0:00:07.282,0:00:08.967
In J.R.R.'s world,

0:00:08.991,0:00:11.977
Gandalf is one of five wizards[br]sent by the Valar

0:00:12.001,0:00:14.274
to guide the inhabitants of Middle Earth

0:00:14.298,0:00:17.905
in their struggles[br]against the dark force of Sauron.

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Gandalf's body was mortal,

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subject to the physical[br]rules of Middle Earth,

0:00:22.309,0:00:24.368
but his spirit was immortal,

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as seen when he died as Gandalf the Grey

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and resurrected as Gandalf the White.

0:00:29.363,0:00:31.507
According to the Wachowski's script,

0:00:31.531,0:00:34.174
an awakened human only has to link up

0:00:34.198,0:00:37.552
and hack the neon binary[br]code of the Matrix

0:00:37.576,0:00:41.385
to learn how to fly a helicopter[br]in a matter of seconds.

0:00:41.409,0:00:44.304
Or if you are the One, or one of the Ones,

0:00:44.328,0:00:48.301
you don't even need a helicopter,[br]you just need a cool pair of shades.

0:00:49.388,0:00:51.892
Cheshire cats can juggle their own heads.

0:00:51.916,0:00:54.071
iPads are rudimentary.

0:00:54.465,0:00:58.657
No Quidditch match ends[br]until the Golden Snitch is caught.

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And the answer to the ultimate[br]question of life, the universe,

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and everything

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is most certainly 42.

0:01:04.833,0:01:08.117
Just like real life,[br]fictional worlds operate consistently

0:01:08.141,0:01:11.432
within a spectrum of physical[br]and societal rules.

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That's what makes these intricate worlds

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believable, comprehensible,[br]and worth exploring.

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In real life, the Law of Gravity[br]holds seven book sets of "Harry Potter"

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to millions of bookshelves[br]around the world.

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We know this to be true, but we also know

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that ever since J.K. typed the words

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wizard, wand, and "Wingardium Leviosa,"

0:01:33.262,0:01:35.990
that Law of Gravity has ceased to exist

0:01:36.014,0:01:39.531
on the trillions of pages[br]resting between those bookends.

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Authors of science fiction and fantasy[br]literally build worlds.

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They make rules, maps, lineages,

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languages, cultures, universes,

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alternate universes within universes,

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and from those worlds sprout[br]story, after story, after story.

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When it's done well,

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readers can understand[br]fictional worlds and their rules

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just as well as the characters[br]that live in them do

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and sometimes, just as well or even better

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than the reader understands[br]the world outside of the book.

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But how?

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How can human-made squiggles on a page

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reflect lights into our eyes[br]that send signals to our brains

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that we logically and emotionally decode[br]as complex narratives

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that move us to fight,

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cry, sing, and think,

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that are strong enough

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not only to hold up a world

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that is completely invented by the author,

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but also to change[br]the reader's perspective

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on the real world that resumes

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only when the final squiggle is reached?

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I'm not sure anyone knows[br]the answer to that question,

0:02:45.072,0:02:48.799
yet fantastical, fictional worlds[br]are created everyday

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in our minds, on computers,

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even on napkins at the restaurant[br]down the street.

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The truth is your imagination[br]and a willingness to, figuratively,

0:02:58.408,0:02:59.479
live in your own world

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are all you need to get[br]started writing a novel.

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I didn't dream up Hogwarts[br]or the Star Wars' Cantina,

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but I have written some science thrillers[br]for kids and young adults.

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Here are some questions[br]and methods I've used

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to help build the worlds[br]in which those books take place.

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I start with a basic place and time.

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Whether that's a fantasy world[br]or a futuristic setting in the real world,

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it's important to know where you are[br]and whether you're working in the past,

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present, or future.

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I like to create a timeline

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showing how the world came to be.

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What past events have shaped[br]the way it is now?

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Then I brainstorm answers to questions

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that draw out the details[br]of my fictional world.

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What rules are in place here?

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This covers everything[br]from laws of gravity,

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or not,

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to the rules of society

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and the punishments[br]for individuals who break them.

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What kind of government[br]does this world have?

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Who has power, and who doesn't?

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What do people believe in here?

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And what does this society value most?

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Then it's time to think[br]about day-to-day life.

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What's the weather like in this world?

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Where do the inhabitants live[br]and work and go to school?

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What do they eat

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and how do they play?

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How do they treat their young[br]and their old?

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What relationships do they have[br]with the animals and plants of the world?

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And what do those animals[br]and plants look like?

0:04:20.399,0:04:23.103
What kind of technology exists?

0:04:23.127,0:04:24.133
Transportation?

0:04:24.157,0:04:25.165
Communication?

0:04:25.189,0:04:26.929
Access to information?

0:04:26.953,0:04:29.302
There's so much to think about!

0:04:29.326,0:04:33.854
So, spend some time living in those tasks[br]and the answers to those questions,

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and you're well on your way[br]to building your own fictional world.

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Once you know your world[br]as well as you hope your reader will,

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set your characters free in it[br]and see what happens.

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And ask yourself,

0:04:45.917,0:04:50.434
"How does this world you created[br]shape the individuals who live in it?

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And what kind of conflict[br]is likely to emerge?"

0:04:53.811,0:04:57.020
Answer those questions,[br]and you have your story.

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Good luck, future world-builder!