Hello Worldbuilders!

Writers often find ourselves navigating the balance between worldbuilding and storytelling. One of the questions that can arise in this creative process is whether or not to name the world in which our story unfolds. What impact can naming your world have on your work?

Within speculative fiction, we encounter many named worlds that have left a mark on the literary landscape. Middle Earth, created by J.R.R. Tolkien, immediately springs to mind. Its rich history and intricate lore have enthralled readers for generations.

Recently, I had the pleasure of diving into the world of Abreia, in the Legends of Abreia series by Kenley Davidson, which features five kingdoms, four of which we explore in her delightful series.

My friend Ben Hale's Lumineia is another example, spanning centuries of story time and dozens of books. And there are many, many more examples.

Yet, when it comes to my own epic fantasy series, Earthsinger Chronicles, I didn't go that route. In my world, readers encounter a diverse array of nations, peoples, and cultures, but the world itself remains nameless.

Honestly, it wasn't something that felt instinctive for me to do. After all, does the world we inhabit in our daily lives have a name? We reside on Earth, and on specific continents, but do we need to label them individually?

Imagine a contemporary series titled "The North America Chronicles." But I don't know, maybe someone has written this. (Please let me know.)

Of course, I'm not dismissing the notion of naming a world. There are definitely benefits to doing so. A named world becomes a clear and memorable brand for your work.

Just as we recognize Narnia, Earthsea, and Discworld (I originally wrote this as Discoworld, and I’d love to read about that place, too), a well-chosen name can resonate with readers long after they've turned the final page.

The power of a world's name lies in its ability to compress vast amounts of energy and information within a tiny package. Like the names of countries or characters, it can be a potent tool for conveying the essence of your fictional realm.

When the name flows and connects with the history, culture, and themes of your world, it becomes an integral element of your worldbuilding.

So, if you're currently writing speculative fiction, have you taken the leap and named your world? If so, what compelled you to do so? If not, have you considered it?

​Let's discuss it in the course forum!​

In other news...

The upcoming January live online cohort for Imaginary Worldbuilding will be the only one for the year.

We'll be gathering on Saturdays starting January 13, 2024 at 12pm ET to review the course material, get feedback on worldbuilding progress, and for Q&A about story development and craft.

If you'd like to go deeper into crafting your fictional world, please join us!

​You can add on the cohort option here!​

Happy Holidays & Happy Writing
Leslye.

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