently writing a book. I've been binge watching this channel for about an hour now and I find everything I watch very helpful to my story. I'm currently creating my world, and it matters to my protagonist because it would be the place where she will discover a new goal in life based on her experiences inside the world. Thank you for sharing this wonderful video. Subscribed :)

[@briannas.6741]

Great video! I'm writing sci-fi this November. The biggest aspect of the world that impacts my main character is the space ship he lives on, and what happens within the society living on that ship with him.

[@ThisIsJen129]

This video came in perfect timing! Love your advice videoes❤️

[@phoebea]

Thank you for this video. Your tips have helped with the pacing of my scenes so it's not bogged down by world building info dumps.

[@KutWrite]

Yes, I would like a video on character vs plot-driven stories. Thanks!

[@littlemissrachyl]

I loved the world building in "It" Derry, Maine wasn't some fantastical place, but I felt I still felt really immersed in the town and it grew up organically through the interactions of characters in the story.

[@enomisnekal4122]

Thank you!!! You totally explained world building in a concise and interesting format. I did really appreciate the good and bad examples. I'm in the midst of writing two novels where I have to do some world building (urban fantasy), and this video was so needed. You put into words what I was thinking about how I'd reveal aspects of the setting when it became important to the protagonist. I would love a video on character-driven vs plot-driven stories.

[@JHutzler13]

LOVE the color coded shelves

[@ruthaland4289]

So, I do not comment on anything ever, BUT... You brought up The Chronicles of Narnia and it's world building and now I just want the multiple-hour-long video on world building in Narnia. Great, great, great points on the differences in world building in these two narratives. The examples really helped explain your points. So much clarity! Thank you!

[@sarahgaither3626]

I'm so glad I found this video. I love scifi and really vibe-heavy fantasy and in my own writing I know I spend way too much time world-building and then have to pare it down. Thanks for the tips and breaking down why that happens and how to fix it.

[@kokyudosa]

@3:13 "We do things differently here" Yes, yes we do. :)

[@woadraven717]

That book shelf is satisfying.

[@samaforjindam4083]

Loving your content. Subscribed.

[@h.s.s.3881]

Just discovered your videos and Love, Love, Love your unique perspective on writing. I do have to stand up for my fellow pantsers - consider it this way; you do several outlines, my 'outlining process' is my first draft. My creativity fails in the 'outline' process; my brain just doesn't work that way. But my first draft is an equivalent process to your outlining.

[@jirsadcassam]

Thanks! Now I’ve got to rebuild my whole world for my nano! Haha really thank you very much, I’m doing a mind map with my story’s theme in the middle and trying to worldbuild from that.

[@tappkalina]

I would love to see a video about plot vs character driven stories. :)

[@galaxy_doggie2630]

Thank you so much for this video! I'm currently writing a book on a fantasy world, and I had info-dumped SO much information at the start of the book. The protaganist's family and her are like, a clan living in the woods because the world thinks of them as outcasts. (Ofc there's more debt to it) I info-dumped all the roles of the family, why the world hated them, and aspects about the kingdoms in the world. Reading it again, I'm so glad I changed it. Thank you!

[@shanthi4855]

I'm writing a modernish fantasy based pirate story and I really needed this!!!

[@rynwillis2840]

YES!! Plot driven vs character driven video!!

[@cheyannebrown4321]

This is so helpful! I would love to hear more about character driven stories.

[@marquis2500]

Laughing my butt off at 4:33. Love your content, Abbie. I’ve been following along for 2.5 years now and you have been such a huge inspo for me! So thank. Keep doing it, as you already are!

[@tulasiponaganti92]

I love it when she whispered

[@patriciomejia1114]

"I would like to talk about the worldbuilding of Narnia, but that would take a few hours." Does that mean 'Yes'. I'm all for it.

[@clairekirsch9523]

So helpful. Thanks a million!

[@LuciieSpirit]

I love this. What a relief. My novel was compared to Narnia so I feel like I am going in the right direction

[@lucijajerkovic1876]

I agree, we don't talk about Narnia enough!!! My favourite books/movies. Thank you for using them as a good example

[@TheCaitlynStark]

Yes please to a plot vs character driven video!!! Thank you for all your help!

[@wordsonNewYorkHarbour]

Abbie: Rock On. Me: WHY DOES IT MATTER?

[@Bag1]

I was literally thinking about divergent, when you said it. *mindblow*

[@danielwaugh2215]

this became useful, so less info dump, let the start small and let it build up slowly.

[@josephinecorichi5219]

Why are your videos so good??

[@LetThemEatCakeDX]

Amazing video, Abbie! ❤️❤️❤️Incoming wall of text because I just really like worldbuilding? In general, I think avoiding the info dump is key to almost everything in writing. My current manuscript is Sci-Fi and I feel it's really easy to go overboard with worldbuilding compared to other genres, to the point I've had to dial down a lot on a bunch of smaller ideas(and deleted a good amount too). But sometimes, I just want to have cool futuristic stuff like sentient vending machines and apartment decor holograms. It's not a problem if they interact organically. For example, the protagonist gets angry with a vending machine because it decided her daily calorie intake was too high or she's annoyed that maintenance still hasn't been by to fix that one glitchy wall panel by the bathroom. It's fine because you get to learn about how the character reacts to a variety of unique scenarios. But what about world details that don't directly interact with the character? I still think there's a home for these. I've made the compromise by keeping a good chunk of those smaller, irrelevant ideas and cutting their descriptions down to about a single line. I like to think this approach has worked wonders because it shows the world in motion and breathes a bit of life into the setting so everything seems just a bit more tactile and fun for the reader. Great for transitions between dialogue, as long as you're careful about not losing focus and how much description you're affording to what essentially amounts to background dressing. It all comes back to avoiding the info dump. Nowadays, I just can't imagine my world without all these little bits and pieces so I don't want to delete them(until editing down the word count becomes reality😂). Brainstorming those fantastical elements is one of my favorite things about writing Sci-Fi, actually. tl;dr version: info-dumping bad, immersion good.

[@jge8144]

That's a cool concept that vending machines tell u your caloric intake. And the protagonist getting angry is hilarious!

[@jge8144]

I see where you're coming from, though. Some of the thjngs in my world, a fantasy one, is where Kings and Queens aren't married, people's ranks are measured by minerals by Moh's scale: talc to having a diamond or pearl inserted on an individual's corundum staff or other primary fighting weapon. Again, cool concept!

[@paulapoetry]

Great video. I don't write Fantasy or Science Fiction, but still found the information useful. I write Modern Historical, and the 1980s and 1990s are basically my story world: realistic settings, always. I do adore Narnia, as a reader, though. Awesome example. I do also have an MC called Lucy (random side note!) Yes, please do a video about plot driven versus character driven stories. I know I will totally side with you, as I also believe that characters are the heart of amazing fiction. 💝

[@elainafranzen1669]

your channel is my comfort channel

[@caitywaity7]

Omg I’m currently writing a book and was kind of worried that I wasn’t explaining the world that much as it was only following my protagonist! Thanks for the reassurance!

[@happyfellowship4291]

It makes me smile that you used Narnia as a good example

[@hannahkay5800]

Also yeah i would defo watch a plot driven vs character driven video!

[@kateanders5101]

Oh yes you've talked about Narnia! Already crying! When I was little, Narnia was THE world for me and it also formed a very cute connection between my mom and I (e.g. when I saw Turkish delight in real life for the first time, I nearly screamed and sent a photo to my mom). And that 'secrete-passage-to-a-paradise' thing has influenced me a lot later in my writing life. In fact the most completed world-building stories I have now are written more or less in that way. And I screamed when one reader told me she could 'touch' the world I wrote in my story 😭

[@Willsing7]

Two thumbs up!! If I had more thumbs, they would be up too! Thanks so much for posting this! Yes, character vs plot please. One request: can you talk about exploring a world in the form of a first person journal?

[@naomiandbooks]

This was so good! I am definitely not a plotter and I already am a little ways into my story so I'll definitely have to world build more later, but like you said, I haven't figured out what matters or WHY it matters yet XD I'll get there and I'll add it in... hopefully. ;) Thank you for doing your videos they are so informative and fun!

[@BloomLotus7]

To the pantsers out there: yes, you can build the world as you go, and not before, but just put it in a separate document, then later see what is relevant to the story and what not. Problem solved. Works for me, so just wanted to share