This is the third of Dave’s video lecture series. David Farland has trained more #1 New York Times Bestselling authors than anyone else.
One of the keys to creating a blockbuster story is to set the tale in another time and another place. The ability to transport a reader is vital, no matter what time or place you set the tale in.
In this lecture, Dave takes you through the fundamentals of worldbuilding in science fiction and fantasy, explaining the basics of how to create planets, new life forms, civilizations, and magic and power systems, in order to bring your world to life.
Worldbuilding 1: Do I Need to Build a World?
Do the research needed to create a believable world. Dave talks about the different kinds of planetoids, like asteroids, terrestrial planets, gas giants, and stars. He discusses the make-up a planet has to have to sustain life and
alternatives to having an iron and carbon planet like Earth.
Worldbuilding 2: Creating an Atmosphere for Your World
A planet’s atmosphere depends on its gravity. There is a theory that in order to have an atmosphere, you need at least one moon, and usually, more than one moon. An alternative to that is to have your planet circling a very large planet.
Worldbuilding 3: Where are Your Habitable Zones?
The way our planet travels, how fast it travels, and its tilt influences its calendar and seasons. Dave talks about how you can play with a planet’s orbit and tilt to change its habitable zones. Dave discusses tectonic plates and how they
affect geography. Where your people choose to build cities needs to make sense.
Worldbuilding 4: Engineering Plants and Animals
Create a flora and fauna bible for your world. Dave talks about how he came up with some of the creatures in his Runelords series. Be careful not to get so caught up in worldbuilding that you don’t ever write your story.
Worldbuilding 5: Developing Societies
Create a world that offers enough potential conflicts to keep it interesting. Dave looks to Frank Herbert’s Dune as an example. Your world should arouse a sense of wonder by being unique. What are you interested in that you can bring into your world?
Worldbuilding 6: Creating Diverse Power Systems
Consider where the intelligent life on your planet came from. Dave talks about the theory of evolution. Think about what your people eat and how they get their food. Brainstorm what kind of trade services your people have. People who understand power systems overpower those who don’t.
Worldbuilding 7: Languages and History
95% of language is nonverbal, so look at tones of voice and gestures for you cultures. Dave talks about how languages evolve. History can influence a people and culture. Dave identifies the different kind of histories there are.
