Lessons from my early worldbuilding
If we disregard "characters in a nondescript alternate universe" stories, the Kaleidoscope System was indeed my first worldbuilding project. It emerged in my teenage years and got a major overhaul while I was at the university, working on my doctoral thesis. So let's look at the teenage version, shall we?
The Core Idea
I wanted to make my own video game, centered around the idea of "a girl and her pet spaceship". After gaining Ycalla's trust, Calyrra Ontéró would pilot her to various locations and have random adventures there. The challenges would require her to find pieces of the solution elsewhere, because I wanted it to be a game like the point & click adventures that I loved.Issues In the Early Draft
Plot and People
But what is it about ?
The Current State
Unfortunately, there was no real story there. No character motivation, no overarching goals, no stakes. Teenage me did have the idea that some mastermind species was puppeteering the warring parties on Calyrra's home planet, but this no longer fits my tastes. And even back then, there was no clear way towards discovering that conspiracy. It was yet another random thing that she would stumble upon. I am still struggling to repair these issues in the re-worked setting. My big dream project, "Shifting Colors", lacks a clear plot. Some character motivations have emerged by now, but so far I don't know to tie those together.The Way Forward
The Kaleidoscope System is currently on hold while I am working on my story-writing skills. The story of Ria's Pack entered my life at the right moment, and will be precisely the practice piece that I need. Overall, I want to focus on making my worldbuilding serve my stories, rather than tossing random ideas in there and letting the characters drift from one adventure to the other. I want to sketch out the characters' paths early, then shape those random ideas into appropriate obstacles for them.Species
What's the measure of a non-human?
The Current State
When I started, the "aliens" were more or less humans with funny hair colors and a weird fashion sense. This was one of the first aspects that I changed as an adult. These cultures had nothing to do with Earth, so why would they look like humans? Fiction has so much more to offer. However, one thing I noticed is that their way of thinking and behaving remained very human-like. The only real exception is The Hive who are compared to and contrasted with the destructive ways of the mortals.The Way Forward
I think alien species are a good way to look at human behavior through different lenses. And now that real-world politics have found their way into my writing, a similarity to humans may actually be beneficial. I still believe that the Kaleidoscope System was improved by designing my own alien species. However, Miragia is a more traditional fantasy setting with very human-like inhabitants, which might make the social commentary in the Kingslayer Saga more accessible to readers.Mood
If you forget the bright parts, the darkness has already won.
The Current State
Back in my teenage years, I wanted Calyrra's world to be filled with exploration and wonder, despite the dangers that were lurking around the corner. However, the global war between her culture and the others was already part of my earliest drafts. The setting has grown along with my understanding of real-world politics, and the threat that an "us versus them" mentality poses for society as a whole. By now, the scales have tipped in the direction of a darker mood, but I find my younger self stubbornly clinging to the joy of discovery.The Way Forward
I think preserving that childlike sense of wonder is crucial for survival in a harsher world. This is why I will try my best to show that my worlds are, in fact, bright and colorful despite the actions of their inhabitants. Or maybe even because of those inhabitants who rebel against the majority.Companions
Where you travel matters less than who travels with you.
The Current State
Originally, "Shifting Colors" grew around the friendship between Calyrra and Ycalla. The way this girl would care for the spaceship and gain her trust and the adventures they would have together. This core idea is still there, except for the additional allies - maybe even friends - that they would gain along the way. Nowadays, Calyrra's group is not even the only one. Over on Ranul, we have Il-Arka and her colleagues, with Danokon watching over their safety. And the Hive is more connected to the mortals than any of them would expect.The Way Forward
It seems that "connection to others" really emerged as a core theme in my writing. When I look over to the Miragia project and Ria's pack, their story puts a heavy emphasis on the bond that forms between the persecuted hybrids. The logical response is to focus more on the social structures in my worldbuilding - more on the "who" than on the "what." Interestingly, this brings me back to the "characters in a nondescript alternate universe" stories from my childhood years. Sure, these characters will benefit from a proper world in the background. But still, it looks like childhood me had already figured out the part that I should prioritize.
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