Regan Black

You’ll find books and articles galore as well as writers of paranormal romance novels who give workshops on world building (Sherrilyn Kenyon does a great one) so a short blog post might not be all you’ll ever need, but hopefully it can be a good start.

There are many factors to consider when you’re world building for a paranormal romance novel and I’ve covered a bunch of them in previous posts.

But at some point you have to wonder…does size matter? Is bigger the best way to go when you build a world for your paranormal romance novel? Should you go all out and make the world bigger than life?

Only if it’s necessary.

No that isn’t a cop out. When you read your favorite paranormal romance writers, is the setting – the world – the key ingredient? Think about it. It’s a backdrop and the best authors in the business make it as big a factor as it needs to be.

I recently read a paranormal romance set in post apocalyptic Chicago. I didn’t even know the city name until the second chapter – and that was fine, the focus was on the action and immediate conflict.

Even after I knew where (and when) they were, I didn’t see much of the city – didn’t need to. There were a few clues, enough to keep the story grounded, but more of the time element came from the characters and plot conflict.

It was ideal – to read only what mattered and advanced the plot. The author did a masterful job keeping the spotlight where it needed to be for the genre: on the characters involved in the paranormal plot and romantic plot.

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy seeing more of the world – when it makes a difference or has an impact on the choices characters make in the novel.

I can assure you, the author knew every nuance of the world her characters played in – that’s why it felt so seamless as a reader when she showed me only what I needed to see to enjoy the current story.

So while you have to do the background and research for world building no matter when or where you set your paranormal romance novel, you don’t have to feel obligated to include daunting passages of big description.

The detailed world building of your paranormal romance novel shouldn’t overshadow the excitement, fun, and romantic adventures of your characters.

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Kresley Cole, Lori Handeland, and Sherrilyn Kenyon write wildly different stories using settings within the ‘real’ world we know and recognize. All three of these talented paranormal romance authors have done the research that makes readers feel as if they’ve traveled along with the characters.

Still other authors use an entirely different world for their paranormal romance novels. While this may seem more challenging at first glance, there’s an infinite amount of freedom in the approach.

How do you convince a reader there’s life on the moon? Like maybe a werewolf colony that’s managed to hide themselves from every lunar landing and exploration. Building a brand new world for your paranormal romance can be fun.

The imagination is boundless! Other planets, lost cities, alternative histories and potential futures actually give authors plenty of new, undiscovered blocks to build the special world for their paranormal romance. As long as they stick to the rules of the world they create.

For example, if gravity’s important, explain how creatures cope or defy it. If you introduce a fuel cell, be sure your heroine doesn’t fill up the tank with unleaded on her way to catch the bad guy.

When you’re considering what sort of world to build for a paranormal romance novel, think about the specific strengths and weaknesses of your characters and/or creatures.

Build them a world that will challenge and surprise, as well as assist and comfort them on their journey through the story.

Also, writer know thyself. Consider the things you’re good at. Think about the voice that comes most naturally to you.

Do you have a penchant for the dark and angsty, or would a battle between good and evil land on the page sounding more like a walk through Central Park on a balmy June day?

Whether you’ve got supernatural creatures romping through the this world or humans trying to navigate an otherworld environment, there’s plenty of room for putting your own spin on the world you build for your paranormal romance novel.

Use your innate storytelling strengths as you build the right world for your paranormal romance. It’ll be more fun in both the writing and editing process and your readers will thank you later!

Live the adventure!

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So many novels filled with paranormal elements, so little time!

No one wants to miss out on a good escape, or a thrilling adventure. Plus, there’s so much you can learn, as an author, by reading well crafted books.

When it comes to paranormal romance novels, as a reader, I’m happiest when the world is well-crafted, the rules of that world make sense, and the good guys win.

That really applies to my needs from all novels – how better to enjoy escape reading – but I’ll keep the focus on paranormal romances for now.

Setting, or world, as an element of paranormal romance, can be just about anything for me as a reader. Futuristic, present day, even historical. But it has to engage me on every level.

I want to reel from the view – mountain, space, or sea, recognize a famous building or district, and add it to my 1001 places to visit before I die list. (That list is longer thanks to Nora Roberts, Kresley cole, Amanda Quick and Sherrilyn Kenyon)

Within that vivid world, I want the characters’ actions and decisions to make sense, based on their skills and powers. Nothing yanks me out of a story faster than a convenient loophole or safety net – for the good guys or the bad guys.

Even fiction, especially fiction (to paraphrase Mark Twain) has to balance. Not much of my daily reality balances – so having a balance of power in the book is part of enjoying the fantasy for me.

Of course I want to ride the roller coaster as characters struggle with new gifts, old baggage, or dark and edgy challenges. Conflict is story and part of the journey in a great read is watching the way characters grow to overcome the situation.

It’s an inspiring contrast to my reality to see characters strive toward a common goal, a better good, a higher purpose. And in a paranormal romance – the love storyline – as subplot or primary plot needs to move me.

I want the happily ever after that is so rare in the real world. You might say the happily-ever-after is the single most fantastic and most essential element of a paranormal romance novel.

Live the adventure!

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