Penyanyi : Guest - Toni V. Sweeney
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Guest - Toni V. Sweeney
Good morning all! We have Toni V. Sweeney visiting us today.Toni has written 33 novels, two of which will be published this month! She has some great advice for those of us who create worlds...~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BEING A WORLD-CREATOR AND
WHAT IT INVOLVES
I’m Toni V. Sweeney, a
writer, Creator of Worlds. (At this point, cue the dramatic and
awe-inspiring opening strains of Thus Spake Zarathustra, please.) All
writers are, for that matter. Whether your novels are science fiction, fantasy,
or contemporary, you, the writer, invent, construct, and produce the
environment in which your characters live.
Even if it’s this very familiar ol’ world of ours, it’s still partly
your own creation because you control its scope and breadth and what happens
within it. To paraphrase the prologue to
that great television series, The Outer Limits…
If you wish to make it louder, you
can bring up the volume. If you
wish to make it softer, you
can tune it to a whisper. You
control the horizontal. You
control the vertical. You
can roll the image, make it flutter. You
can change the focus to a soft blur or sharpen it to crystal clarity…*
Indeed,
we writers do exactly that, and I’m the first to admit that creating a world is
difficult work. There’s so much
involved. One doesn’t just say, “OK…here’s
my world. It’s not Earth, by the way,”
and let it go at that. That world which
is “not Earth” has to be shown to be
different, in all its alien glory, if you will.
If your characters are going to spend a lot of time there—say, the
entire book—and are going to be out and about in this environment, interacting
with other inhabitants or the planet itself, you’re going to be forced to
create more than just a “different” atmosphere.
In the following, I’d like to use my own novels as examples.
1. THE PLANET OR DIMENSION OR
WHEREVER YOUR CHARACTERS LIVE... Let’s
go on the supposition that this is, as they used to say on Star Trek, a
Class M planet, meaning it has enough
oxygen to sustain a humanoid species. If
you’re a soft SF/fantasy writer like myself, let’s further make these
inhabitants human enough and save a lot of really scientific, biological, and
physiological explanations. You’re going to need flora and fauna for this
world and they should be familiar but different. I went all-out in my series, creating an
entire galaxy. In fact, I’ve created two
galaxies, plus several planets whose exact location is never really
establish. One place mentioned a lot is
the Milky Way, our home turf, but it’s not a very friendly place. The government is now a Federation, located
in Charleston, SC., which became the capitol after the Second Rebellion of the
Southern States. (Guess who won?) Earthlings are called Milkies, after the above galaxy and are alternately feared,
scorned, or ridiculed, depending on whose doing the fearing, scorning, or
ridiculing. They’re also considered one
of the three most sexually aggressive species in the universe, the other two
being Arcanians and Felidans, all of whom figure largely in my novels (of
course).
People
visit Earth but they don’t stay long, so most of my novels take place elsewhere,
such as Felida (The Adventures of Sinbad series) and some planets in the
Emeraunt Galaxy (The Chronicles of Riven the Heretic, The kan Ingan Archives). Their sun is the Sun of Galen, and there are
eight planets plus several in a place called The Fringes, so far from the others they’re considered a separate
entity, flaunting the laws set up by the central government on the planet
Arcanis. Wars are always being fought in
The Fringes, even when the rest of
the galaxy is at peace. Each planet in
the Emeraunt has its own government (autocratic, monarchies, or
near-democracies) but they’re all under the control of Arcanis and its ruler,
the Margrave who heads the Peace Force, the enforcers of the galaxy.
That’s
my setting. Once you’ve got yours, allow
it to grow and evolve. Don’t keep it
static, unless you’re writing a single stand-alone.
2. FLORA AND FAUNA… Animals and
flowers as well as the natural resources of a planet play an important
part. In my novel Exile, there a little
planetoid called Pyras, rich in something called diamontium, the strongest element in this specific galaxy, and also
a creature is endangering the men sent to mine that element. Described by one as a “cross between a
grizzly and a tree sloth” these golden-furred jalbeays are slow-moving, but, having acquired a taste for human
flesh, extremely deadly. My hero and his
best friend nearly loose a battle with a jalbeay
and it cements their friendship even more.
In Three Moon Station, set on Tritomas-2, there’s a little
wild boar called a waity, not
dangerous at all, because it thrives on leftovers and the settlers use it as a
living garbage disposal. They also ride
animals similar to horses but with eight inch horns and clawed feet like dog’s
paws,
There
are trees which drop their fruit if asked politely, and apples which are red
when unripe, turning green as they mature.
They have no cores and everything but the stem is eaten. On Felida, they don’t have potatoes but a
vegetable called the caric comes
pretty close, and is a staple. As for
flora…how about the liana, a golden
vine that wraps itself around all the other trees and plants in reach and
slowly strangles them, taking over the environment…much as the cadena de amor does on Earth. Or—and here’s a good one—the parsilflower,
whose fragrance is an aphrodesiac and it’s illegal to wear its perfume.
One’s
catalogue of the plant and animal life in a place is limited only by the
imagination.
3. SOCIAL MORES… Sexual, political,
and religious customs can also be given each writer’s own special twist, and as
mild or as wild as you wish them to be.
Just don’t go overboard and horrify the reader’s sensibilities so badly
he’ll drop the book and never pick it up again.
In the Emeraunt, Arcanians guard
their daughters well and use them to gain political power through
marriage. Conversely, they encourage
their sons into sexual activity as soon as possible. They’re very custom-bound, adhering to
beliefs millennia old. Their government consists of a margrave, his advisors,
called the Tripod, and an Assembly of Peers.
They began as barbarians but at present, in my series, have reached an
era resembling the English Regency/Victorian Era, where women are relatively
secluded, men run the show, and any overt emotion is well-controlled while vice
runs rampant in the background.
Contradictorily, they use horses and carriages as transportation to
conserve energy onplanet but also have ships for interplanetary flight and a
very well-armed and aggressive space force which is always ready to be launched
and looking for a fight.
Patterning
your fictional government (or an animal one) after a real one is always
good. I’ve one planet where the entire
social structure is copied from that of the hornet.
4. THE PEOPLE… There won’t be much
of a story without people, whether they’re inhabitants or merely visitors. Their status is important. Visitors are going to view a place
differently from the way inhabitants do and this can be a good way to make
social commentary. It’s better to make
the natives close enough in appearance to the visitors for comfort, but having
characteristics, both physically and socially that are different enough to make
interesting contrasts and/or confrontations.
In The kan Ingan Archives, set on the planet Arcanis, the people
are in rigid castes and divided into three types, the Old Bloods (whom some
believe to have once been aliens) the peasants (the natives) and the kan Ingans
(barbarians who came in, took over and have ruled for three millennia). Each is physically different but they all
have a few things in common. They have
perfect teeth due to certain oral enzymes, so dentists don’t exist on
Arcanis. In fact, the idea of a doctor
who treats teeth is considered absurd.
Chocolate is unknown. Arcanians
who’ve come into contact with this candy have been proven to be allergic to
it. Give an Arcanian a chocolate-covered
cherry and he’ll become intoxicated.
Have him eat three and he’ll go into a possibly terminal coma. Arcanians only wear undergarments during
winter months. One Earthling who lived
among them was considered odd because she insisted on wearing underwear
year-round.
On
Felida, the people are descended from feline ancestors. They’re seven feet tall and resemble
two-legged lions with human features.
They don’t eat cooked food and have a social system resembling that of a
pride of lions. Imagine the
possibilities when a human is accepted into their midst and takes a female as
his mate. (It happens in The
Adventures of Sinbad, and the entire series is the story of their “cub”
and his adjustment to living as a hybrid.)
The
settlers on Tritomis-2 live much as they did in America’s Old West. They even have rustlers, and their justice is
just as swift as it was back then. I’ve
even one planet where the “people” look like nothing more than furry little
poodles, except that they’re telepathic!
You
can make your “people” anyway you want, but once again, a word of caution. If they have any habit which may be
repulsive, better have something to off-set it, or make a few of the
inhabitants descry and attempt to change it to ease the reader’s shock.
And
that, as they say, is that. Not Everything You Need to Know to Create a
World, but a few things to consider when making your own. Sounds easy, huh? (Please note the sarcasm.) I thought it was, but the more I delved into
my characters’ lives, the more complicated it became. With every novel, I discover some new facet
of alien life which I had mentioned somewhere along the line or which
insinuated itself in when I wasn’t paying attention. Then, I not only have to explain but to make
certain that explanation is reasonable enough to be accepted. And I don’t doubt
there will be more to come in the next one.
World-creating
is a complicated building, but I’m Toni V. Sweeney, Creator of Worlds…and I’m up to the task. You can be, too!
*(Special thanks to ABC, Leslie
Stevens, and www.wikipedia.com for supplying this information)
MY LORD AX
When the king of
the Nords wishes to end the generations-old war with a marriage between his
daughter and the Purdhan ruler’s son, Vicomte
François faces a problem: His son is only seven years old.
Then His Majesty comes up with a clever solution…
He betroths his
illegitimate son and warlord, Ax, to the Nord King’s daughter, and peace is
ensured…except for one minor detail...
Neither Ax nor Princess Astrid want
to get married, especially to each other.
EXCERPT:
Frans
was silent a moment longer, reading for the fourth time the last paragraph of
the Nordish sovereign’s letter. “He calls me a barbarian. How can he do that?
Purdha has artists and poets, don’t we? And beautiful paintings and works of
literature as well.”
“Well,
it’s known we’re not as prone to give in to our sensibilities as some,” Ax
answered mildly. “I’ve never yet seen a Purdhanese warrior go into spasms of
delight over a sunset or the whorls in a chrysanthemum’s petals, and generally
the few times any have picked up a brush was to paint a roof with tar. I think
you’re hedging, Sire. Surely being called a barbarian isn’t what’s upset you
so.”
Franz
took a deep breath, holding it for so long Ax began to worry, then let it out
in a violent whoosh. That startled the warlord. The last time he
remembered his father doing that was when he’d given twelve-year-old Axel a
well-deserved strapping for neglecting his sword and armor after a training
session.
“He
wishes a marriage between one of his daughters and my son!” he burst out,
throwing the letter on his desk.
“That’s
absurd.” Now, Ax looked angry. “More than absurd. Ridiculous. Both his
daughters are adults, aren’t they?”
“One’s
eighteen, the other near seventeen, as I recollect.” Frans nodded.
“Hm.
Near to being old maids, so obviously he’s desperate to be rid of them. Well,
this is a marriage that can never be,” Ax decided, dogmatically. “Geofri’s only
seven. It’ll be years yet before he’s even interested in females and a few more
before he can do anything about it.” Abruptly, he mirrored his father’s anger
on a less violent scale. “Why, by the time the marriage could be consummated,
his wife would be near to middle-age!”
“That
Nordish blaggard’s well aware how young Geofri is, and he knows what my reply will
be.” Frans was out of his chair now, reaching for the wine decanter. He sloshed
wine to the rim of the goblet, then thought better of it and left it sitting on
the mantel. “And when I do answer, he’ll bruit it around that he offered peace
and I refused, and then I’ll be the villain…the uncouth barbarian
villain.” That last was added angrily.
“There
must be some way out of this,” Ax said. “You’re as sly-witted as a Nord any
day.” He thought about that a moment. “What does his offer say? Exactly?”
Picking
up the letter, Frans read aloud the offending paragraph.
“One of
his daughters to your son.” Ax repeated the words musingly. “Pity you don’t
have another son who’s older. Then there’d be no problem.”
Frans
didn’t answer. Ax looked around at his father who was apparently deeply
immersed in reading for the fifth or sixth time that same paragraph. Abruptly,
the vicomte looked up and smiled. “Sire? What are you thinking?”
“That I
do have an older son.”
“No,
you don’t,” Ax corrected. “Geofri’s your only…” He stopped as Frans’ smile
broadened and he understood. “No. Oh, no…no, no.”
“No
mention’s made of a name.” Frans pointed out.
“He
doesn’t want to marry his daughter to a bastard.”
“Nor is
anything said of legitimacy. You’re royal but for that minor detail. Besides,
you’ve a title. He can’t really protest, if it comes to that.”
“I
don’t want to get married.” Axel’s handsome face assumed the sullen pout of a
petulant child.
“Not
even to prevent another war?”
“It’s
more liable to start one,” he pointed out. “When Edelrolf learns how he’s been
befooled.”
“It’s
for Purdha, Axel.” Frans’ tone turned wheedling, the same voice he’d used to
coax his son into eating his porridge when Ax was younger. “You love your
country, don’t you?”
“Not that much!” Ax replied with a
stubbornness similar to that he’d used during those same times. He hated
porridge. He was certain he’d hate marriage even more, from what he’d seen of
it from observing married couples at Court. He chose to ignore how happy Frans
and his countess appeared to be.
“Consider
this not a request from your father but an order from your sovereign.”
“I
don’t care who it’s from. I won’t do it.” Chin thrust out belligerently, Ax’s
face briefly mirrored his father’s so closely no one seeing it would doubt
their relationship.
“To
refuse to obey a direct order from your liege is treason,” Frans reminded him
softly, his own voice taking on a warning note. “Warranting imprisonment at the
least.” He didn’t remind Ax of the other punishments available.
“Then
arrest me.” Ax waved his arms dramatically. “Wrap me in chains and throw me
into the deepest dungeon and find someone else to lead your armies, if you can.”
With that defiant statement, he crossed those arms over his chest with a
gesture of finality. “I refuse.”
“Not
even if I give you something you want in return?”
“You’d
bribe me?” He gave his father a wary look. “With what?”
“You’ve
often said you feel a warlord, especially a Prime One, should have more than
one title after his name.”
“So?”
“The
Earl of Anjelu died recently. He was without heirs, so his lands reverted to
the Crown. Marry the girl and I’ll make you the new Earl of Anjelu…and of
Limieux, also.”
“That’s
not fair,” Axel protested. He’d long had his eye on those two provinces and on
more than one occasion had none-too-subtly hinted to his father that he
wouldn’t mind being their new master if the old Earl, long in ill health,
didn’t soon marry and get himself an heir.
“All’s
fair in war,” Frans reminded him.
“But I
don’t love her!”
“What’s
love got to do with it?” Frans looked surprised at his declaration. “You marry
the girl, Peace is declared, and as long as you don’t mistreat or kill her,
that’s an end to it.”
“Well…when
you put it like that…” Ax hesitated, then decided to push his luck. “I’d need
one thing more.”
“Name
it.” Surprised he appeared to be winning so easily, Frans could afford to be
magnanimous.
“A
title for Raoul as well.”
Might’ve
known he’d be looking out for his best friend, too. Frans searched his memory for properties he could
easily let go. The Crown was always having land returned to its ownership. What
choice title could he bestow upon his son’s boon companion? “Désirée’s
available. He can have that.”
Ax
considered, rapidly weighing the evils of marriage against the good it would
bring to two kingdoms, as well as the promised rewards to himself and Raoul. He
let his greed tip the scales. “Done.” Then, he added, “If you think you can get
away with it.”
My Lord Ax
will be
available from Class Act Books on November 15.
Toni V. Sweeney was born in
the space between the War Between the States and the Gulf War. She has lived 30 years in the South, a score
in the Middle West, and a decade on the Pacific Coast and now she’s trying for
her second 30 on the Great Plains. An accomplished artist as well as writer, she
has a degree in Fine Art and a diploma in Graphic Design and produces videos as
well as novels. Toni also writes under
the pseudonym Icy Snow Blackstone.
This November, she will have her 32nd and 33rd novels, My
Lord Ax, published by Class Act Books published, and Retribution,
published by Double Dragon Publishers.
More information about Toni can
be found at:
Twitter: @tonivsweeney
Publishers:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-- Lynda Again
That's it for today, ladies and gents. I hope you found this post as informative and as enjoyable as I did.
Have a Blessed Day!
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15 Responses to "Guest - Toni V. Sweeney"
Hi Toni! Thanks for visiting us!
I'm always impressed by writers like you who are so prolific and yet continue to be creative and imaginative.
Best,
Jacqueline Seewald
TEA LEAVES AND TAROT CARDS--now available in all ebook formats!
Great post. I loved the excerpt.
Thanks, Jacqueline, I've gone through 4 computers so far. Guess electronics just can't keep up with me. Glad to be here, Lynda.
Loved the exerpt! Good luck with the release!
Toni, thanks for the detailed, rich essay on world-building! It's always fun to meet another writer obsessed with all the behind-the-scenes stuff.
Congrats on the new release - it's on my reading list.
M.C. Hana
cranehanabooks.com/blog
Hi Toni,
Great article on world building. I'm working on a SF romance series and it's not easy.
Good luck with your release.
Janice~
I have to agree that creating a 'world', especially a fantasy world, is all about the details. Especially when writing a series, you need to remember all the past special features you create, and create new ones to keep it original and fun. I liken a good world build to the same level as a character. They should evolve, we should see new aspects with each new story.
My only quibble would be using such relatable to Earth terms as diamontium, and making it the hardest substance, which is so close to diamonds-the hardest stone on earth. Why would they be anything similar? That relates back to my feelings about Avatar, which was an incredibly vivid and rich new world, yet used 'Unobtanium' as the lynch pin of the source of conflict. Corny much?
One of the hardest things when creating a strictly fantasy realm is not allowing elements of our own world into them, imo. It's also why I cheat and write a lot of modern fantasy/paranormal. That allows me to mix the fantastical element into the ordinary-which not only makes it easier for me to explain, it gives the reader that sense of connection.
Anyway, I loved your article, thanks so much for sharing!! Good luck on your new book!
I love creating my own little world. Even though I'm writing about a real setting (Texas), I use a fictional town that I create to suit the needs of the story or series. Great article.
Well, now I know why I don't write Sci-Fi. I'm not patient enough to dream up a world like yours, Toni!
Well, Cia, when I thought up "diamontium" I was thinking about the substance Wolverine's claws and skeleton are made of, adamantine. And who's to say there isn't a substance harder than diamonds somewhere and why couldn't it be called diamontium? I also have a metal called "angelica' which replaced gold as the standard, also. In the Emeraunt galaxy, gold is the cheapest substance around and it's used as a decoration simply because it's pretty not for its value. Thanks for the input. Appreciate it.
MC and Janice, thanks for stopping by.
That's what I mean, Caroline...even when writing about something as familiar as Texas, you're still creating your own specific part of it.
Well, Barbara, Your Regencies are so great, you don't need to create any other worlds. Although Bayou Gavotte is a great little world all its own!
Toni
You have gained the readership of many of our reviewers at the PARANORMAL ROMANCE GUILD WE FIGHT TO READ AND REVIEW YOUR WORK..YOur stories are so imaginative, compelling,and well written
GLoria Lakritz
Review chair for the PRG
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