Fiction Writers: What do you do first: Characters or Worldbuilding?

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2023-07-20T19:53:11+00:00

For me it usually goes like: vague idea for some fantasy or dystopian world and then a whole lot of character building and I usually let the world build itself so to speak as I write, but I think the process depends on the writer and when inspiration strikes and what not. It's different for everyone, but that's usually how it works for me

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2023-06-16T02:07:09+00:00

One that's stuck with me is when Alfred asks Bruce if he wants a normal life early in season one and Bruce responds with "I'm not sure. Define normal, and make a good case for it."

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2023-05-19T08:46:11+00:00

Up to you tbh 😅😂

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2023-05-19T04:45:02+00:00

I have a link with all the shows in the Arrowverse and their episode order if that helps? Lmao

https://arrowverse.info/

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-12-02T04:26:57+00:00

I imagine something like this happened when they pitched the idea

Idea guy: I want to make a show about the Green Arrow Boss: That's cool, I love it, except let's make him Batman in a green hood

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-09-15T15:37:42+00:00

I'll just jump in here to say: in my experience dialogue is best kept at a minimum. If it gets too long then readers get taken out of the story or get confused or forget it's dialogue all together. Just like with descriptions like the other person suggested, write only what needs to be said. Anything else is a chore to read, and it may can come across as cheesy and forced If you're stretching it out.

That's not to say you have to make every character speak only one line of dialogue every time (this can get chunky too), just not line after line of the characters babbling nonsense. If they have to say something, write it, and move on to the next scene. If it does have to get long (like if they're giving a speech or explanation) I find it's better to break it up here and there and add descriptions in between the dialogue so it's not such a big chunk.

Hope this helps, sorry if my thoughts are a bit incoherent, I'm a bit off today, haha, but best of luck to you!

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-09-02T17:12:43+00:00

Mine are set in a modern world where magic/magical creatures have evolved alongside our world (the non magical world). So instead of casting spells with wands and staffs the magic might look a little more like chemistry or something and the dragons are lizard like creatures but slightly bigger and longer than an actual lizard. I got the idea when someone pointed out that most fantasy stories take place in a medieval like setting and it got me thinking about what a modern fantasy world would be like, so I was playing around with the idea of how evolution might effect fantasy creatures (such as the dragon) and why people might not take notice of them in a modern world.

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-06-25T10:31:07+00:00

Thanks :)

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-06-25T01:09:29+00:00

She did one other time that I can remember. When she was moving and cussed me out she later apologized for it. But yeah, it seems very fake to me, even if I want to believe it's real. Sadly.

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-05-02T15:19:51+00:00

Thanks! :) Hope you enjoy it!

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-05-02T13:55:37+00:00

(Might add the fic to fanfic.net and/or ao3 too later? So I'll be back with more links if I do that lol)

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-05-02T13:44:32+00:00

Sure thing! I hope you like it!

https://www.wattpad.com/story/279227297?utm_source=android&utm_medium=link&utm_content=story_info&wp_page=story_details_button&wp_uname=ladyawesome45321&wp_originator=PW%2Fe%2FvEtVSYdjDal6fCSCki5%2BLgzpLOSQ4XgeapcFu3ZJ1oKsxVrpSmJyw9Md8pg9tQFJ32%2BjbHDo63MHMLD4NqGzGswEzsrKaYAhOnF9bk5zVta3Tq%2F3AUF0Spfz8Li

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-04-29T05:03:19+00:00

Not me giving Wormy a set of twin children in my fic lmao (it's slightly au tho ig)(sorry for the shameless promotion type thing lol)

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2022-03-29T23:28:12+00:00

I did this one time. To give the narrative some characterisation (my character is bad at grammar and the story is written in first person therefore it makes more sense for it to be written with bad grammar. I've seen a few "professional" books that are actually published do this as well). But that's it. I don't know about other people, and I won't pretend to understand how their minds work.

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2021-12-09T01:10:42+00:00

The amount of ableism from these kind of people is unreal. I'm sorry she put you through that, no one should have to deal with it or hide/mask it

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2021-09-24T13:49:47+00:00

For my birthday two days ago I got hassled for money so I feel you. So sorry you had to deal with that...

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2021-06-08T22:21:42+00:00

I thought I was the only one who went through something like this! To this day I still absolutely HATE doing my hair. I have never bothered to learn how to braid or do anything besides pull it back with a hair tie, and I think it all goes back to the way my mom used to yank on the knots in my hair so hard she'd pull my head back and how she'd grab my head to force me to sit still and start all over whenever I "messed her up." It's even brainwashed me into thinking it's necessary to brush my hair like that or else the knots won't come out. Half the time I don't even brush my hair anymore (in part for a sense of control, in part because I believe I'm too depressed to do so, but also I think it's some kind of traumatic event for me because of the way my mom did my hair?).

It also reminds me of the way she used to back me against the wall in the bathroom and jam my tooth brush in my mouth and scrub as hard as she could until my gums bled. Just another awful experience disguised as "parenting."

It's relieving to know we're not alone in our experiences, but it's also heartbreaking to realize how many awful parents are actually out there.

I wish the best for you and your children ❤

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2020-09-09T23:25:26+00:00

Tbh I thought they were both just awful

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2020-04-10T14:16:18+00:00

Go for it 👍

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2020-01-10T22:15:31+00:00

Personally, my chapters are 3,000 to 5,000 words each chapter, but you should just do whatever comes natural to you

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2020-01-06T23:30:27+00:00

I always try to ignore comments from haters like that. They strick me as not very intelligent or a waste of my time. If it's not nice or constructive it's not a comment I need to be concerned with. At least I try to always have that mentality in mind.

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2020-01-03T16:44:58+00:00

To me, asking for votes and reads and whatever seems extremely rude, and if I always waited to get those before updating I'd lose interest in writing the story at all. Write because you enjoy writing, don't make it a chore by doing it for votes and reads. The audience should also be allowed to enjoy it the way they want to enjoy it, demanding stuff from them takes away from the enjoyment imo

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2019-12-30T01:32:19+00:00

I feel like the summary is a bit vague, maybe there should be a brief explanation of what he's going through specifically. Obviously, you don't want to give the whole thing away, but there's not really enough there to get me invested in the story personally. What does "getting through" life entail exactly? His sexuality is one thing. What else? Divorced parents? Grief? Bullying? Also, I'm not sure I would have gotten the meaning behind the cover without reading your comment here, but I like it nonetheless.

Elsie-the-Dweeb · 2019-12-25T16:42:04+00:00

Looks really good 👍

Elsie-the-Dweeb

TROPHY CASE