Fiction writing Bibles?

[crich70]

Does anyone here at MR use a writing Bible for constructing their imaginary worlds? I found a google doc of Patricia Wreade's Worldbuilding questions and made an epub out of it. I figured I could adapt a copy to a given writing project and once I have the questions (those which fit the given project) answered via Sigil I could convert it to Kindle and keep my notes to hand via my ereader. It certainly can't hurt to have things organized.

[Nancy Fulda]

I've heard of people building Wiki's for stuff like that. Haven't ever gotten to the point where I feel I need it, but then, I tend to invent the world as I go rather than plan it all ahead of time.

[gmw]

I have to start writing to get a feel for the story, what and where it is, before I can do any "world building". At some point fairly early on I find I have to step back from the story I'm writing and take a harder look at the background and setting. This usually involves copious notes, and sometimes some more creative writing to get a better feel for the people and events behind the main story. And then back into the main story for a while before stepping back again. Rinse and repeat until it it's done.

So far I've been managing with simple LibreOffice documents to maintain timelines and stories and notes and so on. It gets messy, but I've yet to find my ideal solution. Wikis seem like a good idea but I haven't managed to get one working how I want yet.

I don't feel like I need a set batch of questions. Each story is different, each character is different, and I generally just go by what I feel is necessary at the time, what I need to put myself into the story with the characters.

[Freehunter]

My friend that is trying to write a book, turned into a series, is trying to use a standalone Wiki. He had so many characters, places and other details he got tired of looking for scattered files and paper notes. He is using TiddlyWiki, a singe HTML file that runs in most browsers. Seems to like Firefox the most but there are add-ons/plugins for use on android and apple.

It has its own markup (variation of common text markup) and can use HTML. Everything is broken down to chunks, Tiddlers, that can be combined to create other Tiddlers. All linked by Tiddler title. (A very short description that doesn't do justice to idea.)

TiddlyWiki — a non-linear personal web notebook http://tiddlywiki.com/

TiddlyFox extension for Firefox :: Add-ons for Firefox https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...dlyfox/?src=ss

I've been using TiddlyWiki to build my notes on building Epubs. Handy way to keep everything in one place. With Firefox add-on Copy HTML https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...y-html/?src=ss can clip parts of web pages and put in TiddlyWiki.

I find it pretty handy, just one file to copy if I want to move it to another PC or device. If I link to external images, one file and a folder with the images.

oh, another add-on people might find useful: Copy Link/Tab Name and URL :: Add-ons for Firefox https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...nd-url/?src=ss

Wil

Here is an capture of an older version (newer TiddlyWiki layout different) he was working on:

[crich70]

Originally Posted by gmw

I don't feel like I need a set batch of questions. Each story is different, each character is different, and I generally just go by what I feel is necessary at the time, what I need to put myself into the story with the characters.

Well I am editing the epub as I go along for an idea that I've had for a while now. It's a SF world so I'm cutting out the questions that allude to magic systems as I work through the document. I agree that no one set of questions fits every idea, but it does give me something on which to build. And it's very easy once it's filled in to convert it for my ereader. That way I figure I can have my notes to hand without having to have a lot of printed out pages and don't have to worry about finding one fact in a long document since it has a working toc as well.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by Freehunter

My friend that is trying to write a book, turned into a series, is trying to use a standalone Wiki. He had so many characters, places and other details he got tired of looking for scattered files and paper notes. He is using TiddlyWiki, a singe HTML file that runs in most browsers. Seems to like Firefox the most but there are add-ons/plugins for use on android and apple.

It has its own markup (variation of common text markup) and can use HTML. Everything is broken down to chunks, Tiddlers, that can be combined to create other Tiddlers. All linked by Tiddler title. (A very short description that doesn't do justice to idea.)

TiddlyWiki — a non-linear personal web notebook http://tiddlywiki.com/

TiddlyFox extension for Firefox :: Add-ons for Firefox https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...dlyfox/?src=ss

I've been using TiddlyWiki to build my notes on building Epubs. Handy way to keep everything in one place. With Firefox add-on Copy HTML https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...y-html/?src=ss can clip parts of web pages and put in TiddlyWiki.

I find it pretty handy, just one file to copy if I want to move it to another PC or device. If I link to external images, one file and a folder with the images.

oh, another add-on people might find useful: Copy Link/Tab Name and URL :: Add-ons for Firefox https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/fir...nd-url/?src=ss

Wil

Here is an capture of an older version (newer TiddlyWiki layout different) he was working on:

I've tried using tiddlywiki's in the past and when they work they work well. Sometimes they jam somehow for me though and then you can't add more data and save it. Or at least that's been my experience. An edited epub that I can then convert to Kindle is a lot more reliable (IMO).

[pegasi&prefects]

I use Scrivener to write, and its Research section is invaluable for keeping all that stuff to hand as you write.

I don't fill out all the character and places profiles it start, far from it, but I DO do is shove in details as I write, so I don't have to rely on my own head to retain details like eye colour and magic gifts and if they are in the hockey team or not, or the names of houses and streets, especially for supporting and minor characters.

I only put in details I actually use, though, so I don't know if it counts as a Bible.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by pegasi&prefects

I use Scrivener to write, and its Research section is invaluable for keeping all that stuff to hand as you write.

I don't fill out all the character and places profiles it start, far from it, but I DO do is shove in details as I write, so I don't have to rely on my own head to retain details like eye colour and magic gifts and if they are in the hockey team or not, or the names of houses and streets, especially for supporting and minor characters.

I only put in details I actually use, though, so I don't know if it counts as a Bible.

I think it counts. Bibles of all sorts come about through evolution with, and adaptation to, the thing they are servicing, it's a constant feedback thing. It might only be a bible of the one story/world, but that's the way I write too. I can understand the idea of using someone else's bible as a starting point to build your own world and bible ... but it's not the way I work.

PS. Hi, and welcome to MR.

[pegasi&prefects]

I have to admit that even now, I'm doing a final revision pass and caught a character's eyes changing from brown to grey.

P.S. Thank you! Still finding my feet around here.