Lecture Notes: World Building in Storytelling

Introduction

• Previous focus: Character arcs and development.
• Current focus: World building to establish the setting.

Setting the Environment

• Understanding the type of environment the story takes place in.
• Example: Ghost story set in Gothic romance, around Victorian times (1890).

Visualizing the Setting

• Importance of images in world building:
  • Steam train example – identified an image of a ghost train, named "Obsidian."
  • Victorian infrastructure as a backdrop.

Historical Context and Research

• Investigated the availability of dynamite in Victorian England.
  • Found a relevant book: "Death, Dynamite and Disaster: A Grisly British Railway History" by Rosa Mathison.
  • Dynamite used for the construction of the London Underground, and by groups for criminal activities (e.g., Fenians).
  • Black market for dynamite existed, impacting story possibilities.

Character and Setting Details

• Victorian teachers and their attire as part of world detail.
• Key historical figures:
  • William Ewart Gladstone – inspiration for character traits.
  • Joseph Bazalgette – engineer for Victorian sewer systems, inspiration for technological elements.
  • Use of horse-drawn trams as a mode of transportation.

Creative Inspiration and Imagery

• Exploring characters and their possible roles:
  • Inventing personas like "JW Isambard" for character development.
  • Visualizing the environment and attire to steer towards a steampunk aesthetic.

Conclusion

• Current focus is on gathering visual and factual inspirations.
• Next steps involve:
  • Combining these elements into a cohesive story.
  • Identifying and resolving plot holes through narrative writing.

Final Thoughts

• Continue writing and developing ideas.
• Use visual aids and historical insights to enrich storytelling.

• Next Episode Preview:
  • Integrating images, historical context, and character arcs into the story.
  • Writing the narrative to identify plot holes and refine the story.

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