How to build a fictional world - Kate Messner

Summary

This script explores the art of world-building in fiction, drawing parallels between the consistency of fictional universes and our own. It delves into the creative process, emphasizing the importance of establishing a setting, timeline, societal rules, and daily life to create a believable world. The speaker shares personal insights on crafting detailed environments that influence characters and conflicts, ultimately shaping compelling narratives.

Takeaways

• 🧙 Gandalf is one of five wizards in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth, sent by the Valar to guide inhabitants against Sauron, with a mortal body but an immortal spirit.
• 🎬 In the Matrix, awakened humans can quickly learn skills like flying a helicopter by hacking the neon binary code, while the One can do so effortlessly with just a pair of shades.
• 😺 Cheshire cats, a whimsical reference, can juggle their own heads, symbolizing the fantastical elements in fictional worlds.
• 📱 The script humorously mentions that iPads are rudimentary compared to the magical and advanced technology in fictional worlds.
• 🏉 No Quidditch match ends until the Golden Snitch is caught, highlighting the importance of rules in fictional sports and worlds.
• 🔢 The answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything is 42, a nod to Douglas Adams' 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'.
• 🌍 Fictional worlds operate within a spectrum of physical and societal rules, making them believable and comprehensible for readers.
• 📚 The Law of Gravity is a real-life constant, but in the world of 'Harry Potter', it doesn't apply within the pages of the books, showing the power of fiction over reality.
• 🛠 Authors of science fiction and fantasy create intricate worlds with rules, maps, languages, and cultures that give rise to compelling stories.
• 🧠 The process of understanding fictional worlds involves both logical and emotional decoding of complex narratives that can deeply affect readers.
• ✍️ To build a fictional world, start with a basic place and time, create a timeline, and brainstorm answers to detailed questions about the world's rules, government, beliefs, and daily life.
• 🌟 Once the world is well-defined, set characters free within it to explore how the world shapes them and what conflicts may arise, leading to a compelling story.

Q & A

What role do the wizards, including Gandalf, play in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth?

In Tolkien's world, wizards like Gandalf are sent by the Valar to guide the inhabitants of Middle Earth in their struggles against the dark force of Sauron. Gandalf's spirit is immortal, allowing for his resurrection from Gandalf the Grey to Gandalf the White.

How does the Matrix in the Wachowski's script enable humans to learn complex skills quickly?

In the Matrix, awakened humans can link up and hack the neon binary code to rapidly acquire skills such as flying a helicopter, or even bypassing the need for physical transportation if they are the One.

What is the significance of the number 42 in the context of the script?

The number 42 is presented as the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, highlighting the theme of fictional worlds having their own consistent rules and logic.

How does the script relate the suspension of disbelief in fictional worlds to the real world?

The script suggests that the Law of Gravity, a real-world constant, is suspended within the fictional world of 'Harry Potter,' emphasizing how readers can immerse themselves in these worlds despite their fantastical nature.

What is the process of creating a fictional world according to the script?

The script outlines a process that includes establishing a basic place and time, creating a timeline, brainstorming answers to detailed world questions, and considering day-to-day life aspects such as weather, society, and technology.

What are some of the societal and governance questions the script suggests to consider when building a fictional world?

The script recommends considering the type of government, who holds power, societal values, and the rules and punishments for breaking them within the fictional world.

How does the script emphasize the importance of understanding the world one creates for storytelling?

The script suggests that understanding the fictional world as well as the characters do, and knowing how the world shapes its inhabitants, is crucial for creating a compelling story and believable conflicts.

What role does imagination play in creating fictional worlds according to the script?

Imagination is essential for creating fictional worlds, as it allows authors to build intricate settings, characters, and narratives that can captivate readers and challenge their perspectives.

What is the relationship between the fictional worlds and the real world as depicted in the script?

The script illustrates that fictional worlds, while separate from the real world, can influence and change a reader's perspective on reality, showing a dynamic interplay between fiction and reality.

How does the script encourage aspiring writers to start creating their own fictional worlds?

The script encourages writers to start with a basic place and time, delve into the details of their world, and consider the impact of the world on its inhabitants, ultimately setting their characters free to see what stories emerge.

Outlines

00:00

🌌 The Magic of World-Building in Fiction

This paragraph delves into the concept of world-building in fiction, drawing parallels between the meticulous construction of fictional universes like J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth and the Matrix's digital reality. It emphasizes the importance of consistency in physical and societal rules, which lend believability and depth to these imagined worlds. The paragraph also touches on the transformative power of storytelling, where authors create intricate worlds that resonate with readers, sometimes even shaping their perspectives on reality. The speaker shares personal experience in writing, suggesting that imagination and a willingness to explore one's own fictional universes are the keys to successful world-building.

Keywords

💡Wizards

Wizards in the script refer to the magical beings from J.R.R. Tolkien's 'Middle Earth' series, specifically Gandalf, who is one of the five Istari sent by the Valar to aid in the fight against evil. The concept of wizards is integral to the fantasy theme, illustrating the intersection of magic and mortality, as seen with Gandalf's transformation from Grey to White.

💡Matrix

The Matrix is a fictional computer-generated reality from the Wachowski's film series. In the script, it represents a world where humans can 'hack' the system to learn skills instantly, such as flying a helicopter. This concept ties into the broader theme of exploring alternate realities and the malleability of knowledge and experience within them.

💡Cheshire Cat

The Cheshire Cat is a character from Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland,' known for its ability to disappear and reappear at will, including its own head. In the script, it serves as an example of the fantastical elements that can exist within fictional worlds, adding to the whimsy and imagination that define such realms.

💡Quidditch

Quidditch is a magical sport from the 'Harry Potter' series, where the game ends only when the Golden Snitch is caught. The script uses Quidditch to exemplify the unique societal rules and customs that can be found in fictional universes, contributing to their depth and believability.

💡42

The number 42 is famously cited as 'the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything' in Douglas Adams' 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.' In the script, it humorously underscores the idea that some fictional elements are intentionally absurd, yet still accepted within their narrative context.

💡Law of Gravity

The Law of Gravity is a fundamental physical principle that the script uses metaphorically to describe the power of storytelling. It suggests that within the pages of 'Harry Potter,' the laws of physics can be suspended, allowing for the magical elements that defy our real-world understanding.

💡Fictional Worlds

Fictional Worlds are the imagined settings where stories take place, as discussed extensively in the script. They are characterized by their own rules and logic, which are essential for creating immersive and believable narratives. The script emphasizes the importance of understanding and defining these worlds to engage readers.

💡Timeline

A timeline is a chronological representation of events that shape a fictional world, as mentioned in the script. It helps in understanding the history and development of that world, providing context for the current state of affairs and the motivations of its inhabitants.

💡Society

Society in the script refers to the social structures, norms, and values within a fictional world. It is crucial for establishing the cultural backdrop against which characters interact and the societal rules they must navigate, affecting the dynamics and conflicts in the story.

💡Technology

Technology in the context of the script encompasses the tools, inventions, and advancements within a fictional world. It can range from magical artifacts in a fantasy setting to futuristic gadgets in a sci-fi narrative, influencing the lifestyle and capabilities of the characters.

💡World-Building

World-Building is the process of creating and detailing the setting of a fictional narrative, as described in the script. It involves defining the geography, history, culture, and rules of the world, which are vital for crafting a rich and engaging story environment.

Highlights

Gandalf is one of five wizards sent by the Valar to guide inhabitants of Middle Earth against Sauron.

Gandalf's spirit is immortal, as seen in his death and resurrection.

In the Matrix, awakened humans can quickly learn skills by hacking the neon binary code.

The One in the Matrix can perform extraordinary feats like flying without a helicopter.

Cheshire cats can juggle their own heads in fictional worlds.

iPads are considered rudimentary in some fictional settings.

Quidditch matches in Harry Potter end when the Golden Snitch is caught.

The answer to life, universe, and everything is 42, as per The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

Fictional worlds operate consistently within a spectrum of physical and societal rules.

The Law of Gravity metaphorically holds the popularity of the Harry Potter series.

Authors of science fiction and fantasy build intricate worlds with rules, maps, languages, and cultures.

Well-crafted fictional worlds allow readers to understand them as well as the characters do.

The power of storytelling can change a reader's perspective on the real world.

Imagination and willingness to live in one's own world are essential for writing a novel.

Building a fictional world starts with establishing a basic place and time setting.

Creating a timeline helps understand how the world came to be and its current state.

Brainstorming answers to specific questions helps flesh out the details of a fictional world.

Considering the day-to-day life, technology, and societal values is crucial for world-building.

Once the world is well-understood, setting characters free within it can reveal the story.

Understanding how the created world shapes individuals and potential conflicts is key to storytelling.

Transcripts

In J.R.R.'s world,

Gandalf is one of five wizards sent by the Valar

to guide the inhabitants of Middle Earth

in their struggles against the dark force of Sauron.

Gandalf's body was mortal,

subject to the physical rules of Middle Earth,

but his spirit was immortal,

as seen when he died as Gandalf the Grey

and resurrected as Gandalf the White.

According to the Wachowski's script,

an awakened human only has to link up

and hack the neon binary code of the Matrix

to learn how to fly a helicopter in a matter of seconds.

Or if you are the One, or one of the Ones,

you don't even need a helicopter, you just need a cool pair of shades.

Cheshire cats can juggle their own heads.

iPads are rudimentary.

No Quidditch match ends until the Golden Snitch is caught.

And the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe,

and everything

is most certainly 42.

Just like real life, fictional worlds operate consistently

within a spectrum of physical and societal rules.

That's what makes these intricate worlds

believable, comprehensible, and worth exploring.

In real life, the Law of Gravity holds seven book sets of "Harry Potter"

to millions of bookshelves around the world.

We know this to be true, but we also know

that ever since J.K. typed the words

wizard, wand, and "Wingardium Leviosa,"

that Law of Gravity has ceased to exist

on the trillions of pages resting between those bookends.

Authors of science fiction and fantasy literally build worlds.

They make rules, maps, lineages,

languages, cultures, universes,

alternate universes within universes,

and from those worlds sprout story, after story, after story.

When it's done well,

readers can understand fictional worlds and their rules

just as well as the characters that live in them do

and sometimes, just as well or even better

than the reader understands the world outside of the book.

But how?

How can human-made squiggles on a page

reflect lights into our eyes that send signals to our brains

that we logically and emotionally decode as complex narratives

that move us to fight,

cry, sing, and think,

that are strong enough

not only to hold up a world

that is completely invented by the author,

but also to change the reader's perspective

on the real world that resumes

only when the final squiggle is reached?

I'm not sure anyone knows the answer to that question,

yet fantastical, fictional worlds are created everyday

in our minds, on computers,

even on napkins at the restaurant down the street.

The truth is your imagination and a willingness to, figuratively,

live in your own world

are all you need to get started writing a novel.

I didn't dream up Hogwarts or the Star Wars' Cantina,

but I have written some science thrillers for kids and young adults.

Here are some questions and methods I've used

to help build the worlds in which those books take place.

I start with a basic place and time.

Whether that's a fantasy world or a futuristic setting in the real world,

it's important to know where you are and whether you're working in the past,

present, or future.

I like to create a timeline

showing how the world came to be.

What past events have shaped the way it is now?

Then I brainstorm answers to questions

that draw out the details of my fictional world.

What rules are in place here?

This covers everything from laws of gravity,

or not,

to the rules of society

and the punishments for individuals who break them.

What kind of government does this world have?

Who has power, and who doesn't?

What do people believe in here?

And what does this society value most?

Then it's time to think about day-to-day life.

What's the weather like in this world?

Where do the inhabitants live and work and go to school?

What do they eat

and how do they play?

How do they treat their young and their old?

What relationships do they have with the animals and plants of the world?

And what do those animals and plants look like?

What kind of technology exists?

Transportation?

Communication?

Access to information?

There's so much to think about!

So, spend some time living in those tasks and the answers to those questions,

and you're well on your way to building your own fictional world.

Once you know your world as well as you hope your reader will,

set your characters free in it and see what happens.

And ask yourself,

"How does this world you created shape the individuals who live in it?

And what kind of conflict is likely to emerge?"

Answer those questions, and you have your story.

Good luck, future world-builder!