"How Did She Come Up With That?" (A World-Building Panel)

The question of "how did they come up with that?" gets asked of nearly every creative endeavor out there, but it especially rings true for fantastical writings- and if there's something that a creative person loves to do, it is answering that question.

This panel is a brief rundown of how a group of kids came up with the basic premise of Sivoa and how I built it since then. I'll address things like how setting feeds story, how magic/technology feeds setting, and how characters make that all work. I'll also talk about how I find inspiration, ways I brainstorm, and how I generally keep this mess organized.

From there, the audience takes the lead in a on-topic Q/A session that usually winds up with the best writing discussion I've ever seen up to that point.

Requirements:

Two portable microphones in case the room is too large/acoustic-dampening for voices to carry.

General Run-time: 1 hour

Suggested Moderator Questions:

1. What comes first: the world, the magic system, or the characters?

2. How much world-building is too much?

3. What makes a fantasy world feel believable?

4. How do you create unique cultures, creatures, or magic systems?

5. What fantasy authors have influenced your work?

6. How do you introduce readers to a new world without overwhelming them?

7. What role does mythology or folklore play in your writing?

8. How do you keep track of all the details in your fictional worlds?

9. What is your favorite part of writing fantasy?

10. What advice would you give writers building their first fantasy world?