The Fine Art of Worldbuilding

The banter was witty, engaging even. Easy to attribute to the correct character without the use of the often bulky he said, she said tags. But when the scene ended, I had a major “But wait . . . ” moment. Where did this witty banter occur? And the odd words that peppered their conversation, what was that about? A glance back through the passage confirmed the reason for my pondering. The scene was devoid of setting. In fact, it felt as if said characters hung from mid-air or on hooks from opposing walls in a completely non-descript room.

 All the witty banter in the world couldn’t make up for what this this story lacked—a well-developed story world that detailed a time, a place, and a distinct setting for the tale to unfold.  Luckily, the manuscript was in the seeking-critiques stage with plenty of time for the layers of setting and story world to be woven in. While the story world lived large in the author’s mind, the nuances of that unique world had yet to be sutured into the fabric of the story so it could be savored by the reader.

 Although I can quickly spot a lack of world building when reading, I’ve come to realize that’s the easy part. Creating and conveying a story’s specific world is much more difficult. News flash, right?

 Of course, fabricating a vivid, detailed world where a compilation of characters live requires thought and imagination and vision. And then comes the matter of communicating that world to readers eager to immerse themselves in a rich work of fiction. A tall order indeed.

 Cue author Jill Williamson to unwrap the art of worldbuilding! Much to our delight, Jill will be the 
featured guest at the final 2020 event hosted by the ACFW Indiana Chapter. Jill’s presentation will be brought to us via Zoom on November 7 from noon to 2 p.m. From the comfort of your home or office, prepare to absorb worldbuilding tips from an author renowned for her story worlds.

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms, and the author of 23 books, including the Blood of Kings trilogy and the award winning By Darkness Hid, which was named a Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror novel of 2009 by VOYA magazine. A Whovian, Photoshop addict, and recovering fashion design assistant, Jill loves drawing her own intricate book maps and teaching about writing.

She blogs at goteenwriters.com (named one of Writer’s Digest’s “101 Best Websites for Writers”) and also posts writing videos on her YouTube channel and Instagram TV where she encourages other writers to respect their dreams. She grew up in Alaska without running water or electricity and now lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and two kids. You can find her online at jillwilliamson.com, on Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter

Mark your calendar for this fantastic opportunity to hear from a pro and to spend some time with your fellow Hoosier authors. Don't forget to shoot an RSVP to acfwindianachapter@gmail.com to be placed on the guest list. See you on November 7.