Jabrosky
Banned
Links to my setting's map on DeviantArt and Tumblr
So I have this continent populated by four of the "classic" fantasy races: orcs, elves, dwarves, and humans. Don't worry, I have ideas on how to make each of these races distinct from how they're typically portrayed in fantasy, but that's not what I want to discuss in this thread. What I want to discuss is whether it's a good idea to develop your world before you have a story plotted out for it. Right now I have a few vague ideas for conflicts between my world's nations and races bubbling in my head, but that's about it as far as plot development goes. I know there is the old problem of world-builder's disease distracting you from the actual writing process, but on the other hand I feel I need to know at least a few things about my setting before I go writing anything. Which works better for you, starting the writing or plotting first or developing the world beforehand?
So I have this continent populated by four of the "classic" fantasy races: orcs, elves, dwarves, and humans. Don't worry, I have ideas on how to make each of these races distinct from how they're typically portrayed in fantasy, but that's not what I want to discuss in this thread. What I want to discuss is whether it's a good idea to develop your world before you have a story plotted out for it. Right now I have a few vague ideas for conflicts between my world's nations and races bubbling in my head, but that's about it as far as plot development goes. I know there is the old problem of world-builder's disease distracting you from the actual writing process, but on the other hand I feel I need to know at least a few things about my setting before I go writing anything. Which works better for you, starting the writing or plotting first or developing the world beforehand?