The Hemlock Notations

~ The writings of Faust S. Amazing

The Hemlock Notations

Monthly Archives: July 2021

Hello World! Part I

23 Friday Jul 2021

Posted by Faust S. Amazing in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

editing, writing

You’ve decided who your main character is, and whether or not this is going to be in first person or third point of view, you’ve done all the research.  All the brainstorming!  ALL the outlining!  ALL THE PREPARING!   All that’s left to do is the writing. 

Today, I want to talk about worldbuilding.  That is, how you introduce your world to the readers.  There are several techniques for this, but today I want to talk about, probably, one of the easiest ones.  The technique of the student/initiate/outsider.

The S/I/O technique is common with the first person point of view and third person limited point of view, where you’re following just one character.  Even though I’m calling the student/initiate/outsider technique they don’t literally have to be these things.  Though, in the case of Harry Potter, he is a student, in the case of Shadow and Bone, is an initiate, and in the case of The Dark Elf Trilogy, he is an outsider.

Let’s be honest here, “outsider” is a pretty broad term anyway.

The point is, the character that the story follows is introduced to your world at the same time the reader is, they are learning as the reader learns.  This sets up a clear path of information: 1) something happens to the character that they can’t explain; 2) someone explains it to them; 3) the character and the reader now know more about the world they’re in.  It takes the pressure off having to dump all the information on the reader from the start. 

This technique is also great for ramping up tension in the story.  For instance, when “something new” happens to the main character there’s no way for them to know how to deal with it, allowing you to show how brutal or forgiving you’re going to be.  When the dog’s shadow tears itself off the wall to attack your character will they end up in a fight, left bleeding and for dead in the middle of the street, or after a harrowing game of cat and mouse does your character escape.  Both scenes add tension and show how (un)forgiving your story is. 

Another great tension starter is the scene of separation; which happens after the character happens upon their mentor(s).  Two of these scenes stand out for me: 1) the unintentional split-up, and the 2) proving myself moment.  The unintentional split-up happens when the character does what they’re told, but somehow gets separated from the group.  Suddenly, they are stuck in a situation without a safety net or backup, through no fault of their own, but still they’re suffering due to the unpredictable nature of the world they’re in.  The proving myself moment is much more pro-active on the part of the character.  Being flush with new found knowledge/power/confidence, the character sneaks away to kick the ass of the (thing that must not be named), only to find out it’s laid a trap, or what they thought it was is wrong and it’s something they aren’t prepared to fight.  Again, both scenes add a sense of tension, but also highlight just how much the characters need to learn.

Another benefit of the controlled aspect of information is the tension of mystery.  If there’s no one around to tell the character what’s happening the mystery of it, the tension of the unknown, can drive the story.  The fumbling through the world, the hands-on learning, can be the fuel for the story.  The need to acquire knowledge to survive the overarching plot. 

Be careful with this technique though, because it can backfire so easily.  You have to make sure you’re providing enough information to keep the reader interested in learning more, and you have to time the chunks of information to maintain the interest and deepen the understanding to keep a reader wanting to be in your world.

Be yourself, be well.  Write yourself, write well.

PS: It is time I admit to my hypocrisy.  I have felt uncomfortable for some time in following my own advice that being ‘being myself.’  For years I have written under a pseudonym, that of “Samuel Eden”.  From this point on, though, I wish to write as myself, and thus shall be continuing under my true name: Faust Samhain Amazing.  

Advertisement

Pages

  • FREE STORY: Nano-Corps
  • NaNoWriMo-2016-First Draft
  • Stories Published as Samuel Eden

Recent Posts

  • The 10,000th Hour
  • A Year in Review
  • Hello World!  Part III 
  • Hello World! Part II
  • Hello World! Part I

Archives

  • April 2022
  • January 2022
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • March 2021
  • October 2020
  • May 2020
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • January 2019
  • July 2018
  • May 2018
  • January 2018
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • May 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • April 2012
  • December 2011

Blogroll

  • AJ Sabino Illustrations
  • Band of the Hawk
  • Fantasy World Writer
  • My Sweet Delirium
  • Teen Ink

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • The Hemlock Notations
    • Join 53 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Hemlock Notations
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar