Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Kerry's Wednesday Challenge ~ Worldbuilding

The term Worldbuilding was coined in the 1970s during workshops of  Sci-Fi writers, and it refers to the process of creating a fictitious world in which the writer's imagination may roam free from the restraints imposed by the laws of nature and science.  Read more on Wikipedia.

Free Wallpaper


The goal of worldbuilding is to create a context in which a story can take place. Similarities with our own world will be present, but the magic lies in the differences. This world will include flora and fauna, and its own unique topography.

The World of Narnia
created by C.S. Lewis
Listverse.com


Lists of Top Ten Fantasy Worlds (Listverse's Top 10) often include Narnia, Wonderland, Neverland and Middle-earth. They may reference paganism, mythology and the arcane or be based on hypotheses of scientific probabilities or possibilities not yet developed: time travel, parallel universe, alien invasion, hybrid species.

Nuke The Fridge's Top 10 List

Many surreal artists create fascinating worlds. The visualization of their imaginative process seems to open a window on a new way of looking at the things we take for granted in our own world. Jacek Yerka, a Polish surrealist, has long fascinated me. A definitive selection of his work may be viewed at Amazing! Incredible!


Turf Bay ~ Jacek Yerka (2006)
Creative Commons Wikipaintings.org

The challenge today is to open our own small window on an imaginary world of original design. The images and sources I have provided are only to demonstrate what is possible if we delve into our own minds and pursue concepts and visions. Present your world in a descriptive or narrative poem - inhabited or not at your  own discretion. This is not an exercise in ekphrasis poetry writing, so please do not take the option of describing another artist or writer's world. Create your own.


28 comments:

Isadora Gruye said...

hoorah! This challenge is intriguing.....I shall be back with an offering....thanks Kerry

hedgewitch said...

Kerry, this is a toothsome challenge. I had no intention of trying to write today, but you just changed my mind, as who could walk away from this one. Thanks for the very creative and fascinating prompt. Off to see what I can do.

The Artful Diva said...

I live in my studio - a real fantasy world!

Fireblossom said...

oOoo, how could I possibly resist?

Marian said...

i am so deeply entrenched in Middle Earth these days that i'm not sure i can get out and create another. but i am up for the (very cool) challenge!

jasmine calyx said...

Did you write this prompt for me? :)

I LOVE Yerka's work!

LLM Calling said...

I'm not a fiction poet at all and although I adore.sci fi and magical worlds to read about have never liked writing them myself. but I've tried, be kind.

hedgewitch said...

This was really rewarding for me Kerry--thanks. I've gone to my usual well, and hope it fits the bill. (Forgot to mention that I also love Yerca's work--he is amazing.)

It's supposed to be freakishly warm and pleasant here, so I will be basking in a rare day of winter gardening, but will return later to read.

Marian said...

what the? i can't even... what the hell am i doing? oh well.

Fireblossom said...

Oh FINE, Hedgewitch gets to be WARM, while I freeze my happy little behind off. I'm happy for her. Honest.

:-P

Ella said...

I found this difficult, but a great way to express what I am feeling at this moment! Yes, I feel frozen in time...brrr, it is so cold here!
Hedge is warm...where do you live? lol

Kerry O'Connor said...

I wish I could have written this with a fresh mind and taken more time.. Oh well...

ScottlB said...

Posting one of several stories I am creating for The Land of "Sel" inspired from a poem I wrote sometime back titled "Forever" the title posted is "Ice Lands" hope you enjoy and thanks for the opportunity to share.

Unknown said...

Inner realms called... must be the result of 2-1/2 hours of Yoga, Pilates and Meditation!
Now, off to see the silver linings...

Susan said...

Yerca, wow! I will save the art to explore another time. I became so engrossed in the exosphere I forgot to describe the larger environment and architecture. But I will return to this prompt again and again.

Manicddaily said...

Hi Kerry - like others I had no intention of writing today, or certainly of visiting an old fantasy novel, though I did plan to do a drawing, which I did. At work now, but happy to have been able to squeeze this in. Thanks much. k.

ps I've taken it in a rather childish direction, I'm afraid.

Hannah said...

Kerry!! This is an amazing prompt and I don't think I really lived up to it very well...my world is sure imaginary but it's more of a wishful thinking poem. Any way...maybe if I feel more "out there," tomorrow I'll come up with something more appropriate for the prompt. Thank you for putting this together...I look forward to exploring the links...that should help set the mood! :)

Manicddaily said...

Thanks so much, Shay, for letting me know that my initial link was faulty.

The post is a bit faulty too! But thanks. k.

Margaret said...

I have SO tried this and failed miserably. It is beyond my imagination... but I will go and read everyone's right now. Can't wait to see the creativity.

Peggy said...

Wonderful prompt Kerry. I enjoyed doing my own and reading the others as well. This is what I have always liked about science fiction.

Susie Clevenger said...

I love the challenge. It gives me a chance to write something for children. :)

Unknown said...

Thanks for the fun prompt! This made me think outside of my everyday world!

izzy said...

Sorry if I am too late; but this grabbed me yesterday and brewed til this morning! I will come back to visit and comment after work-
thanks!

Ostensible Truth said...

absolutely my kind of prompt! Yerka's work is fascinating too. I try to half-do this worldbuilding every now and then but will have a think and see what I can come up with... not sure when exactly, but I will do it haha!

jasmine calyx said...

I worked something up; I hope it's not too late. I look forward to reading everyone's tomorrow (today?).

Kerry O'Connor said...

Never too late, Shawna... why, I'll happily wait 6 months for OT's poem!

kulasa said...

Joining the wonderful world of this Imaginary garden with real toads for only the second time I guess...and seeing what I've been missing...thank you for this awesome page where writers speak truly from the heart :)

Dave King said...

Great challenge this. Apologies for being so tardy getting round to it. (Very glad I did.)