All assignments due on or before the 15th of January!

 

Please choose three (3) of the following questions and answer them in a minimum of one hundred words each. Each question is worth ten (10) points and you may earn up to a maximum of thirty (30) points in total. You are free to send in as many answers as you wish, but will receive no further points for any questions answered after the initial three.

 

1: Choose either an animal or plant that is either unique to your world or plays a prominent role in it. Tell me about it – what does is look like, what properties does it have (whether magical ones or not), what makes it interesting, what purpose does it serve, and how does it interact with, or hide from, the main occupants in your world.

 

2: Decide on the climate in the town your story will be set in. Tell me about any major historical weather events, any issues that the townsfolk need to deal with, and any major impacts that it has on occupants, flora, fauna, and infrastructure.

 

3: Think of a book that you have read that uses weather as a major plot device. Tell me about the weather, what impact it has on the story, and whether or not you think it works as a plot device. Don’t forget to give sound reasoning for your opinion – you can love or hate it, so long as you tell me why!

 

4: Choose a resource in the real world and note down a few impacts that it has on our society. Now create a resource of your own. Use your notes to inform your decisions about the impacts it has in your world, and let me know what the resource is, what it looks like, how much it is worth, how common or rare it is, and what relevance it has to your story. Finally, tell me what impact it would have on the world if it were to suddenly cease to exist.

 

5: Do some research on creating maps – look at common land shapes, distances between major cities, keys that are used, level of detail involved, and style of drawing. It is likely that you will be drawn to some maps more than others – think about what the differences are between the ones you love and the ones you hate. Compile your research and let me know what you have discovered either in list form or by way of a narrative of your findings.

 

 

Extra Credit

 

Choose one (1) of the following for a maximum of thirty points.

 

Write: In the form of a narrative, write a scene in which a character (or characters) travels from one place to another and is hindered by the terrain, weather, the wildlife, or a misleading map. It is up to you whether or not your characters make it to their destination or not, so long as you make the journey interesting! Please write a minimum of five hundred words in order to receive full credit.

 

Illustrate: Create a map of your world, a country in your world, or a town in your world from the point of view of yourself as creator. Then create another one beside it from the point of view of a character or inhabitant, and show the differences in knowledge and personality. Anything can be different including art style, the key, and even the location of places based on perception – but make sure that there is at least one major difference!

 

Convince: You need a resource from a different part of the country, but are unable to make the journey yourself. Convince me to go for you and that the journey will be a safe and easy one, even though you know full well that it won’t be! You can write dialogue between two characters discussing this, draw a fake map and describe what you have changed for the better, or anything else that you think will convey your ideas. Please be creative and let me know one way or another what the journey is likely to actually entail!

 

 

Please send your completed assignment to holworldbuilding@gmail.com with the subject WB - HW4 - HOL ID

 

 

Your Extra Credit assignment should be sent separately with the subject WB - EC4 - HOL ID

 

 

Please include your full HOL name, HOL ID, and house in the body of your email. Normal HOL rules apply, please keep content appropriate and link to any pictures you have created, no attachments!