World building. It recently threw me for a loop identifying that that is what I am doing with my work in progress. It also excited me but this post is not about that aspect. It threw me for a loop because I’m usually write poems that say something about my life, experiences and/or history. The only connection between those poems is me; whereas with a verse novel, the connection has be between the characters themselves. It seems simple like “of course, the characters have to be connected in a novel, verse or not!” But, as I said, that has not been my experience. So it’s kind of intimidating but also points the way forward.

With world building, there is no actual limit except for a lack of imagination. One off lines and phrases which had long been languishing in a “place” called Google Docs found homes in pieces I had no idea that they would fit in. It is extremely fascinating watching the characters filling out rooms, speaking their experiences, etc. Even more so, when I discovered the newly incorporated bits and pieces transformed the novel and my writing of it. 

Before the transformation, the writing was kind of laborious; which, for me, is a sure sign something’s not right. The language wasn’t inspiring me like it did with exploring like or Nonsense Makes Sense. 

After the transformation, the writing flows; mainly because of the bits and pieces that found a home in the forming manuscript. 

World building is new, exciting and inspiring. Giving thanks…that I’m still living, still learning as a writer.