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build_a_world2010-09-30 11:02 pm
ailelie) wrote in build_a_world2010-09-30 11:02 pm
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October: Introduction
World-building, as a creative endeavor, ignores traditional boundaries between art, math, writing, science, and more. The challenge is inherent in the task; can we overcome the same divisions? This comm will not be perfect, but it will strive to approach world-building from a variety of perspectives and challenge all of us to reach beyond our comfort zones.
Welcome, everyone, tobuild_a_world. If you haven't already, please introduce yourself over at the Meet & Greet.
October kicks off the first monthly challenge.
The task for October is to create our playground in the form of what will, for most of us, look like a map*. You do not have to draw. If you'd rather mold your world from clay or piece it together from legos, that's good too. As long as you have a scale and you can make sense of what you've made.
A world is not merely a collection of land and water (or steel and glass or so on). It is a collection of land, water, etc governed by rules. Before you start your map, you should understand these rules.
Do not yet place cities or countries. We'll do that after we make our intelligent species and figure out the population. If all you finish is a map of landmasses, mountains, rivers, and notes for where various biomes will go, that is fine as well. You can finish next month when we work out ecosystems.
I realize that not everyone is creating a planet. In that case, you need to think through what your playground will entail. If this includes mapping a star system, then map the star system. If you've a space station, then start mapping that.
The secondary challenge for this month is a writing one. Some of you are working in others' playgrounds or have already finished designing your own. In such cases, the challenge is to describe important natural landmarks, views, and so forth. Do not write as a native to the world. Instead, write like an Earthling from our time who has been transported to your world. What are three to five things they notice? What is most remarkable?
*As with any person-created representation of a thing, a map is only one view fraught with compromises, assumptions, arguments, and prejudice. That is why the challenge is to create your playground, rather than your map.
Welcome, everyone, to
build_a_world. If you haven't already, please introduce yourself over at the Meet & Greet.October kicks off the first monthly challenge.
The task for October is to create our playground in the form of what will, for most of us, look like a map*. You do not have to draw. If you'd rather mold your world from clay or piece it together from legos, that's good too. As long as you have a scale and you can make sense of what you've made.
A world is not merely a collection of land and water (or steel and glass or so on). It is a collection of land, water, etc governed by rules. Before you start your map, you should understand these rules.
Do not yet place cities or countries. We'll do that after we make our intelligent species and figure out the population. If all you finish is a map of landmasses, mountains, rivers, and notes for where various biomes will go, that is fine as well. You can finish next month when we work out ecosystems.
I realize that not everyone is creating a planet. In that case, you need to think through what your playground will entail. If this includes mapping a star system, then map the star system. If you've a space station, then start mapping that.
The secondary challenge for this month is a writing one. Some of you are working in others' playgrounds or have already finished designing your own. In such cases, the challenge is to describe important natural landmarks, views, and so forth. Do not write as a native to the world. Instead, write like an Earthling from our time who has been transported to your world. What are three to five things they notice? What is most remarkable?
*As with any person-created representation of a thing, a map is only one view fraught with compromises, assumptions, arguments, and prejudice. That is why the challenge is to create your playground, rather than your map.