Hey everyone, I hope you’re all keeping yourselves and your love ones safe during this outbreak of the coronavirus. Please continue to look after each other.

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As paradoxically as this sounds, part of creating a novel doesn’t always need to involve writing. It’s the critical aspect, sure, because if you don’t write, then you know, your novel won’t exist.

However if you’re struggling to find the words to put down on paper, then it’s okay to stop and do other things that contribute to your lore.

For example, earlier this week I’ve had a hard time on figuring out the travel logistics of the characters. I know where I want them to go, but how they get there and the type of geographical obstacles they must overcome is another challenge. After days of trying to find a solution, I failed to make the progress I wanted.

It wasn’t until after I watched a video on world-building and on learning about the maps of other fictional lands that I decided to start drawing the maps of my own WIP.

From major cities, to significant landmarks, to the borders of the continents, to places that I’ve only hinted at in the plot. Doing this had allowed me to track the journeys of the characters and to piece together the story beats more coherently.

Researching is another example.

My WIP has elements of imperialism and warfare, but I’m not an expert on these topics. I don’t know much about military strategies or tactics, nor am I an expert on politics.

However, over time, I’ve learnt more and more about each topic by watching videos on wars that happened in our time, videos on historical leaders and how they grew in power, reading books such as the Art of War by Sun Tzu and talking to people who know more than I do.

All of this was and still is necessary for me to do to bring the story I envision to life. I know I could write a novel on topics that I’m familiar with, but where’s the fun in that?

Now there are other methods that you can use to expand your lore and you don’t even have to use the ones that I mentioned in this post. Perhaps you already have your methods and if so, that’s amazing. Please feel free to share them in the comments below. My point is that even if you aren’t writing, remember there are other ways to continue to work on your novel.

Do what you have to do to bring the story you want to life.

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Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I’d like to mention that what I write about is simply a reflection of my own personal experiences.

By sharing my thoughts about the things that have motivated and inspired me as well as the people in my life, I’m hoping I could motivate and inspire others.

I’m aware that everyone’s situation is different and if what you are doing works for you, I’m really glad. Please continue doing what you’re doing.

I wanted to mention again that I hope you’re all keeping yourselves and your love ones safe during this outbreak of the coronavirus. Please continue to look after each other.

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Sources:

*Hello Future me. Avatar: A Study in Worldbuilding — the Fire Nation [ The Last Airbender – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pa2BD13VzxY

*whycreate. Entire Game of Thrones Map/World Detailed – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdC2b6IL9No

*Oversimplified – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uk_6vfqwTA

*Extra Credits. Extra history: Genghis Khan – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhyKYa0YJ_5CimnCSmW48aSTAPl-oQugH

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*Photo Credit: Dariusz Sankowski on Unsplash