Planning/Tracking Your World

scribbler1382 · Jul 31, 2006

Hey, all. I'm currently in the midst of taking my first whack at world-building. There are a few threads in the archives on how to do this with some great tips, but what I'm wondering about is how do you track/plan your world/universe? I'm not talking about software for ideas (which I think is all crap, btw) but just how to organize all those bits and pieces; not only before you start, but as you go (since we all know this is going to be a dynamic...uh...thing, right to the end).

Currently, I've got a notebook divided into sections (right now, just "world", "characters" and "plot"), but this is more a draft area, a place to get down each and every idea that occurs to me. I'm now getting to the point where there's enough pieces (and I've made enough decisions about the draft pieces I've already written down) that I think I need to gather the information in a more formal, structured way. But I'm not sure if this should just be another notebook, loose-leaf kept in a binder, text files, word docs, or some sort of information database (ala keynotes, treepad, etc.).

So what do you guys use?

MidnightMuse · Jul 31, 2006

You'll find as many methods as there are people who have them. For me, the only thing I'll make note of is dates and times, since I have a thing about forgetting numbers or how many days have passed since something occured.

When it comes to the world I've built, I don't need to write anything down because when I get around to writing the story, that world is as real to me in my own mind as the one I'm currently residing in. To forget anything in that world would be tantamount to forgetting which direction gravity works.

It's to the left, yes?

expatbrat · Jul 31, 2006

I stick post it notes all over the wall in front of my desk. There are notes on the story, writing technique reminders, the purpose of the novel and a track of readers outcome (what emotion do I want a section to induce in the reader). I have a outline written in excel and idea documents in other word files. But it is all a big mess and I am sure there has to be a better way. I often end up with 3 documents open for view at the same time, which is ok as my screen is big enough for this, it is just messy.

I'm sure there is a better way. I'll be watching this thread to see what suggestions others offer.

I've just started using the document map to track what I've already done. This is brilliant as while I can picture the entire journey/adventure/novel in my head, I forget what I have down in the PC and I don't remember where I am up to. Document map is also fantastic for bouncing around the document as ideas occurs. I am putting in headings with comments like "bit about flying home during SARS here. Bit about first impressions here," then I can go complete those areas later.

Siddow · Jul 31, 2006

I tend to stick with the real world in my writing, but I do like to use maps. I keep an atlas by my desk, and I pick up local maps when I travel. Mapquest is good for printing out a map of an area, where you can then fill in "here's the college, and the theater, Marcy lives over here and Jed lives over there..."

I also print out house plans I find online. I've had rooms move from upstairs to downstairs, and having a blueprint in front of me helps me to keep it consistent.

For the plot points, make an outline. Whether you do that using the document map in Word (easy to change) or in a notebook (messy to change) or on a piece of posterboard with post-its (fun!), it doesn't matter. Whatever works for you.

I have a corkboard beside my desk where I'll post notes on whatever I'm working on. Character sheets, etc.

badducky · Jul 31, 2006

If you need a notebook to keep track of it, you may be going overboard.

Remember, story trumps all. Getting lost in an elaborate world can often just get you thinking about the wrong stuff come time to tell the story.

Jenny · Jul 31, 2006

You know that bit where you said you write the stuff in a notebook? Well, that's it. That's my grand organisational plan. In the middle of inspiration I don't mind flicking through paper pages to check a detail whereas (and I know it's weird) flicking between screens/files to check an on-computer record would totally lose me. I LIKE pen and paper. Besides, I think all writers need a little disorganisation in their lives - and I like looking at the paper record (where I can't cut, paste or delete) and see how my ideas have grown and changed.

Jenny

emeraldcite · Jul 31, 2006

You could do it this way:

In the morning, she convened a group of fantasy writers, including NYT bestsellers R.A. Salvatore and George R. R. Martin, to discuss the future of epic fantasy—joking about the sheer immenseness of Martin's four-books-and-counting series, Salvatore quipped, "Do you have a whiteboard that takes up a wall of your house to keep all your characters straight?" No, Martin joked back, he lets the people who run his unofficial fan site sort all that out, then emails them when he needs to check up on a character's details. Salvatore admitted to a similar strategy for one book which brought a supporting character in his series to the foreground. Having lost track of that character's weapons inventory, he posted anonymously to one of his fan boards, asking what the character had and what it did, and pretty soon the readers had come up with pages' worth of material.

From Galleycat

badducky · Jul 31, 2006

Much of your "World-Building" can be done on the fly and fixed later in editing.

scribbler1382 · Jul 31, 2006

That's twice you've posted about _how_ to world-build. The question was, how to _track_ it.

badducky · Jul 31, 2006

You don't track it. You revise it. The tracking is in front of you in the draft that you're writing.

In your original post you mentioned that you hadn't really started your story, that you were still putting notebooks together and beginning to write. Thus, my response is to suggest that you focus on the story, and worry about the world-building later. The world (in its first book) can be bent and twisted and much of the labor that is spent "tracking" can be spent "writing". Subsequent books require merely a glance back in time at the previous books (I often use the "find" button in Microsoft Word).

Snitchcat · Jul 31, 2006

scribbler1382 said:
Currently, I've got a notebook divided into sections (right now, just "world", "characters" and "plot"), but this is more a draft area, a place to get down each and every idea that occurs to me. I'm now getting to the point where there's enough pieces (and I've made enough decisions about the draft pieces I've already written down) that I think I need to gather the information in a more formal, structured way. But I'm not sure if this should just be another notebook, loose-leaf kept in a binder, text files, word docs, or some sort of information database (ala keynotes, treepad, etc.).

So what do you guys use?

That's all I use -- a notepad. I track the world as I build on the fly. The entire thing goes in one notebook, which includes the story, the worldbuilding, character notes, etc.

However, the appropriate sections are labelled and highlighted. And I've also got a running contents page in my head of where individual worldbuilding notes approximately sit in the notepad.

At some point, I'll transfer all my notes to digital format. When I do, I'll be creating a contents page and possibly an index, too -- both will allow me to find what I want without wading through a lot of text. (And if you're a whiz at MS Access, you might use that -- its cross-tabulation function is very useful. Personally, I'm not going to use MS Access; Open Office's Text Document is adequate for me.)

Hope this helps some.

DeborahM · Jul 31, 2006

I keep a file close by with my character profiling sheets on every important character, story summarization and chapter summary for easy notation, dates, or changes.

As I write and need dates or a one sentence happening per chapter I have it. Some times I leave notes to myself at the bottom of the story, to bring subplots around, then delete them as I put them back in..

After the editing is done and I print out the story, all the above sheets, reference items I've printed out go into a binder behind the story.

badducky · Jul 31, 2006

Oh, an excel spreadsheet open in the background with notes is an excellent method of keeping track of new and old ideas while writing. Very malleable.

bylinebree · Jul 31, 2006

OK, I hijacked (quoted without quotes) from several posters below after my ** parts. I am doing all of these in strange combinations.

* I did draw a map because I have no genetic ability to navigate or remember where I've been in the real world, much less my built one.

* I've got simple Character Sketches in word docs and other summaries about religion, military, etc.

[When it comes to the world I've built, I don't need to write anything down because when I get around to writing the story, that world is as real to me in my own mind as the one I'm currently residing in.] Did this alot in the first draft out of ignorance and the simple need to just write the story as it flowed.

[That's all I use -- a notepad. I track the world as I build on the fly.] Similar to above. It helped me create and not over-analyze, like badducky said.

[I often end up with 3 documents open for view at the same time, which is ok as my screen is big enough for this, it is just messy.] Creating can be messy, ya-yuh.

[Much of your "World-Building" can be done on the fly and fixed later in editing.]

Since I work with databases during the day, the thought of using such a formal structure just nauseates me regarding my writing, ugh!! No spreadsheets for me.

expatbrat · Jul 31, 2006

Jenny said:
You know that bit where you said you write the stuff in a notebook? Well, that's it. That's my grand organisational plan. In the middle of inspiration I don't mind flicking through paper pages to check a detail whereas (and I know it's weird) flicking between screens/files to check an on-computer record would totally lose me. I LIKE pen and paper. Besides, I think all writers need a little disorganisation in their lives - and I like looking at the paper record (where I can't cut, paste or delete) and see how my ideas have grown and changed.

Jenny

I'd need those pages stuck on the wall in front of me. I can only work on one book at a time or my house will end up looking like the office of the star in beautiful mind.

I don't even look at them all that often (well - not consiously), I just need to know I could look in a glance at them if I wanted to.

NikkiR · Aug 1, 2006

expatbrat said:
I'd need those pages stuck on the wall in front of me. I can only work on one book at a time or my house will end up looking like the office of the star in beautiful mind.

I don't even look at them all that often (well - not consiously), I just need to know I could look in a glance at them if I wanted to.

I know that feeling as well. I'm currently working on a book and I am writing the outline in a note book and then putting it on my computer afterwards.

Once I finish the outline I then print it off so that I can see what I have put and refer to it if I need to.

Because I primarily use a laptop however if I am the only one home then I go extreme and use the pc as well so that I am not flicking between the pages.

Nikki

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 1, 2006

Well, I've heard people who use 3x5 file cards to track things, but I find that cumbersome and I'm not that organized.

I created a glossary, using the "Map" feature in Word so that the name of each thing showed up on the side.

Anyway I broke my glossary down into groupings of people's names, country names, features (rivers, mountains, etc.), gods (if you need something like that), really just about anything I thought that I would be referencing back to went into my glossary.

When I clicked on say a person's name, it would take me to that part and give me their description and other vital statistics. Same with a river name or a god's name.

I also created a detailed topographical map showing every country Ithought I'd need. Detailed down to coastlines, rivers, mountains, forests, fields, cities, towns, castles, lakes, and so on.

stephblake24 · Aug 1, 2006

I use an excel spreadsheet with a timeline for each MC, plus a timeline for the whole story. I also have a word doc with my character's descriptions, full name, birthday, habits, etc.

FloVoyager · Aug 1, 2006

Post-it notes (all over the wall, shelf edges, and around the computer monitor), an Excel spreadsheet (for figuring time differences and other mathematical stuff), and a Word doc in which I keep all the names and story details (so I can search and double check things like the spelling of a name).

roach · Oct 1, 2006

I was using an MS Word document to keep track of my world building for my novel. But it's become rather unwieldly and it's difficult to find the information I need quickly (even with the Find function).

So now I'm playing around with a personal wiki. I had read a comment on a blog last week about setting up a wiki to keep track of details and a light bulb went off over my head. Right now I'm playing around with TiddlyWiki and I think that it will do just about everything I need. There seems to be a few dozen personal wikis out there that you can just run off of your own computer and some that will host your information on the internet (you can restrict who can see it, etc.). It seems to require some html knowledge. I like the fact that I can link information in ways that make sense to me.

aadams73 · Oct 1, 2006

I use Post-Its and notecards. That's all. But, of course, I'm not building a whole new world like fantasy writers do.

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