I decided to write a blog to give an idea of how an author like myself goes about creating a story and a world. Of course there are many valid ways to go about creating such a world, and my process will probably seem rather slapdash and chaotic in contrast.
I’m not the sort of author that likes to plan my stories too much before writing, as this takes a lot of the fun out of it for me. I like to travel along with my characters and discover the plot as they do. As a result, I often only have a few key ideas in my head at the beginning of the process. As I go along, various parts will begin to flesh out, and I will spot parts that need more developing (even if I never end up putting it into the book). It’s only with those parts sorted out that I can create a consistent story.
In this particular story, I’m trying to keep a lot secret from the reader at first, so (to avoid spoilers) I can’t reveal too much of what I’ve already sorted out. Of course, I’ve dropped hints from the very beginning, but I think it would be nice to let the reader speculate before it’s finally revealed in it’s entirety.
Before I ramble on for too long, here is a rough sketch of my completed map for Axis. It helped me to solidify how my world works, and makes it easier for me to plot a course for my characters as they move about. Once I’m done writing the story, I will plot on key places as well. This is a fantasy story that follows two men as they try to find out what happened in their pasts.
There’s an interesting explanation behind why the planet is this shape, so I can’t wait until it’s revealed later in the series. I may not plan the actual plot too much in advance, but I make sure the backstory and world building is clear. This helps to solidify the world in my mind, and I have my own fundamental rules to follow so that things don’t get too out of control.
Aerone Grey 