Episode 246 - The Secrets of World-Building: It’s the Small Stuff with Timons Esaias
July 9, 2024
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Timons Esaias discusses THE SECRETS OF WORLD-BUILDING: IT’S THE SMALL STUFF, including his insights into effective world-building for fiction, emphasizing the importance of small, non-generic details that enhance character development and scene-setting. He touches on the difference between immersive storytelling and simpler narratives and offers practical tips on how to gather and use unique details from ephemera, old books, and postcards to enrich a narrative. He offers guidance on balancing research with storytelling ... and on knowing when to stop.
Timons Esaias is a satirist, writer, and poet living in Pittsburgh. His works, ranging from literary to genre, have been published in twenty-two languages. He has been a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award, and he won the Winter Anthology Contest, the SFPA Poetry Contest, and the Asimov's Readers Award (twice). He is a recent Pushcart nominee, and Intrepid Award winner for the story "To Do." His poetry collection is “Why Elephants No Longer Communicate in Greek.” He collects chess sets.
Links
Guest's Links:
https://twitter.com/EsaiasTimons
https://www.facebook.com/timons.esaias/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/867037.Timons_Esaias
Matty's Links:
Affiliate links
Events
https://twitter.com/EsaiasTimons
https://www.facebook.com/timons.esaias/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/867037.Timons_Esaias
Matty's Links:
Affiliate links
Events
I hope you enjoyed my conversation with Timons! Which of his tips were your favorite? If you tried it out, I’d love to hear about the result!
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Are you getting value from the podcast? Consider supporting me on Patreon or through Buy Me a Coffee!
The interview opened with an introduction to Timons Esaias, an esteemed satirist, writer, and poet. He's known for his diverse literary works published in 22 languages and his accolades, including being a finalist for the British Science Fiction Award and winning multiple writing contests. The conversation aimed to delve deep into the nuances of world-building and character development in fiction writing.
The Importance of Small Details
Timons began by emphasizing the importance of integrating small, meaningful details into both world-building and character development. He noted that focusing on particulars like adornments, everyday tools, and small personal items adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.
Quote: "One of the things I find missing in fiction is anybody wearing anything and any story behind it."
By concentrating on these finer elements, writers can convey much more about their characters and settings without overwhelming the reader with exhaustive descriptions.
Leveraging Playsearch for World-Building
Timons introduced the concept of "playsearch", a playful and exploratory approach to research. Instead of traditional research methods, playsearch involves flipping through old catalogues, postcards, and ephemera to draw inspiration and authentic details for fictional worlds.
Example: "For a science fiction setting, I can look at 1886 and go, okay, that's already changed. How will it change again by the time it's in my story?"
This method helps writers to add realism and depth to their settings by drawing on historical and cultural references.
Emphasizing Character Reactions
Timons argued for the importance of focusing on character reactions rather than exhaustive physical descriptions. Readers will naturally form their own mental images of characters, making it more impactful to describe how characters make others feel or react.
Quote: "We judge people in an instant when we meet them. And it's utterly unfair, but we do it."
This approach ensures that descriptions serve a narrative purpose and deepen the reader's engagement with the characters.
Using Cultural Exceptions to Establish Norms
Illustrating cultural norms through exceptions is another powerful tool Timons recommends. By showing what happens when something goes wrong or deviates from the norm, writers can effectively establish the rules of their fictional world.
Example: "You get somebody upset by the fact that it's not working, now we know what the rules are."
Strategic Research Approaches
While emphasizing the importance of research, Timons advised writers to write their initial drafts first and then conduct targeted research to fill in specific gaps. This ensures that time is spent effectively on indispensable details that contribute to the story.
Quote: "Write the story first, then research the things you need."
He also pointed out that different audiences require different levels of detail. Writers should balance the depth of their world-building based on whether their readers prefer immersive worlds or simpler, more focused storytelling.
The Role of Architecture and Maps
Timons discussed the value of books on architecture and maps as essential resources for sparking creativity and ensuring consistency in world-building. These resources offer insights into different time periods and cultural practices, helping writers create believable settings.
Example: "I have this history of London in maps... it's been useful, especially with students who are setting things in London."
Understanding the layout of streets and the architectural styles of different periods enhances the authenticity and inspires new ideas for settings.
Practical Insight: Matty mentioned how historical research helped him avoid mistakes, like discovering that a modern through street was not a through street in the past due to a fire. Such details honor the setting and improve the reader's experience.
Distinctive Character Development
Timons highlighted the importance of describing unique behaviors or possessions of characters instead of falling back on generic traits. This makes characters more memorable and authentic.
Quote: "Find a thing, or a behavior, that will reveal it."
By focusing on specific, revealing details, writers can avoid repetitive descriptions and instead use these to deepen character development.
Knowing When to Stop Researching
Recognizing when to stop researching and start writing can be challenging. Timons offered practical advice: if you feel drained by a story, it's likely you’ve gathered sufficient information.
Quote: "Psychologically, if you're shelving a story because you are just tired of it, it's probably tired of you."
This helps writers avoid endless cycles of research that don't contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
Effective Writing Techniques
Timons shared several practical writing techniques:
1. Start in the Middle: Captivate readers quickly by dropping them into the middle of the action and revealing the world's details gradually.
Example: "With immersive settings, start in the middle. Have a lot of stuff going by that’s interesting but you don’t explain at first."
2. Infuse Meaning: Ensure every descriptive element in the story adds plot complexity or character depth.
Quote: "Only if you're adding plot complexity in an interesting way or meaning should a thing be in there."
3. Secret Symbolism: Using secret meanings or symbolic elements, which might not be immediately apparent to readers, can give depth to the narrative.
Example: Timons mentioned using a real map and fictionalizing its details to create an underlying structure of meaning.
Resource Recommendations
Timons recommended exploring museums and antique shops, as they often contain bins of old postcards or books that provide historical context and inspiration.
Quote: "Little bins full of old postcards... frequently, it’s not the main thing they’re portraying but what is parked next to it or what the gal in the front is wearing."
In addition, he suggested looking through travel guides and ephemera for insights into daily life and cultural practices that add realism to writing.
Conclusion
Timons’ approach to incorporating small, meaningful details, leveraging real-world inspiration, and using practical research techniques can help any writer elevate their storytelling. By focusing on these aspects, writers can create rich, immersive narratives that resonate with readers, making fictional worlds feel as real as the one we live in.
The Importance of Small Details
Timons began by emphasizing the importance of integrating small, meaningful details into both world-building and character development. He noted that focusing on particulars like adornments, everyday tools, and small personal items adds depth and authenticity to the narrative.
Quote: "One of the things I find missing in fiction is anybody wearing anything and any story behind it."
By concentrating on these finer elements, writers can convey much more about their characters and settings without overwhelming the reader with exhaustive descriptions.
Leveraging Playsearch for World-Building
Timons introduced the concept of "playsearch", a playful and exploratory approach to research. Instead of traditional research methods, playsearch involves flipping through old catalogues, postcards, and ephemera to draw inspiration and authentic details for fictional worlds.
Example: "For a science fiction setting, I can look at 1886 and go, okay, that's already changed. How will it change again by the time it's in my story?"
This method helps writers to add realism and depth to their settings by drawing on historical and cultural references.
Emphasizing Character Reactions
Timons argued for the importance of focusing on character reactions rather than exhaustive physical descriptions. Readers will naturally form their own mental images of characters, making it more impactful to describe how characters make others feel or react.
Quote: "We judge people in an instant when we meet them. And it's utterly unfair, but we do it."
This approach ensures that descriptions serve a narrative purpose and deepen the reader's engagement with the characters.
Using Cultural Exceptions to Establish Norms
Illustrating cultural norms through exceptions is another powerful tool Timons recommends. By showing what happens when something goes wrong or deviates from the norm, writers can effectively establish the rules of their fictional world.
Example: "You get somebody upset by the fact that it's not working, now we know what the rules are."
Strategic Research Approaches
While emphasizing the importance of research, Timons advised writers to write their initial drafts first and then conduct targeted research to fill in specific gaps. This ensures that time is spent effectively on indispensable details that contribute to the story.
Quote: "Write the story first, then research the things you need."
He also pointed out that different audiences require different levels of detail. Writers should balance the depth of their world-building based on whether their readers prefer immersive worlds or simpler, more focused storytelling.
The Role of Architecture and Maps
Timons discussed the value of books on architecture and maps as essential resources for sparking creativity and ensuring consistency in world-building. These resources offer insights into different time periods and cultural practices, helping writers create believable settings.
Example: "I have this history of London in maps... it's been useful, especially with students who are setting things in London."
Understanding the layout of streets and the architectural styles of different periods enhances the authenticity and inspires new ideas for settings.
Practical Insight: Matty mentioned how historical research helped him avoid mistakes, like discovering that a modern through street was not a through street in the past due to a fire. Such details honor the setting and improve the reader's experience.
Distinctive Character Development
Timons highlighted the importance of describing unique behaviors or possessions of characters instead of falling back on generic traits. This makes characters more memorable and authentic.
Quote: "Find a thing, or a behavior, that will reveal it."
By focusing on specific, revealing details, writers can avoid repetitive descriptions and instead use these to deepen character development.
Knowing When to Stop Researching
Recognizing when to stop researching and start writing can be challenging. Timons offered practical advice: if you feel drained by a story, it's likely you’ve gathered sufficient information.
Quote: "Psychologically, if you're shelving a story because you are just tired of it, it's probably tired of you."
This helps writers avoid endless cycles of research that don't contribute meaningfully to the narrative.
Effective Writing Techniques
Timons shared several practical writing techniques:
1. Start in the Middle: Captivate readers quickly by dropping them into the middle of the action and revealing the world's details gradually.
Example: "With immersive settings, start in the middle. Have a lot of stuff going by that’s interesting but you don’t explain at first."
2. Infuse Meaning: Ensure every descriptive element in the story adds plot complexity or character depth.
Quote: "Only if you're adding plot complexity in an interesting way or meaning should a thing be in there."
3. Secret Symbolism: Using secret meanings or symbolic elements, which might not be immediately apparent to readers, can give depth to the narrative.
Example: Timons mentioned using a real map and fictionalizing its details to create an underlying structure of meaning.
Resource Recommendations
Timons recommended exploring museums and antique shops, as they often contain bins of old postcards or books that provide historical context and inspiration.
Quote: "Little bins full of old postcards... frequently, it’s not the main thing they’re portraying but what is parked next to it or what the gal in the front is wearing."
In addition, he suggested looking through travel guides and ephemera for insights into daily life and cultural practices that add realism to writing.
Conclusion
Timons’ approach to incorporating small, meaningful details, leveraging real-world inspiration, and using practical research techniques can help any writer elevate their storytelling. By focusing on these aspects, writers can create rich, immersive narratives that resonate with readers, making fictional worlds feel as real as the one we live in.