"If I had to really put a fine point on it, I believe that world building is where many of my story arcs are born."
Warning: I do not recommend getting so caught up in world building that it becomes a project unto itself. This is only part of the process and should be treated as such. Speaking from experience, it is possible to become so obsessed with backstory that you never begin writing a story.
I’ve been asked where my story ideas come from, and there isn’t just one concrete answer to that. If I had to really put a fine point on it, I believe that world building is where many of my story arcs are born. In fact, knowing the world in which your characters exist is just as important as defining the people themselves.
When I started writing The Sunstroms, I knew up front that I wanted to tell a story about a superhero family, and I wanted that family to have a definite science fiction flavor that reminded me of some of the cartoons and comics I grew up with. But after the characters were named, drawn, and fleshed out, they needed an interesting narrative.
Author Gene E Willoughby II's Sunstrom's Work
Most of the ideas for that particular novel came from my notebooks. Now, before I go any further, I must admit that I have something of an addiction to composition books, and I own quite a few of them. All of these books contain pieces of what I call my “secret worlds”. If I remember it correctly, this started when I was in college working various retail jobs. I would always have a notebook with me, and when customer traffic was slow or I was on break, I’d be jotting down my ideas about new characters, locations, and super powers. Even now, I continue this practice at home while I’m watching the Lakers or replaying a favorite movie of mine.
As you are thinking about the world you plan to write about, ask yourself a series of questions. Is this world like ours? Are there any differences? For example, if you watch a show such as Power, the hyper-charged crime world is depicted as nearly identical to ours with few deviations. Conversely, the movies in the Marvel Cinematic Universe have some important similarities, but the fact that super beings are possible in that world changes everything.
"I must admit that I have something of an addiction to composition books, and I own quite a few of them. All of these books contain pieces of what I call my 'secret worlds'."
If your universe is vastly different, then there are other aspects you should consider. What does religion look like? What about governments? Who or what group is in charge? How does the economy work? Is there special technology or magic present in your world? If so, how do those things work? What are the rules or laws? Are there any super abilities in your world and what are their strengths and weaknesses? How do everyday people earn a living? What is the state of their environment? When I am constructing an outline I end up pulling material concerning backstories, locations, and organizations from these notes, and my stories tend to evolve from these ideas.
This is part 2 in a series of articles on the topic of comic book development. Find all articles in the series linked below:
