Friday Fricassee

Happy Friday!

I've had another epiphany (if this keeps happening, I'm not going to be recognizable).  Are you ready for this one?

Worldbuilding is fun.

*dies*

Maybe it's because I've already got this novel outlined (a.k.a. beat sheeted).  Or maybe it's because I'm already so in love with the premise of this new story.

But here's what I really think it is:  It struck me how, when I was a wee lass, I spent hours and hours at the kitchen table with pen and paper.  You know those large, eleven-by-eighteen sheets of white drawing paper?  That's what my mom used to buy.  I'd pull a few sheets out of the kitchen cabinet, turn on the light that hung over the kitchen table, and hunker down.

I wasn't writing stories.  I was drawing them.  Sometimes it was just a fantabulous picture of a princess finding her true love.  Often it was comic strip style, the story taking shape in a series of boxes.  And sometimes I was simply creating a world.

Worldbuilding, and I didn't even know it.

The carefree creativeness of childhood is an awesome thing!  And I've just discovered that I can return to that VERY SAME PLACE--and call it work.

So yesterday, I sat at my kitchen table with a pen and a couple sheets of eleven-by-eighteen drawing paper.  (Yeah.  I have that in my closet.)  And started doodling my world.

All I can say is--could this be any more FUN?!

Of course, I love the research, too, which is what I spent time on first.  When I got to the point where I felt like I had a whole lot of good information and was ready to get more specific about my world, I pulled out the pen and paper.  And I'm going to do the same thing today, and probably all weekend.

Just like when I was ten.

It's funny how you can hear ten dozen other writers gush about how they adore worldbuilding--how it's their favorite part of creating a novel--and all you can do is to roll your eyes.  Or shake your head in mute disbelief.

Yeah.  That was me.  Rolling and shaking.  Because this is the sort of thing that has to happen on its own.  And for me, it's just happened.

Yay!

And as if the timing were planned or something, Jodi Meadows has just posted a magnificent series on worldbuilding on her blog.  YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO READ THIS!

Worldbuilding Series, Part 1

Worldbuilding Series, Part 2

Worldbuilding Series, Part 3

Worldbuilding Series, Part 4

Enjoy! Jodi is a master of worldbuilding; I've learned a lot from her over the last couple of years.

And now, I'm off to experience a weekend of Second Childhood.  May your weekend be equally magical!