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Hey Everyone! This may be our last week on worldbuilding and I wanted to touch on a subject that’s dear to me.

If you listened to our second podcast episode, you heard me argue that Tolkien was a great writer largely because he was a great philosopher. For those of us who invent our own worlds, we have a great opportunity to point to certain truths by the way our world is different from the real world.

I always think of Tolkien’s elves. The elves were not the elves simply because they were immortal beings with pointy ears and fair complexion. If you read The Silmarillion, the elves represent an idea. I can’t remember what it is, unfortunately. You’ll need to read The Silmarillion for yourself.

Another example is Brandon Sanderson’s invention of the kandra, a creature that can perfectly imitate anybody. These creatures are perfect for exploring his major theme of trust.

Doing this in your own stories starts with realizing who you are. There are so many different facets to the truth that we can never explore them all. YOU have the privilege of seeing things differently than anyone else on the planet. You may focus more on family or more in nature, more on goodness or more on human depravity. One thing I started (actually today) is writing down some of my core philosophies, both orthodox ones we’d all share and some small details that matter more to me than the average person. As I become consciously aware of what I have to bring to the table, I’ll be able to write deeply authentic stories.

Once you know the philosophies that matter to you, let your imagination run wild. How can you make your world different to accent this truth?

While we’re at it, what are some examples you love where authors have built their worlds upon philosophical richness?

@ethryndal @corissa @raemarie @kate @j-parkhurst @gabbyj @chalice @noahlitle @julianne @germaine-han @sesi @r-j-karas @rosemarylouise @msqueen8 @timothy-gullett