World building is fun, but never was particulary easy to me. In fact, I think this is exactly why I enjoy fandom fanworks so much - there is everything already set, world, situation, characters, and I only play with them. When it comes to original work, everything needs to be set down there and detailed by me, and thar requires a lot of work, thought, research often and heart put into it. It's fun interesting, but also scary and intimidating. There was often too many situations when I sat down before a problem, and had a blank mind, having no idea how to overcome the problem.
I faced it once again just yesterday, when discussing and having general problem with Vesryn and Kalten father, or should I say, rather his affair with Vesryn mother. A very important aspect, because definitely having impact on how half-brother interacted. A very important aspect I was totally blank about. Sure, there were some random, easy-way-out ideas about it, either his mother was a random fling, maybe even a prostitue who knows, but nothing really fitting, and explaining in more detail why vesryn become who he was. It was so much of a problem, that it made me start question Vesryn character, and motivation at all. He got important role to play, at least in Sharain part of story, but beside his mask, his true motivation and personality remainded a mystery to me. And when realisation hit me that he actually show in part of Kalten and Fey story, it was when I decided to start from the very freaking beginning - his childhood.
And yes, I faced the problem of "I've got no interesting idea, I fail, I'm not suited to doing this." It happens all too often, and is a perfect way to self-art-block myself.
It didn't went that far though, because this time I had a weapon.
Thanks to my friendly-neighbourhood-writer [or should I rather say, friendly-next-room-writer], I've been participating in almost daily excercises about helping your creative juices flow. The method of randomisation proved to be so freaking useful it blew my mind. It helped me find more elaborate plot for Sharain part of story, it helped me definte three important supporting characters, give them personality and stories. So when I faced the problem with Vesryn, a rather really important character, after all, I decided to run for the randomisation again.
It's pretty easy technique, relies almost entirely on tarot cards, descriptions of their meanings, and first thing that comes to your mind after hearing them. This way, using only two cards - first question - who the hell is his mother - answer, Queen of Pentacles, and much later, almost by the end, another question: what was exactly the nature of her relationship with Vesryn father - answer was Two of Wands - I completed quite long story for both of them, and giving Ves childhood and possibly motivations I've never expected.
Of course, it brought more questions then answers, but brain, being brain, a tool fond of finding logic even where there is none, provided me with more ideas, and explanations, possibly changing Vesryn true personality and goals, very far from what I expected. But I don't mind, in fact I like this way, because he becomes much more of a challange, and less of, you know, sidekick for Shar.
Thank you friendly-next-door-writer for showing me that no matter what my inner critic say, I can move forward with that story, those characters and zee world. And thank you for teaching me how to deal with the blue screen of death in my brain.
accomplished![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=91.6){kind=small}
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amused
blank
sleepy
