Most of the time, people only have a vague idea of where they want their story to go. They have an idea of a world they want to make, or a town, or a universe. They have a whole lot of ideas, but no idea how they all connect.
Then you have JK Rowling. She has a great universe full of deep history, a rich culture, social issues, politics, etc.
They question is how to get from where we are, to where she is. You won't like what I have to say, but a lot of it is luck. Sometimes the author makes purposeful connections within their stories and other times they happen completely on their own.
I call those happy accidents. People often picture the writer as having complete control of their plot and characters. The truth is that that's not entirely accurate.
While it is important to have an idea of little connections that you want to make in your story, you have to be open to the possiblity that you don't know everything about your world. You're the narrator, not the god.
CEOs don't know who works where at what time. You are the CEO of your world. While you should know the parameters of your world and all it's aspects, it isn't always so important to know the specifics.
You don't need to know every species of animal, plants, insects, etc. That has ever been in your world, but you should at least be able to name the basic ones that your characters might come into contact with. You don't need to know the biggest fuel producer, but you need to know what the fuel is.
You don't need to list the last thirty leaders, but you better know the current one and how the main government works. You better know the social expectations and current controversies, but you don't need to know every single different issue that has ever come to pass.
Fan theories, in my opinion, come up with the coolest connections (and also to most extreme). I especially love to look at the ones about Supernatural, Harry Potter, Marvel, and DC.
Leave room for those connections to be made. You're writing a story, not a documentary. Let those happy accidents happen and embrace them. Fix the ones you don't like, and move on. You don't have to be in control of everything in your book all the time.
YOU ARE READING
Writing Tips &Tricks
Non-FictionThis is where I will publish all of my most helpful tips and advice for writing along with my own experiences as a writer and an occasional character profile, describing how I go about writing those characters. I hope that this helps you become mo...
