Worldbuilding for YA Fantasy

Photo by eamoncurry123

I'm working on a new YA novel which requires a lot of worldbuilding and this is very new for me. Intimidatingly new. I think at some point in the past I said I didn't know if I'd be up to the task of writing fantasy because creating a whole new world sounds like a daunting task. But here I am challenging myself with that task anyway.

So, what is worldbuilding?

Wikipedia says, "Worldbuilding is the process of constructing an imaginary world, sometimes associated with a whole fictional universe."

The word universe makes this task sound even more daunting, but that's just what it is. A complete world in and of itself where your characters live and breathe and YOU or I in this case, have to make readers feel like it's real.

What does this entail?

Geography
Weather
History
Government
People/Cultures

And these are just the basics, because beyond this, it's necessary to make characters fit within these parameters like it's their natural way of life. And then, yes then, you get the job of making the reader feel like they're in this world as well--and not only that, it's a world that (no matter how upside-down or backward) still makes sense.

So I'm curious any of you worldbuilders out there or readers of fantasy (or even historical), what makes a world feel real to you? What do you want to see in a fantasy universe and how to do you go about creating one?

Why I Chose to Write YA Fiction

Most of you who have known me awhile know me as a Christian romantic comedy writer. I met you through blogging or critiquing, at the ACFW conference or through mutual friends on Facebook. I've written a large handful of inspirational romance novels. So you're probably curious why all the sudden I'm writing YA fiction for the general market. Or maybe why I wrote all those other novels if I was just going to write YA anyway.

If you know me very well, you also know I LOVE to write in more than one genre. But I was trying to be a good girl, sticking to one genre so that when I finally did get published, readers wouldn't get confused, and for branding purposes and all that. Besides, I wanted to write books I believe in and that have a good, clear message.

I also realized there's a part of me that still loves a little whimsy or magic, that likes fantasy and new worlds and young love. I'd been waiting years to really invest time in a young adult novel that would surely clash with what the rest of the writing world knows me for writing about.

But you know what? If you're passionate about writing something, sometimes you just have to go for it. So I did!

Why did I chose to write YA fiction?

Because I love romance, suspense, sometimes a thriller, fantasy, supernatural or paranormal elements, hey--sometimes I even like vampires. I like a happy ending and action and adventure and a chance for good to triumph over evil.

And you know what? Writing for the YA market, I can include any of those topics and more! I can write what I love.

So, I'm curious, why do you write what you do or read what you do? If you're a writer, would you ever abandon the genre you're currently writing for something else?

I Survived This Week With Cyndi Lauper

It was a long week. It's always hard when it snows and it's cold and the kids want to be outside and they get antsy and I'm like, "Kids I need to do my edits" and they're like, "Good luck with that" and then they turn into maniacs who destroy everything in their paths and I sort of want to rip my hair out.

No, seriously, it wasn't that bad. The kids do get antsy, though, and I am constantly trying to entertain them with the air guitar and renditions of some of my musical favorites (from another decade), including but not limited to Cyndi Lauper and Milli Vanilli and Paula Abdul. But they're less then amused even though I crack myself up. And I'm like, "See how hip I am kids?" and they're like "Haven't you heard of Justin Bieber or One Direction?" and I bust out "What Makes You Beautiful" and they're still not amused - or impressed. Come on kids, I gave you dinner and a show!

Sometimes you just have to go old school. And hey, it helped get me through this week. So for that, I thank you, old school songs that make my kids cringe. Here's a blast from the past to start your weekend.

Hey, feel free to share your old school favorites in the comments below. I have to know I'm not the only strange one out there. Rock on!

Do Book Covers Make a Difference?

I'm a visual person. Things that catch my eye make me want to take a closer look. Pretty book covers make me drool. Just a little.

Recently I was browsing at the library and spotted this cover.

I'd seen it before and remembered it. Remembered thinking how striking it was. Then I'd moved on and forgotten it for awhile. In the meantime, I made my to-read list on Goodreads (yes, I just joined. No, I don't really know what I'm doing, but it's fun) and this book wasn't on it.

Back to the part about the library. So there I was, browsing, because I hadn't requested any books to be put on hold but I wanted something to read. I saw this cover again. And I snatched the book right off the shelves and checked it out without even reading the summary.

Because it was P-R-E-T-T-Y and I like pretty.

Anyway, I read the book, loved it, added the next to my to-be read list and I still drool sometimes over covers.

My point?

I might never have read this book if not for the drool-worthy cover.


Book covers make a difference. I even asked people on Facebook (yeah, I joined that one a long time ago but Twitter still gives me the willies). They said they pick up books because of their covers, too.

Moral of the story?

A strong, eye-catching, professional cover is going to get people to pick up your book. The rest is up to you.

So, what do you think? Do pretty book covers help sell more books--or at least get people interested in the book in the first place?

I Survived This Week With...

Thanks Coffee-Mate for providing this very appropriate picture :)

I always enjoy reading bloggers posts on Fridays because many of them do a weekly recap or a list of some sort. I especially like the favorites lists - a fun way to wind down the week and enter the weekend. So I thought I'd try my own recurring Friday posts talking about something fun or helpful that got me through this week.

This week, it's coffee creamer.

No kidding. I've been editing, coffee has been my friend, and it's been cold. But I've gotta have flavoring, and I've been digging Nestle's Italian Sweet Creme. Yum.

So for this, I thank you, Nestle! Keep up the good work :)

How about you? What's your favorite creamer flavor? What got YOU through this week?

Diapers and Edits - The Stuff Dreams are Made Of

Before I say anything else, I have to tell you, I really enjoy where I'm at in my life. Most days I get to stay home with my kids, who range from 22 months to 10 years old. We keep busy. I have a very part-time job that I don't mind at all. It's like free time for me, a place I can earn extra money and do a lot of thinking about my stories, which is awesome. I get to write a good deal. I don't have a routine because of the little one not being in school yet, but I have a supportive hubby who tries to make time for me to read and write.

But when I was younger, already knowing I wanted to be a writer when I grew up, my dreams didn't exactly align with reality. This was also back when there wasn't really social networking. No Facebook, no Goodreads. We had ghetto computers and *gasp* we couldn't even TEXT MESSAGE people.

My writing dream went something like...I'd wake up in the morning, in my mountain home. I'd get my coffee and brainstorm while looking out a bay window and watching a deer meander amongst the Aspens. Still in my pajamas, I'd sit down to write for hours, loving every word, no writers block, no distractions. I'd send my story off to an editor and they'd love it, and they'd publish my book, and I'd write another while getting occasional fan mail--not e-mail, of course. Snail mail. My adoring fans sent snail mail

The reality of it all? I'm changing diapers while trying to fit editing into my day before I can even submit to publishers. I'm trying to stay connected to other writers and read as many books as possible so what I write is current. I'm trying to fit writing into my day so I can make progress on something new.

But you know what? I still love it. Writing is still my dream job even if deer and Aspen trees and snail mail are not involved. I still do it when diapers ARE involved.

The moral of the story?  

Enjoy where you're at.

It might not be what you envisioned, but it's a step in the direction you're headed. Every moment we're at is going to have challenges so we might as well take away the good things, too, and appreciate that step.

Whether you wanted to be a writer when you got older or something else, what did your dream look like? Are you still working toward your dream?