Questions for a fantasy writer, generally on preparation

When starting a new fantasy novel, how much time do you take for world building? List every single race, write down their characteristics? Do you do a lot of research? E.g. if your story is set in the medieval ages, do you try to find out how life really was back then? Do you draw maps, invent new languages? Do you write down the characteristics of your main characters? Do your brainstorm? Write plans? Or just write, without any preparation?

-elein

Drawing Maps is the biggy. I do that first then plan out each culture.

http://hollylisle.com

on the writing section there are invaluable resources.

Ha, yes, i followed the link. Great site xD

I am currently learning about daggers, lol. And if anyone could answer my tongue question in the Research section it would be great xD

-But, not wanting to only litter the thread, I'll answer my own questions.

When I started to write I didn't think much about worldbuilding, I just wrote and that was the end of it.

Nowadays I take my time. I sometimes even draw maps (ha, thery're readable only to me!!!) I write more background information, I researxh the topics that are essential. basically, my room is littered with papers, hehe.

-elein

I hate doing maps. BUT I *will* research medieval times, blacksmithing, shepherding, feudalism, weaving, etc., just to get the main things. Then, after know how the society works and what runs it, I can figure out what the culture is. I also research mythologies from the past so I can combine the mythologies into a new religion.

Yeah... I'm crazy.

I sit down, write with only a vague idea of what I want, and hope for the best.

Not recommended, unless you enjoy surprises.

I usually star off with something small. Some of my stuff starts with a single name. if it's a good story the wolrd follows and flows nicely. Usually. I go back often to double check what I've written.

The main thing I check is language. Sometimes when the story hits you there is no time to plan.

I'm with Sureal, I just write and things sort themselves out for me. But it only works sometimes, a few of my characters tend to be rebellious from the start and don't co-operate.

I plan things out, but only in my head, because if I write things down it makes them feel more definate, whereas in my head they can change alot more. Sometimes I'll write things down, but that's only If I know I'm going to move onto something else and don't want to forget main points or little details.

I don't really plan that much I just let my creative flow go through my mind first. Then I go back and make changes and write everything down. The only thing I do is do research on the races I have and stuff like that.

When I'm starting something new, I just start writing. These first drafts I get are horrendous, but aftyer that initial stage I'm able to keep what I want and get something vaguely resembling a story.

I'm working on a map for my world right now. It just got so complicated to keep up with where everything was, I decided to make one. I'm having a lot of fun with it, drawing the landscape, naming cities, and what not.