World-building is one of my all-time favorite things to do as a writer. If I can get away with creating an entirely new world for a story, I absolutely will, and have done so for long and short stories alike!
Spirit Bomb
I approach the process differently depending on the project and whether I’m working alone or with others. While working as the Narrative Designer for Spirit Bomb, I used the studio’s vision as a guide and frequently checked in with the other members of our collective to craft a world we all loved. I kept a world bible, reference decks, and mood boards – as organized as possible so anyone on the team could reference it. You can see some of my world-building work for Spirit Bomb on its wiki page
Rouge & Pestilence
My process for building the world of my novel series Rouge & Pestilence has been a bit more chaotic — organized chaos. The notes I have about its cultures, religions, fashion, and so on are scattered between at least five notebooks and more than a few Sheets and Docs. But it’s been one of my greatest joys seeing Dreida come to life. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!
Click the box below if you’d like to take a peek into the sequestered city of Dreida. You’ll find lore, learn about the city’s unique religion, and even learn a few Dreidan colloquialisms.
(On the right: A doodle of the character named The Owl. From Rouge & Pestilence. Sketch by Jameson Grem)