Hello everyone. Today is the fifth and final day of the Story Empire Team’s Something Wicked Blog Tour. I hope you’ve all enjoyed following us for the week and seeing what we have to offer.
Today, it gives me great pleasure to host author Staci Troilo, who talks about book 1 in The Astral Conspiracy Series, The Gate.
Writing in a Shared World
Thanks for welcoming me here today, Harmony.
Ciao, amici! Yesterday in the Story Empire Something Wicked tour, I discussed macro- and micro-level details to use when developing a story world.
For me, the next logical progression is to talk about existing story worlds, and how to write in them.
Let me explain.
Most of the time when we write, we create everything. And I mean EVERYTHING. Not just the plot and the characters, but the world in which everything happens. Each decision—from the overarching theme to the most minute detail—is ours and ours alone. It can be a bit daunting, especially to a beginning writer, but we get used to it. In fact, much of it becomes second nature and we lose sight of the mechanics behind the scenes. We become blind to both the power of world creation and the responsibility of it. We just do it. (And, hopefully, do it well.)
But there is actually another way to write. One that takes away a lot of the decisions that need to be made, freeing the author to focus solely on plot and character.
That’s writing in a shared world.
Perhaps you’ve heard of author Richard A. Knaak. No? You may have heard of the Diablo books or the Dragonlance Chronicles. I’m sure you’ve heard of World of Warcraft. I heard Knaak speak at a conference in 2012, and it was my first introduction to shared worlds. He said he got his start not by writing a novel in a world he conceived of, but by writing a novel in a world that already existed. He advocated beginning writers try that path if they couldn’t break into publishing otherwise, saying once writers have some titles under their belts, they will find it easier to get a publisher interested in their original works.
It’s actually the path I chose. My first published novel was written in a shared world.
There are pros and cons to doing this.
Pros:
- The world already exists, so there’s a built-in fanbase.
- Many of the details have already been established, so you have far fewer decisions to make.
Cons:
- The fans are likely more knowledgeable of the world than you, so mistakes will be noticeable (and likely pointed out in a very public and emphatic way).
- Many of the details have already been established, so you can’t do whatever you want and have to stick with established canon.
My Astral Conspiracy series takes place in a shared universe. I already know what the aliens look like, how they behave, what their agenda is, and what is going to happen on the grand scale. It was nice having these decisions taken off my shoulders. But there were also times when I really wanted to do something but I couldn’t because an alternative was already established.
The Invasion Universe is rich with lore and characters and settings—far richer than a standalone novel (or even a series) could ever be on its own. It’s been a challenge to create the story I wanted to tell within pre-established constructs, but it was challenging in a fun way. It’s forcing me to flex different writing muscles, which I always enjoy in a project. If you’re interested in seeing how I merged my stories into the existing universe, I invite you to check out all the offerings in the series, and my opening novel, The Gate.
He lost his job. Lost his girl. Now it’s all he can do not to lose his life.
Landon Thorne is a disgraced archaeologist, a laughing stock in his field because of his unconventional beliefs – he’s an ancient astronaut theorist. No one takes him seriously.
Until an alien armada targets Earth.
Now Landon’s in high demand – by the US government and someone far more sinister.
They race across two continents to the Gate of the Gods, the one place on Earth that might give humans an advantage over the aliens. But no one is prepared for what they’ll find.
And not everyone will make it out alive.
The Gate is the first of five novels in the Astral Conspiracy Series, part of Sterling and Stone’s Invasion Universe.
About the Author:
Suspense, Passion…Fiction That Flutters The Heart
Genres:
Romance, Suspense, Paranormal, Mystery, and Mainstream
Quirky fact I don’t want anyone to know:
The socks in my sock drawer and some books on my shelf are arranged in rainbow order.
Bio:
I grew up knowing family is paramount. I was blessed to spend time with extended family daily, not just on holidays or weekends. Because of those close-knit familial bonds, every day was full of love and laughter, food and fun.
Life has taken me a thousand miles away from that extended family, but those ties remain. And so do the traditions, which I now share with my husband, son, and daughter… even my two dogs. And through my fiction, I share those traditions and the importance of relationships with you. Mystery or suspense, romance or mainstream—in my stories, family is paramount.
To learn more about me, visit me at http://stacitroilo.com or connect with me on social media.
Relevant Links:
Blog | Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads | Newsletter
Twitter | Facebook | FB Group | Pinterest | Google + | LinkedIn
Here are the rest of the tour stops for you:
- Craig is hosting Joan, who is talking about Fatal Attractions.
- Joan is hosting Harmony, who is talking about her book, Finding Katie.
- Mae is hosting Craig, who sent Lisa Burton to reveal an excerpt from Viral Blues and share one of her posters.
- P.H. is hosting Mae, who is talking about Curses.
- Staci is hosting P.H., who is talking about dwarves and dressing up.