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how much should you build before writing?

Atticus King

19,240 views

If four years of worldbuilding taught me anything, it’s that you don’t finish building before you start writing.

ABOUT:
I am about to finish my debut novel, an epic war set on a world at dawn, following the end of long, long night. There is still much more worldbuilding to do and a lot to learn, but I hope you'll come learn with me. Thanks for watching!

TOOLS:
Adobe After Effects
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Premiere Pro
Streamlabs

CREDITS:
Editor - Atticus King ► ⁨@ByAtticus⁩

If you’re interested in thoughtful approaches to writing and worldbuilding, consider subscribing.

MUSIC:
"Shadowlands 1 - Horizon" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
'Rise Above' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
"Tranquility Base" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
'This Too Shall Pass' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
'Into The Wilds' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
"Soaring" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"Fluidscape" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
'Sentinel' by Scott Buckley - released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.au
"Stay the Course" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...
"Almost in F - Tranquillity" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org

#writingcraft #debutnovel #scififantasy #worldbuilding #mapmaking

20 Comments

@ByAtticus Creator 4 weeks ago Pinned

Do you enjoy writing or world building more?

@BKPrice 4 weeks ago

Once I wrote a short detail in a scene and ended up creating an entire fictional music genre from it.

@Ravertorn_micro 4 weeks ago

Thank God I find all these goated world building channel's before they blow up

@theorixlux 4 weeks ago

A comment for the yt algo's sake because I can't find anything to critique or question; from your message and your reasonings, but also your deft editing helping visually explain topics. My highest compliments to the chef, for he has cooked.

@gavinsmith9871 4 weeks ago

Imma just put this here so I can say I was around before your channel blew up.

@lizzierainbug7445 10 days ago

This is so very helpful! I have spent too much of my building up a world, focusing on the grand scale of things that I forget about the characters that created the world I now priortise over them.

@SammmarrArt 3 weeks ago

I love all the advice from this video! I like it when my world building leads into writing short segments or even chapters.

I am very susceptible to falling into world builders disease but I’m usually able to refocus it eventually. I like to do this by making the aspects of worldbuilding inform on the themes of the story and characters. So when they pass through an area, you both get the sense it has its own history, but can also say something about the character and the part of the journey they’re on.

@pennypereira1908 4 weeks ago

Your world has continued to captivate my imagination but this also felt like a huge step up in production quality. Very enjoyable watch!

@Tegifrotenas_studio 4 weeks ago

I built a world and built a story on it like in 1 month. Dont really know how to make all of these come together but now things seem to be ok 😅. After writing a while I just have some new "ideas" and then I have to go back and build 1 more layer for these character class 😂
Really love your video. Hope that some day all of us here will become well known around the world 🎉

@perrysytaccount5557 3 weeks ago

Hot damn this was good, Atticus. I see this video hasn't yet garnered the views you were hoping for, but to date it's your best. You're moving beyond reporting on the project and beginning to use it to say something larger—something that resonates even with someone who knows little about the book itself. I feel like I'm hearing you in these videos now: your curiosity, your way of seeing things, your voice. This one really moved me.

@ilyis_7490 2 weeks ago

Honestly I live for writing characters and dynamics...but worldbuilding really is part of a process I struggle with because its so big and massive, almost overwhelming by moments

@henryshecticworld 3 weeks ago

i have a worldbuilding project i have been working on for about 1.5 years now, it is about birds with guns
there are two timelines for two projects, one in ancient canada and one in a fictional planet
i love your videos, i can see the effort put in to it
i hope someday i can be on your level of worldbuilding or something like that idk

@mrgee42069 3 days ago

MY DOG! Only other person I have seen use an insane illutsrator file for their map. Subbed.

@DamienZshadow 3 weeks ago

That was not only good advice and a brilliant breakdown but...wow! What a beautiful message to send off on! I am touched by your words.

@SleepParty30 2 days ago

In my experience, my worlds are ALWAYS the main character. That way, when writing character development and plot, I move those characters THROUGH the main character (the world) and it becomes such a piece of cake. Everything always falls into place. Plot twists, red herrings, chekhov guns, everything comes to me simply because the Main Character (the world) is already set in place. Once the world is set, all kinds of stories will come to you. Stories based within that Main Character World.

@SafetyKitten 2 weeks ago

drop the process guide man all the shit you make looks crazy cool

@PodIsGodAndOrangesArePurple 3 weeks ago

ok wait why does this have so little views this is actually liek way too good for that

@alvaro2705 3 weeks ago

This is tooooo good. I've been having a lot of trouble with the worldbuilding/writing balance to the point where actually starting projects is difficult, so hearing out a perspective like this is invaluable. I have binge-watched your four videos and I'm hooked! Both on your ways with worldbuilding and with the actual story and lore. Congrats on the amazing job!!

@BahasaDanSejarah 4 weeks ago

This is very well written

@suspanda221 4 weeks ago

Oh my God, I've hit the jackpot with this channel. Remember me when you're famous 😜

On a more serious note the jump in quality between all your videos is insane and I kinda get what you mean by colour of words. Every word or sentence kind of has a mood to it, and if it's not consistent it can be kind of jaring.