Hey-o, Word-wielders,

Today is part two of my series on outlining your novel, and I'll be talking about the next steps to take after brainstorming.

So, I've divided this next section into three: character planning, worldbuilding, and the basic run-through/word vomit of plot, starting with wordbuilding.

Now, depending on the genre you're writing, you could either be looking at a vast land waiting to be filled with your own imaginative creatures, culture, etc., a historic world needing research, or maybe a town based on where you live.

If you're working with sci-fi or fantasy worlds (or cities), maps can be quite useful. I used Inkarnate to make one for Honor's World, but you can draw your own maps, get an artistic friend to, or use another mapmaking site. Maps can help you get an idea on distance, direction, and where cities are in your lands. (They also can look cool.) If your characters live in the real world, you can find maps for the area they live in.

So, maps are great for seeing the big picture, but worldbuilding also involves going down to small details, especially if you're creating a new world/culture. You can do this by answering questions such as: What enemies/allies does this country have? What sort of greetings are used? How many languages are there? Dialects? I got my questions from the free eBook of The Complete Outline Transcript of Storming by K. M. Weiland, and I'll post some of my answers below.

How many languages are there? Which ones are related and why? Which languages borrow words or phrases from other languages? Which is likely to be most widely spoken?

There are multiple languages spoken by different groups. Norfink steals short, memorable words from many languages, so it's pretty easy to learn. Generally, the most common household language is Talisha, though Norfink is spoken by a lot of people, as it is the trade language. There is also Quinnessati, which is the language of nobles, and a difficult one to learn.

How does this world differ physically from ours?

There are plants and animals species (different types of birds, glowies) that are different, and in certain regions there's the poison fogs.

As well as answering some questions (not nearly all of them!) I also took what I called "detours", which are not me answering the book's questions but rather writing on things such as nobility, the war, and Evonian culture. Here's a peek from "A Detour on Nobility"

So, Siana Kingdom has four different ranks of nobility. They are as follows:

Royalty (King, Queen, Crown Prince, other princes, princesses)

Kingsman Warriors (These are in particular the warriors that guard royals and often are assigned special missions or are also advisors. A Kingsman Warrior is handpicked by the king himself.

Terragrif (Landholders. Often these people rent out land to peasants unable to own their own. They often become delegates, ambassadors, or workers for the Crown.)

Inglass (The lowest rank of nobility. lnglass usually own at least a small amount of land and love to boast their wealth. They are generally despised by other ranks of nobility and peasants alike, but many merchents and other businessmen respect and strive to also reach the rank of Inglass.)

So, this is quite useful to fantasy writers, but you peeps writing realistic fiction and such may not have a lot of use for many of these questions. You can still plan. Is there a rock every newcomer must kiss if they are to be expected? What kind of graffiti is under the bridge? Are there many cultures in your character's hometown, or just one? Write down your thoughts, ask questions, both to yourself and your friends and family. And don't forget to have fun.

May you live for Christ and give Him praise!

~Claira