The 5-Part Writing Special: World/ Setting
What would we immediately notice upon stepping into your storyworld? (What would stand out the most?)
No one speaks. Over the last century the capability of speech has been lost, as the gasses of two of the moons allow people to hear each other's thoughts.
But not only have people forgot how to speak, it's also illegal. Unity is important, so why speak when you can be one through thoughts?
Only the government and certain educated are allowed to speak verbally, as they need the skill to run society outside of the twin planets.
You would probably notice the giant insects, especially the giant mosquitoes the government officials have muzzled and use for transportation.
What place in this world (Earth) reminds you most of your world? (Or provide a picture that you think best defines your story world.)
Orsona and Babel are luxurious, alive and productive. Besides that being the same world wide, they are very much like Earth with flat landscapes, rolling textured fields, and deep mountains.
Are there specific foods/dining habits particular to this world?
The culture practices are diverse, same as Earth. In fact in many aspects they world isn't that different than Western society when it comes to basic lifestyles.
Are there biases in your world, and how do they define the people? Is there a class structure and how would it affect the characters?
Everyone that lives on the twin planets believe that unity is of utmost importance. Bias is something they try to not have. But there are those that wish to do things differently, the Rebels.
The class structure is about unity and equality, though there is still a government. They are needed to make sure the world stays at peace, to keep the Rebels from causing havoc.
What belief structures/ worldviews do your characters hold? What are some philosophies of your story?
There are three main worldviews in my story, and all the characters hold to one of the three. The philosophies of these worldviews affect each person to such an extent that they live their life out accordingly to their view of the world.
Society and the government: Life is about unity, calm, order. Only a select few may speak verbally. Everything is about maintaining structure and health. There are few factories. No toxic chemicals. People walk almost everywhere. Giant insects are responsible for most of the economy's resources: material, transportation, food.Â
Rebels: Those that oppose anything and anyone that they feel reject there standard of freedom. They are not interested in learning to speak, but in not being controlled. They live all about, secretly. They say they do not have an organized leader, but there are a select few the Rebels look up to and follow without question. They are working toward replacing the current government through revolution.
Believers: Not much is known of this group, in fact not many are aware of them and often they get grouped with the Rebels. It is believed that they are descendants of Stewart Orson, the man that first discovered the rift in the sky that lead mankind to the twin planets.Â
Describe the general infrastructure (i.e., cities and what are those like?) What are the main locations in your story? (Bonus points: include a map.)
I'm afraid I don't have a map.
The main locations of my stories are:
Babel, the planet where government is located.
Orsona, the planet for general population.
OUM, Orsona's University of the Mind, where the select are taught to speak and trained for warfare against the Rebels.
Small agriculture towns, the life of society.
Triple Light, a small town with some big secrets.
Wynnville, another small town where book #2 is set.Â
Earth. Book #1 is set there, and it is visited in other books.
How is trade carried out through the story world, and how do the cities and nations interact with each other?
People supply needs, working on the small farms scattered throughout the planets. Nations are non existent, the worlds are one. There are small stores where people may trade or sell, currency is silver, gold, jewels, made into coins.
Are there any special or unique traditions or ceremonies that your world is known for?
Everyone keeps their own holidays according to the traditional religions they were apart of on Earth (as long as it doesn't cause disunity among others).
The only world wide holiday all keep is the anniversary of the planets' discovery.
Are there any significant historical events which affected the way your story world is now?
Yes, of course.
There was Stewart Orson finding the planets, then his disappearance.
There was Earth being evacuated. Then the remolding of society on the twin planets.
And the Rebels have always been a threat in one form or another.
What do you love most about your world?
Probably the three moons. White, green, blue. The white moon is believed to be without purpose as it's light is drowned out by the other two moons. And anyone that has ever neared it has never survived, crashing into a mysterious red light.
I love how the other two moons make it possible for this society to be one through thoughts.
JulianSarahGrayFaithEvangelineLilaDanielleJemCatherine
And that, people, is the world of A SERIES OF THOUGHTS. Would it be somewhere you would want to live?