Explanations for worldbuilding? (martial arts)

Elidibus · Dec 15, 2008

Ok. Long story short. I had this idea for a novel and I was getting real close to getting something on paper. Then I happened on an earlier novel idea I had and that idea just wouldn't leave me alone. So in order for me to write the story I intended, I have to finish this one first.

Anyway, the story I'm writing, it has all the plot elements figured out. Cast of characters. Setting is there. I have a rough idea of the theme which will be fleshed out in the coming weeks. Everything is kosher except the world I'm envisioning.

In the world I have planned, (For my long stewing Y/A novel) the martial arts have become extremely popular. So much so that one of my MC's moves to the central hub of all the activity. And herein lies the problem. I can't come up with a good explanation why the martial arts are so popular.

My question is, should I really focus on a reason to explain why my teens are being drawn into this world or is just enough to say "well, everyone likes martial arts because they like it. So there."

But leaving it without an explanation makes my introductory pages seem really weak. Yea, my MC has a reason to study them. He wants to please his mother. But why are there whole gym sizes classes full of budding martial artists in his Highschool? They're all not out to make all thier mother's happy!

I'm confident I can come up with something, But I'd like you guys' opinion. Is that much explanation necessary for worldbuilding.Or maybe I'm worrying about nothing.

Thanks for your help guys. In the meantime I'll just head-desk some more until I either fall unconcious or knock loose that one idea I know is in there

:-D

alleycat · Dec 15, 2008

Just a thought . . .

Rather than trying to explain why martial arts have become so important, give a short description of how popular it is. I'm thinking of something similar to how popular soccer is in parts of the world; players become national heroes, the games are watched by millions, there are international rivalries, and kids everywhere dream of growing up to be soccer stars. I could describe the popularity of soccer in a few short sentences, but I would probably have a hard time explaining exactly why a certain game has become so popular, unless I was writing a whole essay on the subject.

dpaterso · Dec 15, 2008

You didn't give any location or setting details...

Is martial arts training encouraged by the government? Is it simply a national physical fitness and health movement?

Or, does the story take place in a country that's threatened by its neighbors? (In Olde Englande, archery practice was made compulsory for everyone. In the former Soviet Union, everyday school lessons included rifle shooting.)

Has unarmed combat replaced other forms of combat due to technological progress or other significant change? (DUNE's high-tech future world had reverted to sword fighting because personal force shields rendered bullets useless.)

Those are just random examples to tickle some thoughts, without more info it's hard to say why something like this would have been adopted on a wide scale.

-Derek

Danthia · Dec 15, 2008

I think you'll eventually need to know since it sounds central to your story, but right now, just write away and let it simmer in your mind. Once you're done with the first draft (if not before) there's a good chance you'll have developed more of the world and characters enolugh to know why martial arts is so important.

Most likely there's a cultural, economic or religious reason. If it affects everyone regardless of age or social class, then it might be more of a social-economic reason. For example, if it's cultural, the teens of the world probably won't want to do what's cool for the adults. But if it's economic, then every family would do it because you couldn't survive otherwsie. Like in our world, you need a job to get money to eat. In Israel or Russia, everyone goes into the military after high school. If it's religious, then most would probably do it, but you'd likely have a section of the population that believes something else.

That's also something to consdier. No culture is 100% anything. You will have a bell curve, with people who are obsessive about this and those who are against it.

Cybernaught · Dec 15, 2008

It's something to mull over. I'm writing a story where the ways of the Samurai have returned. To explain this, I did some research and realized that this is not the first time that Japan abolished firearms and returned to the old ways. And I just elaborated on that, taking the alternate history route and having America lose WW II and subsequently be ruled by Japan. And the now Emperor, hateful of old America's dependance on atomic weapons (because of what they did to his country), absolished them and called for a return to the old ways.

There are still some plotholes I'm trying to work out with it, but you get the idea. You don't always need to be elaborate about it or anything, but sometimes finding the reasons behind the way your world works is half the fun.

RainyDayNinja · Dec 15, 2008

As I understand it, martial arts flourished in parts of the world where military weapons (such as swords, bows, shields, etc.) weren't available to the general populace, due to poverty or oppression, so they had to figure out how to fight with farm implements or unarmed. Also, some regimes would forbid any military training, and people devised martial arts systems that could be disguised as dance. If these factors existed in the history of your world, it's entirely plausible that martial arts would have caught on and become popular in their own right, even if the need was removed.

Elidibus · Dec 15, 2008

I knew if I asked, people would give me ideas to get out of the box I was trapped in. Using the example of soccer is probably the one that closest fits the world I have.

Oh, and since i forgot to mention about it. It takes place in today's age in a typical urban setting, not unlike cities like Charlotte NC. It's a huge city, but not really a capitol city. The story takes place in a made up city somewhere in the US, which really isn't important. The important thing is that, with the concentration of martial arts schools in this particular city, it provides many opportunities for learning as well as a number of differing styles, both armed and unarmed.

See, back in the past, in this particular city, a certain unnamed martial artist (I'll figure one out soon) rose to fame for performing impossible feats of athleticism by utilizing a concept I've created that's based on the old teachings of Ki from China. It would make sense that some people would want to learn about this mystical art, and after several years, we have the city as it is now.

Wait a second...That's it! What do you guys think? Is this explanation enough? I just came up with that just a few moments ago while I was rereading all the suggestions. Thanks guys! You are all awesome!

:Hug2:

Sarpedon · Dec 15, 2008

I think thats a good enough reason.

Really, fads don't need a reason.

maestrowork · Dec 15, 2008

You only need to drop hints (and then explain it later). No need for a full-on explanation, and respect the intelligence of your readers.

Did you see the film WALL-E, for example? They did not explain much in the first half-hour, but you get it. They dropped enough hints and small details, etc. (it's all in the "showing" and not the "telling") that you get the general idea what is going on.

Andrew Jameson · Dec 16, 2008

Elidibus said:
See, back in the past, in this particular city, a certain unnamed martial artist (I'll figure one out soon) rose to fame for performing impossible feats of athleticism by utilizing a concept I've created that's based on the old teachings of Ki from China. It would make sense that some people would want to learn about this mystical art, and after several years, we have the city as it is now.

Wait a second...That's it! What do you guys think? Is this explanation enough? I just came up with that just a few moments ago while I was rereading all the suggestions. Thanks guys! You are all awesome!

Yes and no.

It's probably enough to base your worldbuilding on, but now develop the idea. For example:
What kind of person was this mystical martial artist?
What kind of people did he/she attract as students? Did he/she accept all students, or turn some away?
How long ago did he/she live?
How long did it take for the fame of this person to spread?
Why are the martial arts based in this particular city?
How much of a presence do they have in other cities?
How big is this main city?
How much of its commerce depends on the martial arts school?
Is there one main school, or are there multiple competing academies? If not, why not?
Are their teachings very traditional, or do they accept new techniques?

...And so on. You have your initial premise, now follow it logcally to build up your world. Given that a famous martial artist lived years ago, how would the world logically develop from then until now? That's worldbuilding.

Also what maestro said. Worldbuilding is background material that enriches your story and makes the milieu logically consitant. It's not a set of facts to be regurgitated for the reader.

Elidibus · Dec 16, 2008

Andrew Jameson said:
Yes and no.

It's probably enough to base your worldbuilding on, but now develop the idea. For example:
What kind of person was this mystical martial artist?
What kind of people did he/she attract as students? Did he/she accept all students, or turn some away?
How long ago did he/she live?
How long did it take for the fame of this person to spread?
Why are the martial arts based in this particular city?
How much of a presence do they have in other cities?
How big is this main city?
How much of its commerce depends on the martial arts school?
Is there one main school, or are there multiple competing academies? If not, why not?
Are their teachings very traditional, or do they accept new techniques?

...And so on. You have your initial premise, now follow it logcally to build up your world. Given that a famous martial artist lived years ago, how would the world logically develop from then until now? That's worldbuilding.

Also what maestro said. Worldbuilding is background material that enriches your story and makes the milieu logically consitant. It's not a set of facts to be regurgitated for the reader.

Right! That's it! That's why this had been bothering me for the past few days. It just didn't work out logically. But now that I've thought of a place to start, I can flesh out all of the details. I'm normally pretty good with details and such, but you've given me just a few more to think about. With these thoughts in mind, I'll be able come up with something no problem!

Dave.C.Robinson · Dec 17, 2008

Sounds like you have it down: I was thinking along the same lines as I read the thread.

Ruv Draba · Dec 19, 2008

In real societies five people will have five different reasons for doing the same thing. John does martial arts because his Dad Harry does. Harry does martial arts because he's just turned forty and is getting fat. Mary does martial arts because she's keen on John. Sally does martial arts because famous movie star Conchita Lopez does martial arts and she kicks butt. And Conchita does it because her agent said that it'd be big this year.

Liosse de Velishaf · Dec 19, 2008

Ruv Draba said:
In real societies five people will have five different reasons for doing the same thing. John does martial arts because his Dad Harry does. Harry does martial arts because he's just turned forty and is getting fat. Mary does martial arts because she's keen on John. Sally does martial arts because famous movie star Conchita Lopez does martial arts and she kicks butt. And Conchita does it because her agent said that it'd be big this year.

If only that agent repped writers, too...

psykeout · Dec 19, 2008

Elidibus said:
Ok. Long story short. I had this idea for a novel and I was getting real close to getting something on paper. Then I happened on an earlier novel idea I had and that idea just wouldn't leave me alone. So in order for me to write the story I intended, I have to finish this one first.

Anyway, the story I'm writing, it has all the plot elements figured out. Cast of characters. Setting is there. I have a rough idea of the theme which will be fleshed out in the coming weeks. Everything is kosher except the world I'm envisioning.

In the world I have planned, (For my long stewing Y/A novel) the martial arts have become extremely popular. So much so that one of my MC's moves to the central hub of all the activity. And herein lies the problem. I can't come up with a good explanation why the martial arts are so popular.

My question is, should I really focus on a reason to explain why my teens are being drawn into this world or is just enough to say "well, everyone likes martial arts because they like it. So there."

But leaving it without an explanation makes my introductory pages seem really weak. Yea, my MC has a reason to study them. He wants to please his mother. But why are there whole gym sizes classes full of budding martial artists in his Highschool? They're all not out to make all thier mother's happy!

I'm confident I can come up with something, But I'd like you guys' opinion. Is that much explanation necessary for worldbuilding.Or maybe I'm worrying about nothing.

Thanks for your help guys. In the meantime I'll just head-desk some more until I either fall unconcious or knock loose that one idea I know is in there

:-D

All right. My opinion is that you don't really need to explain why it's so popular. For example, why is professional wrestling popular in the south? Why is soccer more popular in Mexico and other southern regions than it is in the U.S.?

Why is baseball considered America's past time?

I mean, if it's part of the world you're envisioning, then there's no reason to explain why. I think if you try and explain that part of it, then you're going to find yourself with an info-dump and people are going to be turned off from reading.

Hope this helps.

Explanations for worldbuilding? (martial arts)

Elidibus

Over 9000!!!!!!!

alleycat

Still around

dpaterso

Also in our Discord and IRC chat channels

Danthia

Cybernaught

Decker

RainyDayNinja

Elidibus

Over 9000!!!!!!!

Sarpedon

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Andrew Jameson

(not his real name)

Elidibus

Over 9000!!!!!!!

Dave.C.Robinson

... with the High Command

Ruv Draba

Liosse de Velishaf

psykeout

should be writing instead...