Comments on: [GUEST POST] S. Andrew Swann on 6 Important Techniques for World Building (+ Giveaway!)

By: rinib

rinib — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 00:46:06 +0000

Until you pointed things out in your examples, I did not even think about how subtle the world-building process can be. I guess I am too involved with the story to pay attention how they are sprinkled around. Thanks!

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 05:14:17 +0000

Very interesting post and perfectly timed. I have been trying to figure out how to help my neice with her writing. This hit a number of the concepts I wanted to communicate. Thank you.

By: S Andrew Swann

S Andrew Swann — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 05:11:35 +0000

Matt: Thanks for supporting your friendly neighborhood sf author.
Andy: Just look at Star Trek, how many plots would be rendered moot if everyone just worked out the implications of the transporter? You don’t need photon torpedoes, just teleport a large mass in front of a ship going at any reasonable velocity. . .

Erin: it depends on the edit. Most of the time my copyedits haven’t changed significant bits of the history or background. If they do, it’s usually a misunderstanding. (Such as when I got Hostile Takeover back and they’d merged the Terran Council with the Terran Executive Command. . . that was a big oops.)

Raymond: That would certianly be an interesting comparison

Chris: It’s always annoyed me when I’ve seen SF set a few centuries in the future and it seems to have no historical continuity with the present day. I set my novel roughly 500 years from now, and it stands to reason that the current world will have as much influence on that one as the world of 1500 has on ours.

Joerg: Glad you found it enlightening. A lot of this has been just me figuring out how to pound it into my own head so I have some clue what exactly I’m trying to do.

By: Joerg Grau

Joerg Grau — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 02:35:09 +0000

It makes you want to slap your forehead when you hear so succinctly explained, what so many books/articles/workshops try to explain.

Of course it is a lot easier to understand it then it is to put it into practise.

The power of the "blipvert your world" is not an easy thing to learn. I loved the books in the series I have read so far (all the Moreau books and half of the hostile takeover trilogy, the Apotheosis Trilogy is next) and realize how cleverly you have used that specific technique from the very beginning.

Thanks for sharing this insight!

Joerg

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 22:28:19 +0000

I've read the first two books so far. One of the things about the world building that really appeals to me is how the interstellar nations have clear, identifiable roots in Earth cultures.

By: John D.

John D. — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:40:51 +0000

D'oh! Yes -- 2011. Color me silly. Fixing now.

By: Erin Hartshorn

Erin Hartshorn — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:26:06 +0000

Thanks for the helpful breakdown of how you put the world-building into your novels.

On the subject of the files you keep -- the character profiles and historical background -- do you ever need to refer to that when you're dealing with a copyedit? As in, "No, we have to stet this because of X, Y, and Z?" Or do you go the other way around and change some of your notes based on comments from your editor or copyeditor?

By: Raymond Smith

Raymond Smith — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 21:01:22 +0000

Interesting article I am currently reading some Terry Brooks books would enjoy reading these and doing a comparison. Thank you.

By: Raymond Smith

Raymond Smith — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 20:57:59 +0000

All very interesting please enter me I am currently reading some Terry Brooks books would enjoy comparing these to them. Thank you ps.. it is 2011 hope you know 8)

By: Andy W

Andy W — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 18:55:33 +0000

Yeah I get that one, I can think of half a dozen novels where you look at the technology and then look at the problems the novel resolves around and can't understand why those problems exist... but I also like it when authors tackle such issues and put enough effort into creating a situation where they make sense.... Often just a couple of sentences is enough to square the circle, and that can also make a great plot hook to explore the issue.

By: Matt Caulder

Matt Caulder — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:26:38 +0000

I'm going to buy these books anyway, so it would be nice to win them

By: S Andrew Swann

S Andrew Swann — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 17:03:00 +0000

Andy W: That’s one of the more dangerous world building pitfalls out there, putting elements into the story that are self-contradictory. It’s easy to fall so much in love with a premise that you’re oblivious to the fact that it doesn’t work with what’s already there (My fave example is having famine or other scarcity-induced problems in a society energy-rich enough to have high-powered laser/blaster/beam weapons.)

Jeff: That’s me being impatient to get to the good stuff

Michael, Stephen, Dawn, Chris: thanks for stopping by and thanks for the nice comments.

By: Chris Angelucci

Chris Angelucci — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:46:33 +0000

Excellent advice. Thanks for bringing this author to our attention. I would love to read his work.

By: dawn the glass beadmaker

dawn the glass beadmaker — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:03:03 +0000

oooh…this sounds like a great read. I’m wishlisting it now. I love good space opera in well built universes

By: Stephen Rider

Stephen Rider — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 15:26:40 +0000

Looks like a really neat series, I'm going to have to check this out, one way or another.