Simon Berger on Unsplash
In the day 29 post, I asked about the five to ten characteristics of a story world and offered three examples. In part we’re thinking about the way we set up different kinds of conflict that affect the pursuit of what we need as humans. It helps to consider the qualities of the story world we need to allow the forces of antagonism to threaten the needs of the protagonist and other characters. But we shouldn’t forget the qualities of the world that make it possible for the protagonist and other characters to meet those needs.
The human needs we’ll want to consider include those in Maslow’s Hierarchy: survival, safety, belonging/connection, respect/esteem, self-actualization, and transcendence. It’s true that the problem and primary force of antagonism will emphasize one of those needs in particular. But stories are engaged in the transmission of knowledge, which means, the protagonist and other characters will need to contend with needs that at least appear to be in conflict.
Here are some questions to help develop the story world.
World Foundation: Is there a clear starting point or analogue (e.g., Victorian era for Steampunk, modern day for contemporary fiction, near future for some science fiction)? This is like a sourdough starter for your story world.
Physical laws: How do physics, magic, or other fundamental rules operate in this world? If the story is realistic, this will likely be the same as in our world. If the story is a fantasy, like The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson, you’ll need to consider what’s different.
Geography and environment: What is the terrain, climate, and physical setting? How will this environment affect the pursuit of needs?
Technology and innovation: What tools, inventions, or advancements exist? The existence of mobile phones, for example, changes so many other behaviors and what’s possible.
Social structure: What hierarchies, rules, and norms govern society? Here, we’re interested in unwritten norms that dictate behavior in addition to enacted laws. For example, in contemporary life, most people respect a red velvet rope when they encounter one, even though it’s not a sturdy obstacle.
Economics and scarcity: What resources are valued? What is plentiful and therefore cheap? What is scarce and therefore expensive or difficult to obtain? Here’s an interesting example: In the world of The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, fuel is so cheap that it’s more efficient to keep a tractor running during lunch than to restart it.
Causality: How does cause and effect operate? Are there unique consequences to certain actions? If there is a system of magic, for example, how does it impact cause and effect?
Cultural dynamics: What are the belief systems, traditions, and cultural practices? How difficult is it to move up in society?
Power dynamics: Who holds authority, on what basis, and how is it exercised?
Outsider experience: How does the world treat newcomers or those who don’t fit in?
Conflict sources: What conditions give rise to the primary forces of antagonism?
Change catalysts: What factors can incite change in this world (e.g., external threats, internal pressures)?
Political structure: How is the political system organized? What are its rules?
Access Points: How do characters enter or exit the main setting? Are their limitations?
Character-World Relationship: How does the world interact with or reflect its inhabitants?
Internal Logic: What makes sense in this world that might not make sense in other worlds?
Challenges and dangers: What threats exist in this world?
This post is part of a 75-day writing challenge and experiment. From September 9 through November 22, I'll be posting daily thoughts on writing, storytelling, and creativity based on recent readings or reflections. While my intention was to keep them very short—250 to 400 words—I've found that this range doesn't give me enough space to cover these topics adequately. I aim to keep them brief enough to be read quickly, but they will often be longer than 400 words.
At the end of the challenge, I will organize and revise the material with intention. For now, the object is to explore and share.