World Building (Part 3: Incubation)
So no sh*t, there I was laying in bed this morning thinking--how in the world am I going to describe Part 3 in the World Building posts? (Of course, this has been one of those questions that I've been asking myself since I posted Part 2 in the series.) How do I want to describe the process of building the character races who inhabit my world? How am I going to show how I use the tools of my trade as a scientist as a tool that I use to build my creative worlds?
And then it hit me. I already did. Show the next step in the process, that is. Now I just have to describe it.
The next step in my world building process is called incubation. It's the same process that I use at work after laying out the design for an experiment. And it's probably the most frustrating and important step in the world building/experimentation process. Why? Simple--the incubation phase requires patience and faith in the process--the process that is churning in the back of the creative mind. Sometimes that incubation takes a few minutes, hours, days, or weeks. But it happens. And it cannot be circumnavigated.
At this point, I should probably mention that I developed the bare bones idea for what I wanted to happen in my Tales of WOE world a few years ago, but I didn't act upon it right away. A few years ago? Yep, a few years ago I came up with the kernel of an idea that (I had no idea at the time) would drive me to the brink of insanity--from the inside out. And ever since that idea poofed into my head, I have thought about it--forgot about it--changed it--morphed it--toyed with it--and plotted out several different first books that fit into my world.
Sound crazy? I agree, it is crazy. And frustrating to most people who work with me. But it's a part of my process. It's not the easiest process to make it through. But it is the most important process and a step that I absolutely cannot skip. Why? What makes it the most important step? And just why am I harping on it?
Because, my dear readers, for the past 4 weeks, my author and scientist extraordinaire got caught up in a whirlwind of experiment planning and designing. Then, due to the nature of the business, she was pushed to act upon those carefully laid out in the heat of the moment experiments. Which she (and her group) executed with style, grace, and panache. And then she sat back and waited the few days for the results and... while the experiments were performed to perfection, the results were not... quite right. End result--the work she toiled over to make happen in record time had to be scrapped. And for those unenlightened folks, it appears for all the world that those 4 weeks were a total waste of time.
But they weren't. All of it together was a learning experience. Did scrapping those experiments and results put my author/scientist behind by 4 weeks? Did plotting out all those first books in the series put my author behind schedule? Yes and no. Yes, the production of the experiments and the writing of the first book is not where it could be today--but an invaluable lesson was re-learned and proven, yet again.
And that is: DO NOT RUSH THE PROCESS.
Accept your creative process for what it is. Listen to your inner writer. When the time is right for it, you will know it. Believe in your abilities. Believe in your process. Trust yourself to know when the time is right to write. Because if you don't do it right according to your standards--then who are you letting down?
Yourself.
So be good to yourself and believe in your process. In return, you might just be surprised and discover that your process now believes in you.
Until next time, happy writing and/or incubating!
~EK
And then it hit me. I already did. Show the next step in the process, that is. Now I just have to describe it.
The next step in my world building process is called incubation. It's the same process that I use at work after laying out the design for an experiment. And it's probably the most frustrating and important step in the world building/experimentation process. Why? Simple--the incubation phase requires patience and faith in the process--the process that is churning in the back of the creative mind. Sometimes that incubation takes a few minutes, hours, days, or weeks. But it happens. And it cannot be circumnavigated.
At this point, I should probably mention that I developed the bare bones idea for what I wanted to happen in my Tales of WOE world a few years ago, but I didn't act upon it right away. A few years ago? Yep, a few years ago I came up with the kernel of an idea that (I had no idea at the time) would drive me to the brink of insanity--from the inside out. And ever since that idea poofed into my head, I have thought about it--forgot about it--changed it--morphed it--toyed with it--and plotted out several different first books that fit into my world.
Sound crazy? I agree, it is crazy. And frustrating to most people who work with me. But it's a part of my process. It's not the easiest process to make it through. But it is the most important process and a step that I absolutely cannot skip. Why? What makes it the most important step? And just why am I harping on it?
But they weren't. All of it together was a learning experience. Did scrapping those experiments and results put my author/scientist behind by 4 weeks? Did plotting out all those first books in the series put my author behind schedule? Yes and no. Yes, the production of the experiments and the writing of the first book is not where it could be today--but an invaluable lesson was re-learned and proven, yet again.
And that is: DO NOT RUSH THE PROCESS.
Accept your creative process for what it is. Listen to your inner writer. When the time is right for it, you will know it. Believe in your abilities. Believe in your process. Trust yourself to know when the time is right to write. Because if you don't do it right according to your standards--then who are you letting down?
Yourself.
So be good to yourself and believe in your process. In return, you might just be surprised and discover that your process now believes in you.
Until next time, happy writing and/or incubating!
~EK
Comments