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Ask an Author: World Building and Exposition

What Is World Building?

Ever wanted to know how a science fiction or fantasy author builds an imaginary world?

What Is World Building?
How do authors create strange new worlds? Find out!

Authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephanie Meyer, J.K. Rowling, Frank Herbert, William Gibson and scores of others are renowned for the worlds they’ve created.

What makes them so intriguing?

I’ve been invited to join a handful of other authors at MileHiCon here in Denver this month to talk about the reasons why (and how to do it).

What Is World Building?

World building (sometimes written as one word: worldbuilding) is the process of constructing an imaginary world. How do authors do it, and what are the tricks and behind-the-scenes techniques to do it?

What Is Exposition (and Why Bury It)?

Exposition is the background material that the reader must know in order to understand the story. (“As you know, Smeagol, there’s this ancient evil ring that controls all the forces of darkness and — hey, where’d he go?”)

Explaining that information to the audience without being boring is an art in itself. I’ll talk more about that, coming up.

Now, Your Turn

What would you like to know about world building or exposition? Leave me a question in the comments, or send me an email, and I’ll do my best to get your question answered at MileHiCon.

One last thing: remember to sign up for my newsletter to get free stories, win prizes, and get an exclusive sneak peek at new books! >

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