[Shannon]

How do people create their worlds?
I know I draw a random map and have a look at the geography before I start adding cultures, then edit it to give it a more realistic feel. Do any other people have a similair approach or do you do something completely different?

[gabador]

I created my world by a few basic ideas in the beginning. I drew creatures, I drew people, I made up characters. I worked out the magic system, and the beginning of it.
Then I drew a map for clarity, for it is always useful to refer to a map for reference.
I then made up the country names, based on the history of the world, Gods, World creation, creatures added, put the plot in the middle of that world. And voila.
You have your world.

[milamber_reborn]

I started writing my novel, then when I needed characters to travel, I put the cities and rivers I needed on the map. I update it when I need to.

[Ciuva]

When I was building my world, there was never a plan behind it. I had a main person and wrote a novel about a long journey, and created countries, villages, cultures and even some pieces of languages as the journey went on. The novel never got finished, and before I tried once more, I looked back on my world and used what I already knew about it, and then built the world more detailed and more realistic. But I haven't created half of the cultures yet, but I'll do it when I need them! I'm not a good planner at all...

[Qin]

Read a lot of history books. Then read some more history books. Then read some philosophy books. Then read a lot of fantasy books. Then read some more history and philosophy books. Then read one more history book. Then you can begin making your own playground.

And when you're done, read a history book http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/wink.gif

[Shannon]

I know what you mean Qin. I'm studying ancient history and philosophy at uni so i'm pretty set for the reading, it's all required of me anyway :-P

[Bardos]

As I've said before, to write fantasy, you need to be a historian, sociologist and phsycologist (sp?). But how many fantasy writer are historians, sociologists or phycologist? Very few or none (at least, none I know). Think about why.

[saintjon]

Forgive me for being a bit put-off by that statement. I am none of those but I know I could write a sweet fantasy yarn if I spent the time. Fantasy writing isn't solely the province of university students you know!

[e-Morgana]

Ummmm............ Sara Douglass has a PhD in early modern (16th century) English history and was a lecturer in medieval history in La Trobe University, Bendigo, Australia.

Just to acknowledge that there is at least one historian fantasy writer around. http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[Eventine]

I'm 98% sure Kate Elliott is a historian as well. not sure what her qualifications are though...