00:25 What is a worldbuilding bible? Organized Centralized Easy to reference 01:20 Step #01 Pick your software Wordprocessor Scrivener General purpose note taking - Notion World Anvil 02:25 Step #02 What information should you include? (Template URL in video Description) Geography Climate, weather Flora Fauna Map (Incarnate software) History Geopolitics Religion, mythology, beliefs Culture Technology Societal and power structures Family structures Magic Repeat for each country or realm Intersections/interactions between each aspect 06:50 Step #03 How to get started Start with the information that directly impacts your story Then information that is connected to those aspects Some things affect the plot directly, others don't Use characters as starting points - job, family, backstory 08:00 Tip #1 Everything is connected Think about how each detail impacts other aspects 08:20 Tip #2 Supplement with research 09:45 Tip #3 Focus on what you're good at Intertwine your plot with that aspect Not every part of the world needs to be wildly original Identify a few aspects that are really well conceptualized, interesting, and compelling Developing those aspects will naturally help develop related aspects
omg, this is JUST what I need!!! I have so much worldbuilding that I'm basically in panic when I'm going to write my series, because I can't keep track on everything. Will be following this to the T!!!
For software I can’t recommend Obsidian enough. It will serve you if you just want a couple of notes or if you want a crazy huge and detailed bible. More flexible and powerful than any other software.
This template you mentioned is the best one I've seen so far for worldbuilding! I love how it's an interactive PDF. it's very organized, which I appreciate with someone with ADHD
I appreciate this video as a kind of refresher. Another point to having a worldbuilding bible even in a completely fiction setting is internal consistency. I kind of wish these videos still had something new or unexpected for not just starting writers, too. My worldbuilding bible is primarily still pen and paper. Theoretically this can make it harder to find specific details, but since it's how I've always done it, if it's a current story I pretty well remember which notebook, around about how far in and which side of the seam I'm looking for.
The tool that I use is onenote. It allows you to - link other pages within the document for fast reference - link to websites if you need to - organize by related subject - insert an excel spreadsheet if you need to have something that needs inputs and calculations, or a simple table if you don't need that much detail There are some drawbacks. Haven't seen anything for maps, and haven't been able to get past a certain size for the tables. But would definitely recommend to anyone who already has Microsoft office
I agree OneNote is great, and I haven't even used it for some of the stuff you say. I just like you can simply divide content just how Shaelin described: You have tabs for high-level like "Characters" and "Magic," then you create pages for more details. I'm an accountant so I'll definitely have to look into the value of inserting Excel spreadsheets...
I use obsidian, it's essentially just a nice "barebone" markdown editor with the ability to dynamically link pages. Oh and it has a gigantic amount of addons and themes available to customize it to your need.
I don't use software and I build deep worlds. The fancy programs are more of a distraction than of help to me. Here is a tip, make your characters contrast with their world so they don't fit in. Then you have a reason to describe for the reader what would normally be everyday knowledge to people in that world. World and character building should be linked in the negative- the world represents problems rather than puppy dogs.
I agree high level a lot of this fancy software is distracting. Tools are helpful for sure, but we have word processors that we can do ctrl + F in, something that would have been in Shakespeare's wet dream. I like your negative link between world and characters, a good way of putting it. Some kind of change needs to happen in the story. And your specific tactic for expositing the world is clever; I recommend you still keep it relevant to the narrative (reveal more about the world as it comes into play). Great points, thanks Rachel!
I'm more of an artist than a writer (and I'm trying to write!) I'll do my world building in a dedicated sketchbook; I'll jot down the world building concept with an accompanying sketch.
For my role playing games, I kept immense amounts of notes on paper, occasionally using a spreadsheet. (It was assisted by the fact that my rpg rules set of choice was Chivalry and Sorcery, which has a very detailed world building system.) For my science fiction novel, I simply have a few notes scribbled out on paper, which need to be developed further. I tend to focus on politics and political structures, for political intrigue, as well as economics.
Answer #1. Honestly, I don’t like software, I much prefer to have a binder, along with plenty of paper and mechanical pencils. Answer #2. Recently, I’ve been getting interested in 2 things: Isekai Anime and Planetary Romance, such as “That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime”, and “A Princess of Mars” written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Personally, I’d love to see a combination of both of those 2 Genres, I think it could be like a match made in Heaven.
Glad you spent a lot of time on the importance of how everything is connected. For me, my narrative and theme shaped the world. Magic plays a huge role in my hierarchy (of course), culture, and the literal landscape across the planet (the Magi hoard magic, so the rest of the world decays). Also, regarding your point on research. If your world is totally made-up, that's awesome--human imagination for the win. However, I think we generally want to make it "realistic" or at least "relatable." My magic system allows people to throw lightning, but the lightning follows rules consistent with Earth, and an easy defense is grounding it with "crystal" magic. You rock Shaelin thanks for such great content!
You can create a world-building bible in any genre as you say. We were all born into a complex historic & social matrix. I read a book about Canada during the Depression of the 1930s, a parallel universe to the one I knew in America & Britain in the same era. William Blake reinvented the author of Paradise Lost in his epic poem *Milton* which rejects the puritan morality equating the body with sin. Blake believed that it was John Milton's patriarchy which destroyed Eden, not the Serpent and not Eve. Thematic patterns emerge in all world-building.
I use a binder book for my Bible. My ideas run really fast and having to wait a few minutes loading my laptop and apps doesn't cut my needs. Its kinda tough to organize, but since its a binder book I can always rearrange. There I put almost everything from character design assets, traits prompt, superpower lists, outline, random scenes that doesn't have a place yet, outlines and storyboard hehe
I always liked the Harry Potter approach. Where you have someone that’s new to that world. So it makes exposition easier and more acceptable. Because he/she is gonna be curious and asking questions, and in awe of things.
I think I'm one of those who needs to migrate... Started in Word but now I have trouble finding if I already made notes on something, where it is, where it should go... I've liked OneNote for that, though, just another MS product but can divide into sections like Culture, Characters, and World, then into tabs like Magi, Luc, and Wayford.
I use a spreadsheet program (excel) and word documents. I make my own sci-fi maps in paint. I plan to link them all by html (webpages) eventually , but I'm too busy writing!
im so bad at organizing my worldbuilding, theres some in random files in my art programs, word, random whiteboard screenshots and my notes app, and some I just keep in my head and hope it stays there- ironic considering how much I dislike inconsistent systems in media
Or you can do it an easier way like use world anvil? For me I much rather spend my time building my world then figuring out how to organize it. Besides my world is extremely big And if there is something that can help me to organize it I'm definitely going to take advantage of that.
Is it possible that we're so in our own world so much that it's hard to describe it? (I'm writing a memoir and "world building" is actually VERY much relevant in a special way in this project. I just struggle to add details for people who may not be in it?). My book is for other women who are living what I have lived BUT I am aware that other people will likely read it too.
I don't know what I'd do if Scrivener wasn't invented. My worldbuilding would have become too unmanageable long before now. I shudder when I remember rooting through folders and loading up word files to find something.
Lol, I couldn't comprehend how to make a timeline for my story without asking the (probably easy) question about what my fantasy world thought of for year/time elements... So I just made the timeline, but I just labelled in the reverse XD Like, if there was a character who was born 30 years ago, I'd label it YEAR THIRTY XD But, hey, it words I guess
00:25 What is a worldbuilding bible?
Organized
Centralized
Easy to reference
01:20 Step #01 Pick your software
Wordprocessor
Scrivener
General purpose note taking - Notion
World Anvil
02:25 Step #02 What information should you include?
(Template URL in video Description)
Geography
Climate, weather
Flora
Fauna
Map (Incarnate software)
History
Geopolitics
Religion, mythology, beliefs
Culture
Technology
Societal and power structures
Family structures
Magic
Repeat for each country or realm
Intersections/interactions between each aspect
06:50 Step #03 How to get started
Start with the information that directly impacts your story
Then information that is connected to those aspects
Some things affect the plot directly, others don't
Use characters as starting points - job, family, backstory
08:00 Tip #1 Everything is connected
Think about how each detail impacts other aspects
08:20 Tip #2 Supplement with research
09:45 Tip #3 Focus on what you're good at
Intertwine your plot with that aspect
Not every part of the world needs to be wildly original
Identify a few aspects that are really well conceptualized, interesting, and compelling
Developing those aspects will naturally help develop related aspects
omg, this is JUST what I need!!! I have so much worldbuilding that I'm basically in panic when I'm going to write my series, because I can't keep track on everything. Will be following this to the T!!!
I find Scrapple is a great tool for linking ideas together.
For software I can’t recommend Obsidian enough. It will serve you if you just want a couple of notes or if you want a crazy huge and detailed bible. More flexible and powerful than any other software.
Was looking for this comment, hello fellow obsidian user!
This template you mentioned is the best one I've seen so far for worldbuilding! I love how it's an interactive PDF. it's very organized, which I appreciate with someone with ADHD
*as someone with
I appreciate this video as a kind of refresher. Another point to having a worldbuilding bible even in a completely fiction setting is internal consistency.
I kind of wish these videos still had something new or unexpected for not just starting writers, too.
My worldbuilding bible is primarily still pen and paper. Theoretically this can make it harder to find specific details, but since it's how I've always done it, if it's a current story I pretty well remember which notebook, around about how far in and which side of the seam I'm looking for.
This was really good 👍. I love and appreciate your video. Thanks.
The tool that I use is onenote. It allows you to
- link other pages within the document for fast reference
- link to websites if you need to
- organize by related subject
- insert an excel spreadsheet if you need to have something that needs inputs and calculations, or a simple table if you don't need that much detail
There are some drawbacks. Haven't seen anything for maps, and haven't been able to get past a certain size for the tables. But would definitely recommend to anyone who already has Microsoft office
I agree OneNote is great, and I haven't even used it for some of the stuff you say. I just like you can simply divide content just how Shaelin described: You have tabs for high-level like "Characters" and "Magic," then you create pages for more details.
I'm an accountant so I'll definitely have to look into the value of inserting Excel spreadsheets...
most of my world building is scattered throughout the place. i think i need to make one of these
I use obsidian, it's essentially just a nice "barebone" markdown editor with the ability to dynamically link pages. Oh and it has a gigantic amount of addons and themes available to customize it to your need.
I don't use software and I build deep worlds. The fancy programs are more of a distraction than of help to me. Here is a tip, make your characters contrast with their world so they don't fit in. Then you have a reason to describe for the reader what would normally be everyday knowledge to people in that world. World and character building should be linked in the negative- the world represents problems rather than puppy dogs.
I agree high level a lot of this fancy software is distracting. Tools are helpful for sure, but we have word processors that we can do ctrl + F in, something that would have been in Shakespeare's wet dream.
I like your negative link between world and characters, a good way of putting it. Some kind of change needs to happen in the story. And your specific tactic for expositing the world is clever; I recommend you still keep it relevant to the narrative (reveal more about the world as it comes into play).
Great points, thanks Rachel!
@@PhoenixCrown Cool, I'm glad you found my observation helpful
Thanks. It was helpful.
I'm more of an artist than a writer (and I'm trying to write!)
I'll do my world building in a dedicated sketchbook; I'll jot down the world building concept with an accompanying sketch.
For my role playing games, I kept immense amounts of notes on paper, occasionally using a spreadsheet. (It was assisted by the fact that my rpg rules set of choice was Chivalry and Sorcery, which has a very detailed world building system.) For my science fiction novel, I simply have a few notes scribbled out on paper, which need to be developed further. I tend to focus on politics and political structures, for political intrigue, as well as economics.
Answer #1. Honestly, I don’t like software, I much prefer to have a binder, along with plenty of paper and mechanical pencils.
Answer #2. Recently, I’ve been getting interested in 2 things: Isekai Anime and Planetary Romance, such as “That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime”, and “A Princess of Mars” written by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Personally, I’d love to see a combination of both of those 2 Genres, I think it could be like a match made in Heaven.
Glad you spent a lot of time on the importance of how everything is connected. For me, my narrative and theme shaped the world. Magic plays a huge role in my hierarchy (of course), culture, and the literal landscape across the planet (the Magi hoard magic, so the rest of the world decays).
Also, regarding your point on research. If your world is totally made-up, that's awesome--human imagination for the win. However, I think we generally want to make it "realistic" or at least "relatable." My magic system allows people to throw lightning, but the lightning follows rules consistent with Earth, and an easy defense is grounding it with "crystal" magic.
You rock Shaelin thanks for such great content!
You can create a world-building bible in any genre as you say. We were all born into a complex historic & social matrix.
I read a book about Canada during the Depression of the 1930s, a parallel universe to the one I knew in America & Britain in the same era.
William Blake reinvented the author of Paradise Lost in his epic poem *Milton* which rejects the puritan morality equating the body with sin.
Blake believed that it was John Milton's patriarchy which destroyed Eden, not the Serpent and not Eve. Thematic patterns emerge in all world-building.
I use a binder book for my Bible. My ideas run really fast and having to wait a few minutes loading my laptop and apps doesn't cut my needs. Its kinda tough to organize, but since its a binder book I can always rearrange. There I put almost everything from character design assets, traits prompt, superpower lists, outline, random scenes that doesn't have a place yet, outlines and storyboard hehe
I always liked the Harry Potter approach. Where you have someone that’s new to that world. So it makes exposition easier and more acceptable. Because he/she is gonna be curious and asking questions, and in awe of things.
IMO the best way to learn how to make a worldbuild bible is to play TTRPGs and create a campaign.
I think I'm one of those who needs to migrate... Started in Word but now I have trouble finding if I already made notes on something, where it is, where it should go... I've liked OneNote for that, though, just another MS product but can divide into sections like Culture, Characters, and World, then into tabs like Magi, Luc, and Wayford.
I use a spreadsheet program (excel) and word documents. I make my own sci-fi maps in paint. I plan to link them all by html (webpages) eventually , but I'm too busy writing!
I found OneNote to be better for organizing, especially since you can link to other pages within the document and to websites
@@NoNamesLeft0102 I also like OneNote. You can get those word and excel docs in there too.
Brian, writing is much more important. Good work!
It would be good if you could demonstrate the different software options.
im so bad at organizing my worldbuilding, theres some in random files in my art programs, word, random whiteboard screenshots and my notes app, and some I just keep in my head and hope it stays there- ironic considering how much I dislike inconsistent systems in media
Nice channel!
Or you can do it an easier way like use world anvil?
For me I much rather spend my time building my world then figuring out how to organize it.
Besides my world is extremely big
And if there is something that can help me to organize it I'm definitely going to take advantage of that.
Is it possible that we're so in our own world so much that it's hard to describe it? (I'm writing a memoir and "world building" is actually VERY much relevant in a special way in this project. I just struggle to add details for people who may not be in it?). My book is for other women who are living what I have lived BUT I am aware that other people will likely read it too.
I don't know what I'd do if Scrivener wasn't invented. My worldbuilding would have become too unmanageable long before now. I shudder when I remember rooting through folders and loading up word files to find something.
Seems quite 🆒 😎
Lol, I couldn't comprehend how to make a timeline for my story without asking the (probably easy) question about what my fantasy world thought of for year/time elements...
So I just made the timeline, but I just labelled in the reverse XD Like, if there was a character who was born 30 years ago, I'd label it YEAR THIRTY XD But, hey, it words I guess
Kinda like what used to be called setting + plot arrangement? ---maybe not...
I use Excel as my world building bible. It allows me to organs different sheet and tabs so I can find things easily.
yall can make a step by step kind of thing
what are folktales
Stories with no author/ anonymous author that is circulated circulated orally.
I'd have so much fun creating the world this way that I may never actually write the story. Lol
If you are having fun so will your readers. If you do not write the story no one will. The story needs to be told or it will die away.
I use trello lol
Many of them in the world are not worth even uttering the name of bible.
she is as handsome as young boy!