Author N.R. Williams

N.R. Williams, author of The Treasures of Carmelidrium, a high fantasy, is here today to talk about the term “world driven” and how it applies to fantasy. She’s stopping by Straight From Hel on her blog tour.

 N. R. Williams lives in Colorado, U.S.A. with her husband. She’s a long time member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and has attended conferences and workshops. She said that since her formative years, she’s been inventing fantastical stories and since she could spell she’s been writing them down. While she majored in art in college, she didn’t make a living at it. Now, she uses her skills of observation to create fantastical worlds, interesting characters and stories that touch the heart. She’s certainly done that in her book, The Treasures of Carmelidrium.

Welcome Nancy!

Character-Driven versus World-Driven

Thank you Helen for having me as your guest during my blog book tour for “The Treasures of Carmelidrium.” I appreciate it.

I’m going to start this post by flipping the title. What is “World-Driven?” Is that the same as “Plot-Driven?”

World-driven is a little different from plot-driven, but not by much.

Fantasy and Science Fiction are known for their worlds. I can name many, “Star Trek,” “Star Wars,” “Narnia,” “Harry Potter.” The list goes on. We traditionally think of these examples when we think about world building, or world driven. Things just wouldn’t be the same without “warp drive” in “Star Trek,” or “Darth Vador” in “Star Wars.” Excuse me a moment while I tell him to stop breathing down my neck. You naughty character you.

Another example is the one and only “Sherlock Holmes.” So you see world-driven is not just for fantasy or science fiction. A well written world will set the stage for our characters. But should it be the main focus? I don’t think so. If it is the main focus, then you have a writer caught up in, let’s say, the Elizabethan age, with endless descriptions of clothing, manners, and travel. These things are important, but not if the characters are buried in fabrics.

Character-driven. By the term, we already know, or hope, that the main characters are as three dimensional as possible. The writer has taken care not to use cookie cutter characters, each one a duplicate of earlier works. Our characters should be unique.

Let’s assume that strong willed and opinionated Elizabeth Bennett has somehow been transported onto the deck of the Enterprise. Does she belong there? Perhaps a similar character, but Capt. Prichard is not Mr. Darcy. So to build a character with Elizabeth’s strength is what the writer should study and implement. Now we have a woman who is capable of being the Captain of the Enterprise.

In my high (or epic) fantasy, “The Treasures of Carmelidrium,” Missie is a modern American. She reacts to her surroundings as a liberated woman. She can’t do otherwise, because she isn’t a meek person. Her counterpart, Prince Healden, (pronounced with a silent “a” like Hel-don) is well mannered, charismatic, and handsome. He is used to women falling all over him. Missie has ignored men in order to pursue her music career. She is stubborn, intelligent, beautiful, talented, and funny. Healden can’t get enough and doesn’t understand anything that motivates Missie. This is the underlying tension in my story while the main problem is defeating the villain and figuring out how to do that.

A good story will have the main plot, set in an interesting world, with additional twists and turns to help the characters develop and grow while searching for the answer to their journey. It’s up to the writer to craft the character’s struggle in a way that is thrilling and enjoyable to the reader.

Thank you Nancy!

Before you link away, leave a comment or question for Nancy. You can also leave your email to be entered in a drawing for a free e-book. She’s giving away a free e-book to three lucky commenters during her tour. You can enter multiple times by commenting here and on other blogs participating in the tour.