I was thinking about ideas and how amazing the world was that I was creating.
And, I realized that I was not approaching my story with the integrity it deserves.. it was escapism from the crap that I was living in. While escapism has its purpose (as readers and authors, we must know this), I...
Really, footnotes are not the right feel unless your story is being written as an 'academic' treatise on a society. Might be a bit boring, though.
I say, stick with appendices. Don't feel like you have to be too specific in the story itself. Part of the fun of a world-building fiction is that...
I completely agree with Terry. Use the language for proper nouns, spells, etc. Ceremonies are a good place. And, in that case, you can provide translations or a way to decipher.
Here's the deal, though. Don't be lame about your language creation. If you are going to do it... KNOW how languages...
While a lot of people have problems with the fonts and stuff, I really dislike the figure on the cover. If you removed that, moved the title up, and made some modifications... I dunno.
There are some things that could work. I like the cover, but it's a little dark? The swords are nice! Maybe...
It's been mentioned already, but I want to emphasize: You need in world reasons for everything in your history.
But, don't TELL them you have reasons in world... show them.
Describe the repercussions in the world, but not be like: "Juju god made this happen."
I think the most effective world-building stories never actually tell us all the details in the story. Rather, there is a story to tell, and you tell it... then, maybe you list out the histories/descriptions/maps/etc. in appendices or other History Books. That way, people have the option to...
Check out The Seventh Tower Series by Award-Winning, Children's Fantasy Author Garth Nix
The Seventh Tower series has a little bit of this "academy" feel and spells and such. Do you have a good reason why there are so many ranks?
Don't let it be arbitrary... write out the scenes where the...
I choose a language other than my own, and then come up with nonsense syllables that may work in that language.
Rahj, south asia.
Hielah, germanic/sanskrit
Pipr, germanic (from piper).
Moriah, hebraic.
Yämdril, germanic and tribal.
So, I combined some traditions. Look up cool languages...
Hi everybody.
I began the process of worldbuilding a few months ago. It has been inspired, of course, by the great world builders of our age. Tolkien to Paolini... I really admire the work people put into building complex societies. Being a bit of a nerd, I set out to create my own story. I...