For example, if the beings that inhabit it have values completely different from ours…
Rather, I think that any new Universe should internally touch significantly with ours. But the interest can be directed to the special differences.
For example, a Universe tolerant of lies – there everyone is very cunning, but there theft, murder, etc. are punished.
Do you invent your Universe first or only after you have a goal and characters?
Hey Plamen. I think an effective writer can introduce us to a universe that is totally different from our own and we’ll still accept it.
As a good example, we just read Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck in the apprenticeship. The book is about a subculture that doesn’t share reasonable moral values. However, despite these characters being somewhat wicked and horrible, we still sympathize with and love them.
But it does require a lot of skill on the part of the writer.
I think you can invent universe or characters first. What are you inspired by? If I’m inspired by a neat worldbuilding premise, I may begin there. But likewise if I’m inspired by a character or a plot point, I’ll begin my planning there. Whatever I’m most motivated by, I start with that and then work out from there until the story works.
