A Light Through the Darkness

So, I sat with Puck at lunch and started my preliminary worldbuilding for my new Sekrit Project(tm). Since this is supposed to be a writing blog, I thought I'd give some insight into how I approach a new book.

This is going to be a completely new "world" in terms of my books - it's not connected to any projects I currently have going, so I'm literally starting from the ground up. This time, since I'm NOT on deadline for this, I'm going to really take the time to do it the way I know I need to. Unfortunately, I'm NOT a pantser - I need to have everything outlined ahead of time so I know where I'm going.

This particular project involves two worlds that are connected, but I'm actually doing three worlds - one world before a certain event happens, and then the same world as it is now. My prewriting starts with the worlds - I have ideas for a few of the characters, including the main MC, but I need to know more of the worlds they came from before I can really start working on plot.

As I get further along in this, I'll probably f-lock most of it - if you'd signed up for the Sleeping Beauty project, I'll post under that (if you're not on it, or not sure, post a comment and I'll add you to it), but this is a general post, so I'll leave it public for now.

When I start my worldbuilding at Ground Zero, I open a file and start asking myself questions. What do I know about the world/character/plot idea/symbol that inspired me? In this case, it was a chance remark by someone in FM Chat about mirrors. The remark itself didn't stick with me, but the mirror did, and I woke up a few days ago with the vaguest idea in mind about a world (or at least a house) where mirrors were forbidden, because there was a world beyond them that was deadly. I'm currently listening to the audiobook of Dracula on my commute to and from work, and the idea of a disease mingled with the mirror. (If you haven't read the original Dracula btw, I highly recommend the audio book. I had no idea it was all journals and letters! The version I have is 12 hours and read by two actors, male and female. Excellent, excellent and I'm bummed that I'll finish it tonight.)

So today at lunch, I opened a file on Puck and started to brainstorm. I've got three worlds now - the world before the disease, the world as of now with the disease and the world the refugees escaped to (yes, there are refugees). Now I need to start my worldbuilding by working on the following areas:

1. Culture(s)
2. Mythology/Religion
3. History
4. Race(s)
5. Cities
6. Technology/Economics
7. Magic

I also need to start looking into the mythology and superstitions of mirrors. Despite Vlad's encouragement, this will NOT be a vampire novel. I'm kind of burnt out on vampires right now. But there will be darkness, and magic. I'm just not sure what flavor yet. We'll see what the worldbuilding brings.

Since I'm going to be blogging the process, please feel free to ask me methodology questions in the comments. Don't ask plot questions yet, please, because honestly, I can't answer them.

I don't know yet. :P