I treat worldbuilding like something to be braided throughout the writing process. I don’t collect all of the hair at once — bc that’s a ponytail.

So prior to starting project STARDUST, the worldbuilding was fairly simple.

I got on WBQOTD.tumbr.com and found their masterlist of questions. Paired it with a random number generator on google, and went for ten rounds.

As always, the YouTube video is already uploaded of this.

The questions were really really good:

  1. What is the most luxurious way to travel?

  2. How would someone in your setting create a new identity for themselves?

  3. What is your world's greatest unsolved mystery?

  4. How, if at all, does the world end in your cultures’ mythologies?

  5. What are the best-known prophecies in your world?

  6. What kinds of things are parents responsible for teaching their children? Are mothers and fathers responsible for teaching different things?

  7. What kind of jewelry is worn in your setting?

  8. Does your world have hotels, inns or other types of lodging for travellers? How common are they? What kind of service do these places provide?

  9. What is your society’s attitude towards nature?

  10. How are widows and widowers treated in your setting?

I loved answering them. Had a great time. Figured out a ton.

While I didn’t run into this, a good rule of thumb for questions that have a yes/no answer: do your best to improv.

“Yes, and—” is my best friend during this part. (Unless the question is about currency. Don’t get me started on currency. I hate talking about it. I don’t even understand inflation on Earth how could I possibly explain exchange rates in my fantasy novel.)

So, I answered the ten questions, then decided to also touch base on “The God Thing.”

Worldbuilding

Oh god.

Oh gods.

Seven hells.

It’s worldbuilding time.

I have no idea what I’m doing

What is “The God Thing”?

When I start building a world, I usually start with a flood myth.

Why do I start with a flood myth?

A lot of religions on our planet have one.

Here’s an explanation of a flood myth.

Here’s a list of them.

Flood myths are a good place to start because creation and origin stories are hard. Why the god/s came to the decision to build the realm, who created what, are there extra deities involved, who has what responsibility, etc. It’s too much. Floods are easier.

In flood myths, answering two questions will get you to the religion’s core beliefs:

  1. Why did they choose to flood it?

  2. Who survived?

If you don’t believe me — answer those questions for Christianity and compare those answers with other religions and mythologies that also documented a great flood.

I rest my case.

After getting to the religion’s core beliefs, you can choose other questions OR you can also get on WBQOTD:

  1. How involved are the gods of your world with mortal affairs? (Q: 223)

  2. Do any gods of your world have a physical, tangible form? (Q: 857)

  3. Who is the most powerful deity in your world? Would everyone in your setting agree with your answer or would there be some debate? (Q: 925)

  4. Are there any religions or deities who have been forgotten by the people of your world? What physical and societal traces of them remain? (Q: 934)

So “The God Thing” is really “The Flood Myth Thing”

And it’s usually my first step. But with project STARDUST, I didn’t feel a calling to DO “The Flood Myth Thing.”

And I later found that it’s because the Gods don’t really exist (I think? I’m not sure. There are stirrings in my head that there may be. Because where are the oracles getting their visions from if not from a god? But

Wait. Oh my god.

Sorry just realizing this as I’m typing

The god is a star that has been captured by the house’s net.

It’s in the house.

And they have to set it free.

There’s no flood myth because she loves her world/planet/realm. That’s why she’s always using her starlight to embrace it.

Okay. I’m gonna go run with this. I love you guys. I’ll talk to you soon BYE.

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