Worldbuilding for Masochists
Episode 77: Pull a Thread, Build A World w/ KRITIKA H. RAO
May 25, 2022
KRITIKA H. RAO, worldbuilding expert, joins the podcast to discuss the balance between deep and wide worldbuilding, the process of developing throwaway sentences into significant story elements, and the impact of deep worldbuilding on fantasy literature. They also explore the element of predictability in books and the burden of a unique talking plant on its caretakers.
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Quick takeaways
- Depth in worldbuilding allows for realistic and interconnected elements, while breadth can lead to disjointed elements.
- Establishing pillar elements early on sets the tone and creates a cohesive and immersive reading experience.
Deep dives
Depth vs Breadth in World Building
When it comes to world building, there is a choice between going deep or going wide. Going deep means focusing on a handful of elements in the world and exploring them thoroughly, allowing for innovative storytelling and surprising interactions. Going wide, on the other hand, involves including numerous discrete world building elements that serve a single purpose in the story. Depth allows for more realistic and interconnected world building, while breadth can sometimes lead to disjointed elements. Deep world building also allows for establishing reader trust and fulfilling promises, while wide world building can sometimes confuse readers and dilute the important elements.
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