Heard at a session with Marc Bernardin, Naren Shankar, and Emily Carmichael about building worlds in action, sci-fi, and fantasy at the ScreenCraft Writers Summit 2021:
How does world affect your story? World should have a connection/impact on your story. However, stories don’t always hinge on the kind of world.
Show audiences a new side of your world they hadn't seen before to make it more real.
Know your audience is expecting certain things: give them those things or subvert those things.
Don't be surprised when others introduce changes to what you created. Must be open to it.
Limitations, e.g., budget, drive you to new and interesting places.
Can standard story types from different genres work in other genres?
With well-done worlds, you feel like there are histories. Examples:
- Transformers
- Game of Thrones
- Dungeons and Dragons game
- Walking Dead
Generally can adapt the story types to different genres.
Horror is most rule bound genre. The horror must be very consistent. Example: characters may think horror is different things, but it must be the same. Example: shapeshifters appear different to different people but is always the same horror.
Make the setting seem very familiar to get max effect of horror, fantasy, etc.
Factoring equity issues. Think through the issues to make sure they work in the story.
Look at even small things like toilet paper that have impact because of scarcity.
