This is a casual variation on a reading circle. There is no real obligation to read each others' stories (although many of us do read each others' work already anyway), and no structured weekly discus...
I think my whole answer can be summarised with 'I only worldbuild if the story needs it'. But ofc you can always read the longer version of this sentence down below. :smiley:
- How much worldbuilding do you do? How detailed are your locations, cultures, historical events, story lore? Same with you guys. I add as I go. I build my MCs inner circles, then decide how supp characters’ circles fit into these two larger circles. But most of the details are crafted as I write the story. So if you asked me about Grim’s backstory before he was introduced, I’d have no idea. It’s only when I write that I tend to ask myself 1001 questions to see if it makes sense. My story lore is built in these moments. For worldbuilding and lore, I elaborate on them only as detailed as the plot needs it to be, but in my head, the lore is in some areas pretty fleshed out, like how the different worlds in B2W intersect, or how magic was birthed into existence. But I don’t include them because similarly like Curtis’s go-to coffee blend, unless the lore becomes relevant to the plot, they stay swimming in my head.
- What bits of lore/worldbuilding do you get excited about, and what do you not care for (for writing and reading both)? I like reading any lore as long as it’s relevant or I’m invested. I respond best to emotions, so character lore/history/relationship is something that naturally piques my interest. As long as I like/hate them, or that they are characters that have established their importance to the MC, I put extra effort to understand it.
I like visual worldbuilding that conveys relevance to the story or character at their present moment, which is why I love looking at pictures. I like looking at the character’s clothes, their accessories, their bedroom, the neighborhood. I’ve studied character’s fingers before to see if they’re married or not. This is a bit tricky though because for simlit, it’s hard to know if the writer puts effort in these mundane details, especially when there’s only a limited amount of furniture/clothes if no cc is used. So I can’t tell sometimes if a scene has been decorated according to the culture/character. But for stories that I know the authors like to include easter eggs and personality in their scenes, I pay extra attention to the pictures.
- What do you think about stories that have worldbuilding or lore explained before the plot starts? I have trouble visualising lengthy descriptions. I love and admire writers who write elaboratively and clearly, but my vocab is too low for me to picture what the scenes look like. I am extremely grateful for simlit writers who include pictures. On days when my brain works, I’ll read; and others, I skip.
I’m more lenient with lore because I assume those will come in handy in the future, but similarly, I have a threshold when it comes to worldbuilding lore that is presented but not interwoven into the plot. I’ll be able to take it in small bites, but if done repeatedly and I don’t see the relevance, I doze.
Alternatively, what do you think about stories that require some (for lack of a better term) “homework” to understand? Er? What does this mean? Okay, so something like if I quoted White Wraiths in my story but didn’t explain what they are and expect you to know from an external appendix? How strange. Are there stories like this? I’d probably think the story is half-done and be very confused in the process. Or that it was intended for a specific audience and I’m not one of them.
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