Creating New Worlds by DL Larson

I noticed the challenge I had written last May, 2010. The challenge I made sits in written form on my desk as a tent card, reminding me every time I sit at my computer that I made a contract. My challenge was to complete my WIP, Renzo the Reliant, by May 20, 2011.

Meeting my challenge will be very difficult, but this week I've been reviewing my plot, character development and making sure my sci-fi world is consistent and believable to my readers. Since this is my third book in this make-believe world, I don't want to create one thing only to realize I did it differently in a previous book. For readers to accept my story, it has to be real, it has to be the same forward or backward. I can't change the nature of things I created, unless I can explain my way out of it.

When creating another world, I explore ideas similar to creating a character. Once I've gotten the basics down, I finalize the structure by writing lists. If Crystal Mountain is by the Lordy's River in one book, it sure better be there in the next one too. If one character came from a certain place in book one, he needs to be from the same place in book three. All the same principles apply to creating a new world as when creating a new character.

By keeping notes, I've created a quick reference of the world I created. If I've forgotten how to spell the name of something, I look it up on my list. It saves time and aggravation when writing.

If you have other ways of keeping your characters or new world consistent and true, share your ideas with us here at Acme Authors.

Til next time ~

DL Larson