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Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Worldbuilding with P.I. Barrington


Think about some of your favorite science fiction romance books. What exactly brought that story to life for you? Characters, plotline, and motives all play major parts in any novel or story but without a world for them all to exist within none can work. Worldbuilding is an exciting aspect of writing science fiction romance. This is where you can mix and match geography, civilizations, social, legal and cultural mores to create an entirely new world or just enhance the one we live in now or will live in shortly. You can create an alternate Earth and set it in any past or current time you desire.
 
When I started The Brede Chronicles I decided there would be only two main settings: 2107 Earth and the planet of Amphidia. This is where the thinking comes in. Because I love Egypt and the Middle East I decided that one of the main plots of this story would take place in Egypt one hundred years from now. What has remained over the millennia and what has been removed? How has the environment changed? What is still considered wealth and what is considered poverty?
 
I wanted it split level: the rich stayed in megalithic, one thousand plus storied buildings so huge each one held at least one if not two or three docking bays for interstellar and local flying vehicles—sort of parking structures; the poor however lived at street level, in cities (that actually exist today) comprised of mountains of garbage and discarded items which the residents sifted through to recycle anything they could find for money. But I also wanted the atmosphere of ancient Egypt so I kept the souks (bazaars & marketplaces) that also to this day sell livestock, food and cloth material. That stayed.
 
Opposite of that was Amphidia where Alekzander Brede was born. That planet had to be different—vastly different than New Cairo, Earth. It had rivers that dwarfed the biggest on Earth and grew trees twenty stories tall. Physical power and prowess constituted wealth not gold or money as on Earth.
 
But now to you, the author: you didn’t think I’d leave you without tools did you? Of course not! Unless you’re Colleen McCullough who can research ancient history like nobody’s business, you might need a slight…assist…in developing your world. Prompts are great but many times don’t really help in creating an entirely new world or worlds so I’ve compiled a few of my favorite old and new world building generator sites and their links.
 
 
From the looks of it they’ve revamped the home page with uber instructions on how to use generators and they now list all the other major or great generator sites as well. Seventh Sanctum generates names, planets, races, powers or abilities, and technology—a must for any serious science fiction author.
 
 
Chaotic Shiny is amazing! You can generate anything from monetary terms and values to laws, languages, gods, motives, superstitions, places (i.e. arenas), plots, and even accessories!
 
About P.I. Barrington:
 
After an extended detour through the entertainment industry, P.I. Barrington has returned to fiction author. Among her experience are journalism, radio air talent and the music industry. She lives in Southern California.
 
Her work includes:
 
Future Imperfect Trilogy (Crucifying Angel, Miraculous Deception, Final Deceit) Desert Breeze Publishing
 
Inamorata Crossing/Borealis 1: A Space Opera, Desert Breeze Publishing
 
Isadora DayStar (self-published)
 
The Button Hollow Chronicles: The Leaf Peeper Murders, Mainly Murder Press
 
Free stories on ReadWave.com & Wattpad.com
 
She can be contacted via email: pibarrington@dslextreme.com or pibarrington@yahoo.com .
 
 
New Release!

 
 
 
Brede Chronicles Back Cover Blurb FRP
 
Half-human Alekzander Brede is a law unto himself…or so he thinks. Elektra Tate, the street orphan who loves him has other ideas. When she betrays him for no apparent reason, he vows to punish her one way or another. Taking the one thing she treasures most—their son—begins a cat and mouse relationship spanning two planets and costing possibly his life. Elektra will stop at nothing to save her son but can she overcome Brede’s twisted idea of vengeance?
 

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