Thanks for the advice, I intend to make use of writing short stories about background characters (extras) for better worldbuilding. Also looking forward to your video that should be uploaded soon.
1. Grey box your buildings so you can finalise the shape of your builds before worrying about materials 2. Don't get a Minecraft girlfriend they use up too much time and effort that could be better spent buiding your world
Absolute YES on the second tip. A small addendum: Use more than the basic 5 senses. The first thing that comes to mind is temperature and balance. As someone who lived in the tropics and moved north, the cold really hit me. Heck, for a fantasy setting, invent more senses. You can get creative describing how other people's magic feels like. An example would be burning bronze in Mistborn and feeling the different types of metals used.
I agree - little nuggets of worldbuilding, like a random symbol or an invented word, are a great way to give the illusion of complex worldbuilding. I like to think of worldbuilding as a model/display home. Maybe the keys don't work and the wallpaper is thin, but for the reader it looks as if it's real and that's all that matters.
I got a Question. What are some really good and recommended examples of a High Fantasy series that has these qualities?: -A fantasy world that is its own mythology -Epic fight scenes and wars -Intense magic battles -A hugely expanded magic system -The archetypical hero’s journey -Dragons, Unicorns, Griffins, Sea Monsters, Phoenixes, and other known mythical beasts -Stunningly beautiful and smart female characters and love interests -Romantic story arcs that involve love and sex -Conflicts involving politics -Themes and elements and faith and religion -Spiritual and psychological themes -Elves, Dwarves, Goblins, Ghouls, Vampires, Merfolk, Fairies, Centaurs, and other non-human races -Different languages that are spoken by non-human languages -A feared and all-powerful dark lord who is after the main hero -the archetypal wise wizard -a community of wizards and sorceresses -Dark themes of tragedy, corruption, betrayal, and genocide -A tone that turns into being dark and gritty while always being mature from the start -Characters that are realistic and relatable in personality -Light and positive themes of faith, love, friendship, loyalty, honor, sacrifice and optimism
I’ve been writing short stories for world building all this year so it’s really cool to hear you do the same thing. It helped me flesh out the antagonist which has made me a lot more confident about the story as a whole. I also love writing creatures and settings and I’ve had so much fun creating animals and technology that make the world feel richer.
Re: Second Tip As someone who has taken a lot of creative writing courses, teachers make pains to point out exactly what you've noted: Imagery does not mean "things you see." It's all about the spices that sting the eye because they're so strong as the hawker's sing their wares in the market place like an cacophonous chorus; it's the cold, piercing damp in your boots that make every step plop and grind when you're walking a bog with the mist hanging and distorting; it's how the air buffets and cuts your face and you feel light headed cause it's so thin climbing the sharp cold mountains and everything is grey and miserable. The imagery is all the senses, not just what you see. For really good examples of that kind of prose, read Margaret Atwood. Handmaid's Tale has some lush descriptions. Interesting observation for the first tip. I'll have to try it.
I was in a writers group a few years back. One if my favorite homework assignments we were given was to write a stand-alone short story with the protagonist of your current work and somehow make them blind and you're feeling ballsy, make them deaf too. Then describe the environment through their perspective. I put my guy too close to an explosion and the blast temporarily blinded him and partially deafened him. It was such a fun project.
me: *is tired of watching skillshare ads* Also me: *can’t bring myself to fast forward through that ICONiC and hilarious skillshare ad delivered by Daniel Greene*
They speak with smells. And textures. And the chatter of it's denizens. With sap, and needles, and leaves, and bark, and rot, and memory. They speak with their record of a long history of their region. And many other hard to describe sensations. So yes, it is helping you.
Greene Daniel cannot be wholly destoyed, but he can be cast into the void beyond creation, with no chance of return in this or the next Age of the World.
I love writing fantasy stories, and when planning i make sure I know EVERYTHING - even if lots of it doesn’t end up in the story. Just makes it feel real to me, which makes me more passionate and it is easier for me to finish books. I think you’ve given great advice here.
WE’RE GONNA GET ANOTHER BOOK UPDATE👀👀👀👀Bro Daniel I am so excited for your book, I love your magic systems and world and I can’t wait to see what you have in store.
Sensory and emotion are my two greatest struggles in writing - but it's getting better with each draft/revision. I love what the editing process can do for a scene! Editing/revision can take you from a base beat of a scene to a masterpiece, and it's beautiful!
I have to say I'm really happy that I'm not the only one who writes 'support stories'. The main character in the story I finished a few months ago is an exiled prince, so his pov is from the top where he talks to trust generals, governors, etc, in the course of his story. As I was writing that, I was also writing a support story from the pov of an average soldier. Not a grizzled veteran or a bright-eyed greenhorn, a guy who had fought and survived a few battles and followed other characters in the story. From the soldier's perspective, he saw the main character act in a way that made him stand out compared to the kings, generals and nobles he'd fought for in the past. Instead of being full of himself and treating lower ranked soldiers and officers like servants, the exiled prince would eat with and fraternize with his men, learning about their lives, their fears, and what they hoped to gain by fighting for him. Before the climactic battle in the main story, I had the soldier finally talk to the prince in the support story and confess to him that he was fighting not out of loyalty to the prince, but so he could save enough money and loot to buy a farm of his own one day and start a family. Anyway, I just wanted to say I love your videos! They give me a lot of inspiration as a burgeoning writer.
The olfactory (smell) sense is one that evokes memories and emotions. It warns us of danger (smoke) and can either cause us to relax or trigger a flight or fight response. Smell grounds us in ways that we don't even realize, yet it is often omitted in novels, as is touch. Visual details and sound are what we often get in books because they're easier to show than other senses. Yet, our senses shape our perception of the world; which is probably why readers feel like something is lacking in world building when authors don't utilize all senses to create a world that feels real. Using sensory information allows readers to interpret what they read for themselves based on their our sensory-based experiences instead of being told what to perceive.
The thing about senses reminds me of this exercise/prep I do for DnD. When the players enter a room or whatever in where ever they're exploring, it can be a problem to draw their attention to important detail without them realizing that you're doing so. So, for any given room/environment/whatever I prepare two very small paragraphs. The first gives a basic sensory rundown (see, sound, smell, feel), and the second gives a few miscellaneous details (ex. the carpet is red with yellow leaves; or, there are a pair of matching busts on either end of the bookcase). Most of the time these senses and details don't matter in the slightest, and players very quickly adjust to that, but when they do matter the party feels cleaver for picking up on it.
Daniel, interesting take on Worldbuilding and using short stories to do it. My immediate response was. Cool, but not for me. All my short story ideas explode into full-on stories. Then a thought hit me. It could be possible to take a character from my novel from an event and write a short story from their view on the day of that event. Using your banker from the video. I know my rogues are going to rob a bank. I can take the teller or the manager of the bank show their day before and or after the event. Cool. It's something I am going to consider doing. Thanks.
I completely agree with the advice on sensory details and it was actually one of the first pieces of advice I got in my creative writing course at university! Not only helps it in your world building, it is a great way to set a scene, set the tone, and get into the reader's head. I love the idea of writing short stories from different points of view inside the world and I am definitely going to try this!
I really like the short story ideas and can definitely see this helping me. I added in a second POV character to my first book and her perspective gave me a whole new angle to the world which really helped me understand some of the gaps in what I'd put together.
i agree. the most overlooked sense when authors describe somewhere new or familiar, is smell. i've read a scene taking place in a swamp, but there was no mention of the almost overwhelming smell of soaked dirt and moss, or the strange smelling gasses that sometimes escape when animals move in the water. it was all visual and sounds.
The short stories tip is a really good one. Just tiny ways to add deeper connections between different parts of the world. How do the merchants and the army interact in this world? Write a short story covering an arms deal or something. So I really like this
You can use the first advice for the senses by picking one scene and writing it from all the characters perspective and from a narrative perspective and finally from a setting perspective which would just look like a list of the senses with multiples sentences which means 5/6 senses (maybe even more based on your world) becomes 1-3 pages of just filler material for the scene and by mapping out everyone's perspective you can make the scene more realistic by keeping each character in focus and grounded to the situation. Thus creating both a nuanced world as well as allowing the reader to experience the world more fully. What this also does is help you as a writer understand your characters more deeply based on how they perceive the world in their own way. This may be more work but only in the beginning because toward the end you can just anticipate the characters action but more importantly your relationship with your world becomes more intrinsic and everything the writer interacts with just feels more personal. I would also suggest exploring emotions in the same way to get a feel for which emotions reflet more naturally for each character. Stay Positive! Stay Active! Stay Awesome!
I love when I watch tip videos and they are things that I agree with and already do/try to do. Totally agree with both of these points. I like it when a world feels like it exists outside of the plot and the main characters, it makes the world feel so much bigger and gives it more depth, and giving your side characters a meaning outside of the plot really does help with that. Also, the short story idea is actually so good! I just got a heap of ideas at that part, and now I'm even more motivated so thanks for that lol.
I got mad respect for you sharing these ideas, Mr. Goblin! For about 3 years i've been working on and off on a fantasy book and, you know, me starting to write at 15 when i haven't read any other good book outside the Hobbit and Leviathan Wakes, i couldn't have besides a miracle, any idea of what i was doing. Now i'm taking Brando Sando's class on youtube, i've succesfully finished the Lord of The Rings, I've started the Witcher series, i've got half way through Caliban's War, I took a storytelling course on skillshare, and finally, i bought the Way of Kings and starting to read it in November. Yeah.. only recently it came to me that i have to become a reader first, then write, and you helped me realize that. Greatly appreciated!
King is definitely the master at your second tip! It's funny because I've been thinking something similar myself recently, but it also kind of depends upon the genre. I haven't been doing it as much with my quirky cosy mysteries, but it was definitely a deliberate choice to write about the smells and sounds in my upcoming horror set on a factory farm!
love the short story idea - gives me a much more approachable way of considering starting worldbuilding (than blank page on which to throw things and try to work out the links)
I can’t wait for your book bro! I’m so excited to see what you do, weather it’s good or bad you know you have your community’s support!! & we will stick with you even if it’s bad 😹 sometimes it takes practice & a few attempts to nail the landing! That said, I have faith in you! Your going to do great things man, just give it time.
The process you’re describing is very in line with how I’ve been worldbuilding. However, you described it perfectly and it reassures me that I’m doing something right. When it comes to worldbuilding, it is best to take your writer’s hat off and put your anthropologist’s hat on.
Farside's "Cow Tools" comic demonstrates how a little world building nugget can go far. The comic was a cow standing in front of a series of odd tools where one looks like a saw. Fans of the comic spend ages trying to figure out what each tool did and the hidden meaning behind them. The creator later came out to say they just thought cows couldn't make good tools.
DANIEL THIS IS A WONDERFUL WORLD-BUILDING TIP!!! As a writer, I have struggled with this aspect, but thank you!!! I will write this into my own novel series
The different drafts different world building elements is spot on advice!!! In fact this whole video is spot on!! Most excellent , dude. Well its how i did it anyway with my novels. World Building is an art form in and of itself. World Building is EXHAUSTING!!! My next series is gonna be a simple police procedural series like Harry Bosch where there is ZERO world building.
Nope. Even novels set in our world in the present time still need some worldbuilding effort or they won't ring true. What I mean with this is that every profession has its own dialect, every clique has a few words that they use that mean something to them and only to them that doesn't fit the definition the rest of the world knows. If you are including a culture not your own you must research it--yes, research is a part of worldbuilding. Your conclusion that worldbuilding is exhausting is factually correct.
@@jchinckley good point. I'm a professional writer and I've written both epic fantasy and horror. What I meant to say is epic fantasy has SOOO MUCH world building it seems like mainstream novels have almost zero in comparison. But ya, your points are true.
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS I agree. The extent of worldbuilding with fantasy and SF can be intimidating and so many of us assume that there isn't any worldbuilding to do when writing in a "mainstream" genre. But here's a point to consider... with fantasy/SF no one can say you nay until you contradict yourself. With fiction based in the real world you can get raked over the coals if you screw something up that's dear to the reader. Those that know you've made a mistake will be thrust out of the tale by your mistake and a fair portion of those will vocally complain about it. Which is one good reason to have a diverse set of beta readers. Do you have a link to your fiction/website? (Now that I think about it, I believe I have run across your name on Amazon...have I?)
You've given me reason to put some thought towards how I'd incorporate smell, touch and other beautiful atmospheric moments into a graphic novel. Thank you.
Man you just made my head go boom! Love the idea of the shortstories and learning to bring depth into the world and aswell the senses. Give me more of these videos🤪peace on you too and see u next time
Stephen King is my biggest inspiration in terms of "being in the characters head". I love the way he, so casually, pushes the reader to feel their stresses and anxieties to the point you can practically feel yourself struggling to breath as the inevitable threat of the book uses them against you.
Interesting that you would mention smell, for a while I've been using a sense-map, describing for example: what does winter sound like, what does the furniture in "place-name" feel like, what does "the enter-name-here festival" sound like, what does it smell like, what does it taste like? And from there im finding that im adding so many deep pieces of identity to my world with little 'nuggets' of sensory information. I'd definitely recommend this idea, not for every little detail of course, but for significant aspects of the world that you want to highlight its a great tool, I find.
Yes! Smelly stories! Our olfactory senses are some of the strongest we have, but we focus so much on sight and sound, forgetting what our nose tells us about the world and people. I have heard the advice to write short stories from your world before, but I like your idea of using other characters perspectives. Great video.
I did write some short stories, though I never managed to keep myself interested long enough to finish any of them. But now that you mentioned it, there really are little things in them, that I use as a part of the world to this day... I should give them another go. Thanks!
About a year ago me and a friend decided to make a small country for fun (we'd been joking about being a queen and a general for some months previous) and accidentally turned it into 2 continents, 16 countries, 12 main races, 6 religions, several magic systems, 3 wars, tons of characters, 3 eras, and the potential for up to 12 books, all of which are being plotted in depth and are constantly evolving to make more sense with regard to basic story we've decided to tell. We have an overall plot for each each era but are currently deep diving into era 1 and have started our first draft of book 1 but havent gotten that far due to an unexpected increase in schoolwork. Even though we have grand plans and are still figuring out how to achieve them, i think we have a good start for a good book series that we hope to share someday.
Started this channel a couple weeks ago, to help me write a (comically oversized and far too extensive) Skyrim mod. And it's been great! But also got me (a dyslexia) to start reading (something I do not do) WoT and it's fantastic! Thanks Daniel and keep doing what you do!
Thanks. This was very useful. I like the idea about writing short stories from perspectives outside of the main cast of characters. I will use that after finishing my 1st draft of the complete narrative of my 1st novel. I am a discovery writer, writing mainly by intuition instead of an outline. I figure out a lot of things about the plot and setting as I go, so that lends quite a bit to the worldbuilding aspect. As I'm writing the story, I am worldbuilding. I anticipate that my 1st complete draft will be longer than the final product. A lot of the groundwork for worldbuilding is being done right now so that I will have a lot to work from and choose when I edit, revise and rewrite.
What I liked in the Blade Itself is that the descriptions of Adua aren't until Logen arrives. Because for Jezal in his home town none of this is new. But for the stranger he his experiencing everything for the first time.
I think part of the issue with sensory description beyond sight and sound is that it can easily come across as cliched. Like if a character walk into a bakery and you say it smells of bread. Or that a swamp feels damp. Our language in general tends to be more limited when describing these senses, so writers really have to push themselves to get that visceral feeling.
I'm reading A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie now and he really manages to put you in a characters shoes, specially when they're in a dire situation. That scene with Savine in the textile mill is really great example of using the character senses to draw the reader.
Yeah, senses. I usually just write about sights and sounds and if the sights are unusual, I just write about them. I need to do a lot better with senses. Good tip. The first tip is one I think I've done better in. I've not written full short stories with different characters, just a few chapters. But I've thought about what the world would be like for individual persons with different occupations and circumstances.
Just went back and added a few more details to my descriptions of smells and other sensations that my character's were feeling after watching this video. Thanks for the tip! The short story idea is borderline genius though imo!
I already do the first tip and is very fun, i usually do a short story of the most mundane day of different folks, like what whould this baker be doing? or this middel of the road inn keeper if the plot didnt happened to stumble upon them. Is fun but can make you lose a lot of time if you procrastinate just writing world building
The first 1000 people to use the link will get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership: skl.sh/danielgreene10201
Didnt know you fenced Daniel. How is it?
The gentleman basterd sequence is such a amazing series I can’t wait to read thorn of emberlain the next book...
Thanks for the link!
"Not going out because the world's-you know, the world right now"
Thanks for the advice, I intend to make use of writing short stories about background characters (extras) for better worldbuilding. Also looking forward to your video that should be uploaded soon.
This so called world building tips aren't helping me build my Minecraft world at all :/
wrong world bruh :))
Ikr :(
1. Grey box your buildings so you can finalise the shape of your builds before worrying about materials
2. Don't get a Minecraft girlfriend they use up too much time and effort that could be better spent buiding your world
@@Mgooy lmaooooo🤣🤣🤣
LOL epic gamer moment
Grotesque ghouls and goblins.
No u, Mr. Disheveled Goblin.
I feel offended. I am a very heveled goblin.
Absolute YES on the second tip.
A small addendum: Use more than the basic 5 senses. The first thing that comes to mind is temperature and balance. As someone who lived in the tropics and moved north, the cold really hit me. Heck, for a fantasy setting, invent more senses. You can get creative describing how other people's magic feels like. An example would be burning bronze in Mistborn and feeling the different types of metals used.
"You fought in the Clone Wars?"
My favorite piece of dropping something tiny, and the community is turning it into a mountain
I agree - little nuggets of worldbuilding, like a random symbol or an invented word, are a great way to give the illusion of complex worldbuilding. I like to think of worldbuilding as a model/display home. Maybe the keys don't work and the wallpaper is thin, but for the reader it looks as if it's real and that's all that matters.
Hell, even if the keys DO work, you don't necessarily have to show it, as the audience will probably assume that they do.
"invented word"
*conlanging intensifies*
I got a Question. What are some really good and recommended examples of a High Fantasy series that has these qualities?:
-A fantasy world that is its own mythology
-Epic fight scenes and wars
-Intense magic battles
-A hugely expanded magic system
-The archetypical hero’s journey
-Dragons, Unicorns, Griffins, Sea Monsters, Phoenixes, and other known mythical beasts
-Stunningly beautiful and smart female characters and love interests
-Romantic story arcs that involve love and sex
-Conflicts involving politics
-Themes and elements and faith and religion
-Spiritual and psychological themes
-Elves, Dwarves, Goblins, Ghouls, Vampires, Merfolk, Fairies, Centaurs, and other non-human races
-Different languages that are spoken by non-human languages
-A feared and all-powerful dark lord who is after the main hero
-the archetypal wise wizard
-a community of wizards and sorceresses
-Dark themes of tragedy, corruption, betrayal, and genocide
-A tone that turns into being dark and gritty while always being mature from the start
-Characters that are realistic and relatable in personality
-Light and positive themes of faith, love, friendship, loyalty, honor, sacrifice and optimism
@@Dino23968
Which definition of faith are you refering to?
Anything related to religion/spirituality
Tomorrow's video:
"The Official WoT Audiobook by Daniel Greene"
Don't do that... don't give me hope...
I’ve been writing short stories for world building all this year so it’s really cool to hear you do the same thing. It helped me flesh out the antagonist which has made me a lot more confident about the story as a whole. I also love writing creatures and settings and I’ve had so much fun creating animals and technology that make the world feel richer.
Well, this is convenient with NaNoWriMo coming up soon. Can we have more writing episodes as November comes up?
I second this! Loved these tips and want to hear more!
Yes please! Writing videos!
what does it stand for?
@@sausthabbirsinghtuladhar1729 National Novel Writing Month. Though it's international, as far as I know
Zollie Berdy another "reason" to "pause" on your NaNoWriMo work...😉
Re: Second Tip
As someone who has taken a lot of creative writing courses, teachers make pains to point out exactly what you've noted: Imagery does not mean "things you see." It's all about the spices that sting the eye because they're so strong as the hawker's sing their wares in the market place like an cacophonous chorus; it's the cold, piercing damp in your boots that make every step plop and grind when you're walking a bog with the mist hanging and distorting; it's how the air buffets and cuts your face and you feel light headed cause it's so thin climbing the sharp cold mountains and everything is grey and miserable.
The imagery is all the senses, not just what you see. For really good examples of that kind of prose, read Margaret Atwood. Handmaid's Tale has some lush descriptions.
Interesting observation for the first tip. I'll have to try it.
I literally read: “World Ending (2 tips)”
1. Throw a nuke on Russia and blame America
2. Raise Satan from hell during a halloween ritual
@@zhoradaiyu5184 step 2 is unnecessary I'm fairly certain 1 will do
Buy sunscreen and floss.
@@danielwilliams9459 oh I just meant two options, if tip 1 seems too hard, tip 2 might work out XD
Which would include about 90% of anime where the world ends t the end.
Wait, are we goblins too now? Cool!
Weren't we always?
I’m more of a grotesque ghoul myself
“Down in the deep of Goblin town...”
Excuse me! I'm not a goblin! I'm a ghoul, thank you very much!
@@jjkthebest both smell like death, eat unaware adventurers and live in dank places. So we're basically the same 😆
Grotesque? Ghoul? Goblin? I never felt so disrespected and honored at the same time... I am so confused 🤣
Daniel: *talks about writing books*
Me: This is gonna help make my D&D game so much better.
Like always, great video. Your insights and opinions regarding Fantasy and writing in general are always a breath of fresh air. 👍
I was in a writers group a few years back. One if my favorite homework assignments we were given was to write a stand-alone short story with the protagonist of your current work and somehow make them blind and you're feeling ballsy, make them deaf too. Then describe the environment through their perspective.
I put my guy too close to an explosion and the blast temporarily blinded him and partially deafened him.
It was such a fun project.
Nobody:
Me: His crotch smelled like hot salami and onions spoiling in the heat of a summer day.
Thanks Daniel! My new novels going to be a hit!
Daniel: "tomorrow am dropping a big important video"
Me: Hoo boy I wonder what Tier list Daniel has made for us
me: *is tired of watching skillshare ads*
Also me: *can’t bring myself to fast forward through that ICONiC and hilarious skillshare ad delivered by Daniel Greene*
If one of these tips isn't helping me figure out what language my trees speak, then I dun want it.
They speak Portuguese
They speak with smells. And textures. And the chatter of it's denizens. With sap, and needles, and leaves, and bark, and rot, and memory. They speak with their record of a long history of their region. And many other hard to describe sensations. So yes, it is helping you.
@@MagusMarquillin like I said, Portuguese
"write it for me"
sounds like reason enough (also I love your writing videos as much as your reading ones honestly)
last time i was this early greene daniel was still alive
Greene Daniel cannot be wholly destoyed, but he can be cast into the void beyond creation, with no chance of return in this or the next Age of the World.
@@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t So Greene Daniel is actually Morgoth? Makes sense
@@georgeeast5502 Shh.
I zoned out during the Skillshare part then I hear "I know...I know, Sarah" and my brain went 😳😱
I love writing fantasy stories, and when planning i make sure I know EVERYTHING - even if lots of it doesn’t end up in the story. Just makes it feel real to me, which makes me more passionate and it is easier for me to finish books. I think you’ve given great advice here.
WE’RE GONNA GET ANOTHER BOOK UPDATE👀👀👀👀Bro Daniel I am so excited for your book, I love your magic systems and world and I can’t wait to see what you have in store.
Sensory and emotion are my two greatest struggles in writing - but it's getting better with each draft/revision. I love what the editing process can do for a scene! Editing/revision can take you from a base beat of a scene to a masterpiece, and it's beautiful!
Normally, I skip past sponsor shout outs in YT videos, but yours are too funny. Like little skits that tell me to spend my money and I gotta listen.
I have to say I'm really happy that I'm not the only one who writes 'support stories'. The main character in the story I finished a few months ago is an exiled prince, so his pov is from the top where he talks to trust generals, governors, etc, in the course of his story. As I was writing that, I was also writing a support story from the pov of an average soldier. Not a grizzled veteran or a bright-eyed greenhorn, a guy who had fought and survived a few battles and followed other characters in the story.
From the soldier's perspective, he saw the main character act in a way that made him stand out compared to the kings, generals and nobles he'd fought for in the past. Instead of being full of himself and treating lower ranked soldiers and officers like servants, the exiled prince would eat with and fraternize with his men, learning about their lives, their fears, and what they hoped to gain by fighting for him. Before the climactic battle in the main story, I had the soldier finally talk to the prince in the support story and confess to him that he was fighting not out of loyalty to the prince, but so he could save enough money and loot to buy a farm of his own one day and start a family.
Anyway, I just wanted to say I love your videos! They give me a lot of inspiration as a burgeoning writer.
The olfactory (smell) sense is one that evokes memories and emotions. It warns us of danger (smoke) and can either cause us to relax or trigger a flight or fight response. Smell grounds us in ways that we don't even realize, yet it is often omitted in novels, as is touch. Visual details and sound are what we often get in books because they're easier to show than other senses. Yet, our senses shape our perception of the world; which is probably why readers feel like something is lacking in world building when authors don't utilize all senses to create a world that feels real. Using sensory information allows readers to interpret what they read for themselves based on their our sensory-based experiences instead of being told what to perceive.
The thing about senses reminds me of this exercise/prep I do for DnD. When the players enter a room or whatever in where ever they're exploring, it can be a problem to draw their attention to important detail without them realizing that you're doing so. So, for any given room/environment/whatever I prepare two very small paragraphs. The first gives a basic sensory rundown (see, sound, smell, feel), and the second gives a few miscellaneous details (ex. the carpet is red with yellow leaves; or, there are a pair of matching busts on either end of the bookcase). Most of the time these senses and details don't matter in the slightest, and players very quickly adjust to that, but when they do matter the party feels cleaver for picking up on it.
Daniel, interesting take on Worldbuilding and using short stories to do it. My immediate response was. Cool, but not for me. All my short story ideas explode into full-on stories. Then a thought hit me. It could be possible to take a character from my novel from an event and write a short story from their view on the day of that event. Using your banker from the video. I know my rogues are going to rob a bank. I can take the teller or the manager of the bank show their day before and or after the event. Cool. It's something I am going to consider doing. Thanks.
I completely agree with the advice on sensory details and it was actually one of the first pieces of advice I got in my creative writing course at university! Not only helps it in your world building, it is a great way to set a scene, set the tone, and get into the reader's head.
I love the idea of writing short stories from different points of view inside the world and I am definitely going to try this!
I really like the short story ideas and can definitely see this helping me. I added in a second POV character to my first book and her perspective gave me a whole new angle to the world which really helped me understand some of the gaps in what I'd put together.
i agree. the most overlooked sense when authors describe somewhere new or familiar, is smell. i've read a scene taking place in a swamp, but there was no mention of the almost overwhelming smell of soaked dirt and moss, or the strange smelling gasses that sometimes escape when animals move in the water. it was all visual and sounds.
The short stories tip is a really good one. Just tiny ways to add deeper connections between different parts of the world. How do the merchants and the army interact in this world? Write a short story covering an arms deal or something. So I really like this
You can use the first advice for the senses by picking one scene and writing it from all the characters perspective and from a narrative perspective and finally from a setting perspective which would just look like a list of the senses with multiples sentences which means 5/6 senses (maybe even more based on your world) becomes 1-3 pages of just filler material for the scene and by mapping out everyone's perspective you can make the scene more realistic by keeping each character in focus and grounded to the situation. Thus creating both a nuanced world as well as allowing the reader to experience the world more fully. What this also does is help you as a writer understand your characters more deeply based on how they perceive the world in their own way. This may be more work but only in the beginning because toward the end you can just anticipate the characters action but more importantly your relationship with your world becomes more intrinsic and everything the writer interacts with just feels more personal. I would also suggest exploring emotions in the same way to get a feel for which emotions reflet more naturally for each character.
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This is my favorite video I've seen so far on this channel. Awesome tips and suggestions that I, an aspiring worlbuilder, will take to heart for sure.
That sensory tip was a great eye-opener. Just wrote some ideas for one of my worlds and now it feels even more real
I love when I watch tip videos and they are things that I agree with and already do/try to do. Totally agree with both of these points. I like it when a world feels like it exists outside of the plot and the main characters, it makes the world feel so much bigger and gives it more depth, and giving your side characters a meaning outside of the plot really does help with that. Also, the short story idea is actually so good! I just got a heap of ideas at that part, and now I'm even more motivated so thanks for that lol.
At this point my day isn't complete without hearing some variant of Daniel's HELLOOOoooOOOO
I got mad respect for you sharing these ideas, Mr. Goblin! For about 3 years i've been working on and off on a fantasy book and, you know, me starting to write at 15 when i haven't read any other good book outside the Hobbit and Leviathan Wakes, i couldn't have besides a miracle, any idea of what i was doing. Now i'm taking Brando Sando's class on youtube, i've succesfully finished the Lord of The Rings, I've started the Witcher series, i've got half way through Caliban's War, I took a storytelling course on skillshare, and finally, i bought the Way of Kings and starting to read it in November. Yeah.. only recently it came to me that i have to become a reader first, then write, and you helped me realize that. Greatly appreciated!
King is definitely the master at your second tip! It's funny because I've been thinking something similar myself recently, but it also kind of depends upon the genre. I haven't been doing it as much with my quirky cosy mysteries, but it was definitely a deliberate choice to write about the smells and sounds in my upcoming horror set on a factory farm!
As always, great job. Keep up the good work, Daniel Greene.
Thanks so much for the tips Daniel! Really excited for the big project tomorrow :)
Thanks Dan, as always good video, I didn't think of these tips. Will use.
This was so great Daniel ! I hope we get to see about your writing progress soon too
Thank you so much for this! Gonna try the different perspective kind of writing right away. Gonna be so fun!
love the short story idea - gives me a much more approachable way of considering starting worldbuilding (than blank page on which to throw things and try to work out the links)
This is super helpful advice, thank you, Daniel!! I hope to start writing more soon and want to take the time to do it right. :)
I can’t wait for your book bro! I’m so excited to see what you do, weather it’s good or bad you know you have your community’s support!! & we will stick with you even if it’s bad 😹 sometimes it takes practice & a few attempts to nail the landing! That said, I have faith in you!
Your going to do great things man, just give it time.
Damn it’s almost like if Daniel was reading my mind this week. Favorite youtuber posta video + writing tips = the cure for depression
The process you’re describing is very in line with how I’ve been worldbuilding.
However, you described it perfectly and it reassures me that I’m doing something right.
When it comes to worldbuilding, it is best to take your writer’s hat off and put your anthropologist’s hat on.
This was great advice. I'm working on some short stories right now and the senses thing has given me lots of ideas!
I really like the short story from a different angle tip. I’m going work with that some now. Thanks. 😊
Nice tips, thanks for the video!
Man, I like writing scifi stuff and found your channel very useful, especially this video! Thank you!
Great video! Very helpful!
Farside's "Cow Tools" comic demonstrates how a little world building nugget can go far. The comic was a cow standing in front of a series of odd tools where one looks like a saw. Fans of the comic spend ages trying to figure out what each tool did and the hidden meaning behind them. The creator later came out to say they just thought cows couldn't make good tools.
DANIEL THIS IS A WONDERFUL WORLD-BUILDING TIP!!! As a writer, I have struggled with this aspect, but thank you!!! I will write this into my own novel series
Great video! The best stories always have great world building.
Don’t worry Daniel I watch your videos as a part of my routine, tomorrow is even more hype now
Tha nod for the short story advice. I’ve been having trouble with one of my villains in my story, and I think this will help.
The different drafts different world building elements is spot on advice!!! In fact this whole video is spot on!! Most excellent , dude. Well its how i did it anyway with my novels. World Building is an art form in and of itself. World Building is EXHAUSTING!!! My next series is gonna be a simple police procedural series like Harry Bosch where there is ZERO world building.
Nope. Even novels set in our world in the present time still need some worldbuilding effort or they won't ring true. What I mean with this is that every profession has its own dialect, every clique has a few words that they use that mean something to them and only to them that doesn't fit the definition the rest of the world knows. If you are including a culture not your own you must research it--yes, research is a part of worldbuilding.
Your conclusion that worldbuilding is exhausting is factually correct.
@@jchinckley good point. I'm a professional writer and I've written both epic fantasy and horror. What I meant to say is epic fantasy has SOOO MUCH world building it seems like mainstream novels have almost zero in comparison. But ya, your points are true.
@@B.LEE.DbrianleedurfeeREVIEWS I agree. The extent of worldbuilding with fantasy and SF can be intimidating and so many of us assume that there isn't any worldbuilding to do when writing in a "mainstream" genre. But here's a point to consider... with fantasy/SF no one can say you nay until you contradict yourself. With fiction based in the real world you can get raked over the coals if you screw something up that's dear to the reader. Those that know you've made a mistake will be thrust out of the tale by your mistake and a fair portion of those will vocally complain about it. Which is one good reason to have a diverse set of beta readers.
Do you have a link to your fiction/website? (Now that I think about it, I believe I have run across your name on Amazon...have I?)
Ya just Google my name I am all over Amazon & Audible
You've given me reason to put some thought towards how I'd incorporate smell, touch and other beautiful atmospheric moments into a graphic novel. Thank you.
Man you just made my head go boom! Love the idea of the shortstories and learning to bring depth into the world and aswell the senses. Give me more of these videos🤪peace on you too and see u next time
Black Panther Red Wolf, no matter what its other problems, does such a good job bringing in all the senses for the reader.
Daniel: "Hello, you grotesque ghouls & goblins."
Me: Yes!!
Great Preptober tips! Can’t wait to see tomorrow’s video.
Stephen King is my biggest inspiration in terms of "being in the characters head". I love the way he, so casually, pushes the reader to feel their stresses and anxieties to the point you can practically feel yourself struggling to breath as the inevitable threat of the book uses them against you.
Please do more of these writing tip videos every now and then, super helpful
Interesting that you would mention smell, for a while I've been using a sense-map, describing for example: what does winter sound like, what does the furniture in "place-name" feel like, what does "the enter-name-here festival" sound like, what does it smell like, what does it taste like? And from there im finding that im adding so many deep pieces of identity to my world with little 'nuggets' of sensory information. I'd definitely recommend this idea, not for every little detail of course, but for significant aspects of the world that you want to highlight its a great tool, I find.
This is rly gonna help my world building👍👍
Yes! Smelly stories! Our olfactory senses are some of the strongest we have, but we focus so much on sight and sound, forgetting what our nose tells us about the world and people.
I have heard the advice to write short stories from your world before, but I like your idea of using other characters perspectives. Great video.
Thanks for this.
I did write some short stories, though I never managed to keep myself interested long enough to finish any of them. But now that you mentioned it, there really are little things in them, that I use as a part of the world to this day... I should give them another go. Thanks!
Thanks for the advices. The sensory thing was something I didn't focus on. I am building up a story.
About a year ago me and a friend decided to make a small country for fun (we'd been joking about being a queen and a general for some months previous) and accidentally turned it into 2 continents, 16 countries, 12 main races, 6 religions, several magic systems, 3 wars, tons of characters, 3 eras, and the potential for up to 12 books, all of which are being plotted in depth and are constantly evolving to make more sense with regard to basic story we've decided to tell. We have an overall plot for each each era but are currently deep diving into era 1 and have started our first draft of book 1 but havent gotten that far due to an unexpected increase in schoolwork. Even though we have grand plans and are still figuring out how to achieve them, i think we have a good start for a good book series that we hope to share someday.
I was so immersed in this video i saw your shirt needed some ironing. Very nice touch 👌
Started this channel a couple weeks ago, to help me write a (comically oversized and far too extensive) Skyrim mod. And it's been great! But also got me (a dyslexia) to start reading (something I do not do) WoT and it's fantastic! Thanks Daniel and keep doing what you do!
As a former Skyrim mod author, good luck and have fun! 😅
These are two great tips! :)
Thanks. This was very useful. I like the idea about writing short stories from perspectives outside of the main cast of characters. I will use that after finishing my 1st draft of the complete narrative of my 1st novel. I am a discovery writer, writing mainly by intuition instead of an outline. I figure out a lot of things about the plot and setting as I go, so that lends quite a bit to the worldbuilding aspect.
As I'm writing the story, I am worldbuilding. I anticipate that my 1st complete draft will be longer than the final product. A lot of the groundwork for worldbuilding is being done right now so that I will have a lot to work from and choose when I edit, revise and rewrite.
Thanks. This helps with a problem that I've been hung up on. The main character didn't need to experience the cataclysm, some orher guy did.
What I liked in the Blade Itself is that the descriptions of Adua aren't until Logen arrives. Because for Jezal in his home town none of this is new. But for the stranger he his experiencing everything for the first time.
The short story idea is a good one. I'm centering five short stories around my main novel and a mobile game
I think part of the issue with sensory description beyond sight and sound is that it can easily come across as cliched. Like if a character walk into a bakery and you say it smells of bread. Or that a swamp feels damp. Our language in general tends to be more limited when describing these senses, so writers really have to push themselves to get that visceral feeling.
Thanks Daniel!!!!
I'm reading A Little Hatred by Joe Abercrombie now and he really manages to put you in a characters shoes, specially when they're in a dire situation. That scene with Savine in the textile mill is really great example of using the character senses to draw the reader.
Yes! I was scared for Savine.
The end song for your vids lives in my head rent free I stg
Thanks for the tips. Short-story world-building is so Tolkien. Love it. Thanks.
I love tip 2. Glad I’m still working in my first draft, so that is what I’m including!
Yeah, senses. I usually just write about sights and sounds and if the sights are unusual, I just write about them. I need to do a lot better with senses. Good tip.
The first tip is one I think I've done better in. I've not written full short stories with different characters, just a few chapters. But I've thought about what the world would be like for individual persons with different occupations and circumstances.
Great advice!
I watch all your videos anyways and will definitely watch tomorrow’s!
That gleaming Dune deluxe edition in the background looks just as beautiful as it does on my bookshelf🥰
Just went back and added a few more details to my descriptions of smells and other sensations that my character's were feeling after watching this video. Thanks for the tip! The short story idea is borderline genius though imo!
I was actually already doing the first one, and it helps a lot to add some flesh
YES I need this.
I can’t wait to watch this in a little bit!
I already do the first tip and is very fun, i usually do a short story of the most mundane day of different folks, like what whould this baker be doing? or this middel of the road inn keeper if the plot didnt happened to stumble upon them. Is fun but can make you lose a lot of time if you procrastinate just writing world building
Just the video your wonderful children needed.