Help creating a fictional world?

Question

well I am trying to write a series of novel set in a fictional world (this world doesn't contain magic or aliens, just like our world) but is set in an anachronistic world full of countries that may mirror some of ours


Well, my question is this

Writers like Tolkien, Prattchet, etc. mind on first create and develop the world or the world or the world is developed as they write?

or is it a little of both?

any websites where I can have information about creating imaginary worlds would help

Answer 1

A little bit of both.. This may sound simple and useless, but I promise you, though it is simple to begin with, it can really progress and be helpful in creating the world you desire.

Close your eyes and start out somewhere, anywhere... Imagine what the place looks like, smells like, feels like, the weather, your surroundings, other people, other creatures, etc...

Keep going through place after place and develop ideas and stories along the way through your mind.

In a sense, daydream, intently.

Answer 2

The most successful such authors have daydreamed their imaginary worlds since childhood. If you want to see this in action, read "Islandia" by Austin Tappan Wright. Then the three Tarzan novels and the three John Carter of Mars novels by Edgar Rice Burroughs. Finally, "Gone with the Wind." It hasbeen said of Wright that he describedd the very Devonian outcrop of Neverneverland.

Answer 3

I look for books that have the detail data that matches my ideas best. I bought a home design book to get ideas for room decor, plant books to include plants, rock books for geology, books on sea life for ocean animals, fossils books for historical creatures, field guides for animals, etc. A good way to use a history or geography book is to use the style of speech and replace it with your own details. I added history by finding news stories and then changing the details to match my own novel. Since its always best to show instead of tell for religion, political and economic behavior, think of how you could show the behavior in a scene i.e. have people praying rather than saying people pray. Often movies can show areas that are hard to visit -- I like many of the BBC series. I create a document that contains a list of all I've decided. See the references below for books with detail lists.

Answer 4

I think the greats didn't need any help. It was all in their imagination. I love to write, but I don't plan before hand, it comes as I write but everyone is different. Why not sit in a quiet place, maybe light a scented candle and relax and just imagine the world, write down what comes to you, just start writing ideas and brain storm.

Answer 5

Tolkien first invented the language. That was his field of interest. He THEN wrote a story to utilize "elvish". http://home.netcom.com/~heensle/lang/elvish/elvish.html