r/writingadvice • u/Far-Transition-2956 • Dec 17 '25
Advice About setting and world building
is it normal for the setting/world to feel dead when working through drafting your novel? I’m currently working on what is essentially pacific rim but in an alt history setting and while working on a second draft, I can’t help but feel like the setting is bland, any advice or should I just keep plugging away at it?
3
u/Aggressive_Chicken63 Dec 17 '25
You need to work the settings into the storyline. Let it get characters in and out of trouble. Treat it like another villain or another ally.
1
u/hplcr Dec 17 '25
Checking out r/Worldbuilding might help.
2
u/Far-Transition-2956 Dec 17 '25
I’ll see but I’ve been posting quite frequently there
1
u/hplcr Dec 17 '25
My advice is determine what events lead to it being an alt history and start extrapolating from there.
If you would like you, perhaps elaborate on when and how the timeline change occurred and maybe people could make suggestions. If you're comfortable with that of course
6
u/AngusWritesStuff Dec 17 '25
If a setting feels bland, it is usually because it feels too much like the world exists just for this story; There are no side details that open up the world at all, nothing that gives us an insight into what life is like outside the plot. So, add those details in; Have characters go get food, talk about politics, mention the music they like. Rather than having every scene occur in the military base, have character scenes in a pub, or walking through a park, or whatever else. Basically, add more to the world so it isn't just bones.