TuesdayTips180

The World(Building) Is Your Oyster.

One of the signs that can differentiate between a book from an experienced writer that has been professionally edited (either independently or via traditional publishing routes), and a less experienced writer who hasn't had any professional input, is the volume and placement of detail.
Some months ago, I came across a short story. The author is an imaginative and enthusiastic amateur writing in the speculative fiction genre(*). The premise of the story was enjoyable and original, but the problem was that the author got rather too carried away with the world-building. The first part of the story was almost exclusively a description of the  galactic federation in which the tale was set. It lasted several paragraphs, and included a potted backstory of how this organisation came about. It killed the momentum and pace, and I was getting bored by the time the actual story started.
Now this is not something limited to speculative fiction. Far from it, 'world-building' applies to all genres and is essentially the process of establishing where and when a story takes place, and the types of characters within it. It's a form of backstory. The problem, is that after spending significant amounts of time imagining where our story is set, there is a real temptation to show the readers what we've been up to, at the expense of an actual story!
And this is where a good editor comes in.
Description is good. Description is essential. Even the most action-packed novel, that leaps straight into the story, will eventually have to start filling in some blanks for the reader. The question is how much and when?
So, to take our original example (and again, I'm changing details to avoid identifying the writer), we needed to know that the action takes place in the distant future, between alien species, who are part of a galactic federation. Somehow, that information needs to be passed on to the reader within the first paragraph or two. But what we didn't need to know was when the federation was founded and by who, or precisely what the main protagonist's species looks like and how it differs from others. Unless any of those details specifically impact the story being told at that precise moment, ditch them or delay their reveal until later.
One of the best world-builders in fiction was the late, great Terry Pratchett. His Discworld novels sprawled across a humungous, imaginative realm that grew bigger and bigger as the series progressed. Avid fans of the series (who have read and reread each book multiple times) are intimately familiar with this world, and so wouldn't thank Sir Terry if the first few chapters were a potted re-telling of the entire history of the Discworld. By the same token, readers new to the series need to be able to pick up one of his books at random and dive straight into the story, with enough backstory to ensure they don't put it back down in complete bewilderment.
So, after building your world, then starting your story, ask yourself the following questions.
1) Does the reader really need to know that detail?
Is it essential to the plot, the understanding of the wider context, an essential piece of character development (or in the case of comedic books, necessary in the lead up to a really good knob gag)?
If the answer to the question is no - cut it. Don't be afraid to "kill your darlings" (Tips 27, 28, 29 & 30)
If the answer is yes, then ask yourself these questions.
2) Does the reader need to know this yet?
Can it be held back until later? As discussed previously, (Tips 64 & 68) you should try to avoid data dumps. They can be overwhelming to the reader. Trickle the information out slowly - it's a novel, not a textbook.
3) Is this the right place for this detail?
As discussed numerous times in this blog, detail typically conflicts with pace. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Each novel has its own rhythm and there will be slower sections and faster sections. The placement of detail can help you dictate that pace.
And this is why an editor is essential. You are too close to your work to make that judgement, you need an impartial pair of eyes to help decide if information needs to be cut, pared back or moved.
(*) I am being as circumspect as possible here, since I would be mortified if the author in question thought I was using their work as an example on my blog. I have changed a few minor details, so there is hopefully no way to attribute this to them.
What are your thoughts on world-building? Is it better to let your reader know everything up front, or should you hold some back and trickle it out more gradually?
As always, feel free to comment here or on social media.
Until next time, all the best,
Paul.
If you are a writer with a tip to share, or fancy writing a fictional interview between you and one of your characters, please feel free to email me.