So I'm writing a SFF novel - YA, more of a spy/espionage novel than a fantasy epic. And I've built this world. It's not done, but I think it's a pretty good world so far. The worldbuilding comes from an understanding of history and socioeconomic structures rather than excuses for sparkly magical things, the speculative elements are somewhat original and create interesting potential for conflict - I've tried to write fantasy epics before, but this time I think I may have hit on something with staying power. I have the world, more or less, built.
Here's my trouble: the world exists in notes, rough descriptions, and sketchy maps. When I try to write the story and introduce the world to the reader, I find myself either leaving it too sparse on detail, or having way too much to explain at once, so the reader is hit with a big block of exposition and not much story. The reader has to know where they are and what the rules of this world are in order to know what the heck is going on. At the same time, though, the story has to keep moving forward or they will become bored and disengaged. That's the balance.
Does anybody have any thoughts on this challenge? Not the worldbuilding itself, but on the inroduction of the reader to the world?
Here's my trouble: the world exists in notes, rough descriptions, and sketchy maps. When I try to write the story and introduce the world to the reader, I find myself either leaving it too sparse on detail, or having way too much to explain at once, so the reader is hit with a big block of exposition and not much story. The reader has to know where they are and what the rules of this world are in order to know what the heck is going on. At the same time, though, the story has to keep moving forward or they will become bored and disengaged. That's the balance.
Does anybody have any thoughts on this challenge? Not the worldbuilding itself, but on the inroduction of the reader to the world?