January 05, 2019
Questions to Ask When Creating Alternate Worlds
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Somehow, due to the strange occurrence called 'time', it is now 2019. I was musing over what to write for this post yesterday (yes I am a very last minute blogger), about what would set the tone for Quill Pen Writer this year. One thing I always love to do here on the blog is help fellow writers. So, I hope today to make a helpful addition to my 'Questions to Ask When...' series, for all of you who are writing stories with alternate worlds!
What do I mean by alternate worlds? My definition is a world separate to, yet attached to Earth in some way. It could range from a world underneath ours, a secret one hidden within it, on a different timeline, or something else!
So now that we've got the definitions all set, to the questions!
1) How is the AW (alternate world) connected to ours? Is it by a particular place, a portal, a person, or location?
2) Who knows about the AW? Is it kept a secret, or is its existence public knowledge? If it's a secret, why? Does anyone know about it? If its public knowledge, how long has it been so?
3) Who lives in the AW? Is it people, magical creatures, a combination of the two? Do they know about our world?
4) What is the frequency of movement of goods between the AW and this world? Is there established trade? Do people move across often? Are these movements secretive, or public knowledge?
5) If the existence of the AW is secret, who keeps the secret in this world? What measures do they go to to protect it? Is the secret passed down, or is it kept by one individual? If so, what happens if they die?
6) If the existence of the AW is public, what have been the international implications? Has war been declared, or peace treaties made? What does the public think?
7) Does magic exist in the AW? If so, what kind? What are the limitations of this magic? What is the magic able to do? Who has access to the magic, and would it work in our world? Has it been brought over to our world?
8) How big is the AW? Is it the same size as ours, smaller, or in the smaller spaces of our world (such as underground or in isolated areas)?
9) What is the environment like? Is the AW varied in terrain types and environments, or is there only one type?
10) How similar is the AW to Earth in terms of plants and animals? Are they all the same, or are there unique types? How would they cope if they were brought to Earth? What do they look like, what do they eat, and what are any unique talents or abilities they might have?
11) If people live in the AW, what is their culture like? What do they value? If they were to be compared to Earth cultures, which one are they most alike to, and which one the least alike? How has their environment shaped their culture? What traditions and celebrations do they have?
12) What religions are prevalent in the AW? Are they similar to those in this world, or completely different? If so, how? What are the creation stories of their world, and how do they perceive the existence of our world?
13) What do the residents of the AW think about people on Earth? Is their opinion positive, negative, or neutral? Why is this the case? What history or people have affected this perception?
14) What do people on Earth think of the AW residents? Is their opinion positive, negative, or neutral? Why is this the case? What history or people have affected this perception?
15) Who was the first person to cross between the worlds? What led them to be able to cross, and what was their motivation for doing so? How long did they remain in the other world? Did they ever return? What happened while they were there, and how did they change from it?
16) Who else, if anyone, has crossed between the worlds? Is travel between them readily permitted, or must they undergo intense training, interrogation, or sneak across in order to make it? Do you have to pay to cross, or complete a task?
17) What is the history and mythology of the AW? When did it come into being? What wars have taken place, and what key figures have changed the course of its history? What stories do they tell, and what legends are held high in esteem?
18) Has anyone ever tried to control the AW from Earth, or the other way around? What reasoning did they have, and did they succeed? How did this affect the relationships between the two worlds? Will there be retaliation in the future?
What do I mean by alternate worlds? My definition is a world separate to, yet attached to Earth in some way. It could range from a world underneath ours, a secret one hidden within it, on a different timeline, or something else!
So now that we've got the definitions all set, to the questions!
1) How is the AW (alternate world) connected to ours? Is it by a particular place, a portal, a person, or location?
2) Who knows about the AW? Is it kept a secret, or is its existence public knowledge? If it's a secret, why? Does anyone know about it? If its public knowledge, how long has it been so?
3) Who lives in the AW? Is it people, magical creatures, a combination of the two? Do they know about our world?
4) What is the frequency of movement of goods between the AW and this world? Is there established trade? Do people move across often? Are these movements secretive, or public knowledge?
5) If the existence of the AW is secret, who keeps the secret in this world? What measures do they go to to protect it? Is the secret passed down, or is it kept by one individual? If so, what happens if they die?
6) If the existence of the AW is public, what have been the international implications? Has war been declared, or peace treaties made? What does the public think?
7) Does magic exist in the AW? If so, what kind? What are the limitations of this magic? What is the magic able to do? Who has access to the magic, and would it work in our world? Has it been brought over to our world?
8) How big is the AW? Is it the same size as ours, smaller, or in the smaller spaces of our world (such as underground or in isolated areas)?
9) What is the environment like? Is the AW varied in terrain types and environments, or is there only one type?
10) How similar is the AW to Earth in terms of plants and animals? Are they all the same, or are there unique types? How would they cope if they were brought to Earth? What do they look like, what do they eat, and what are any unique talents or abilities they might have?
11) If people live in the AW, what is their culture like? What do they value? If they were to be compared to Earth cultures, which one are they most alike to, and which one the least alike? How has their environment shaped their culture? What traditions and celebrations do they have?
12) What religions are prevalent in the AW? Are they similar to those in this world, or completely different? If so, how? What are the creation stories of their world, and how do they perceive the existence of our world?
13) What do the residents of the AW think about people on Earth? Is their opinion positive, negative, or neutral? Why is this the case? What history or people have affected this perception?
14) What do people on Earth think of the AW residents? Is their opinion positive, negative, or neutral? Why is this the case? What history or people have affected this perception?
15) Who was the first person to cross between the worlds? What led them to be able to cross, and what was their motivation for doing so? How long did they remain in the other world? Did they ever return? What happened while they were there, and how did they change from it?
16) Who else, if anyone, has crossed between the worlds? Is travel between them readily permitted, or must they undergo intense training, interrogation, or sneak across in order to make it? Do you have to pay to cross, or complete a task?
17) What is the history and mythology of the AW? When did it come into being? What wars have taken place, and what key figures have changed the course of its history? What stories do they tell, and what legends are held high in esteem?
18) Has anyone ever tried to control the AW from Earth, or the other way around? What reasoning did they have, and did they succeed? How did this affect the relationships between the two worlds? Will there be retaliation in the future?
More in the Questions to Ask When series!
Have you written a story with an alternate world before? Or read any great books with them? How is your writing going?
Have a wonderful day! <3