World building for paranormal romance novels – or any novel – helps connect he reader in the story you want to tell. As creative types tell stories in new and fresh ways in known and emerging media, one thing becomes clear.
The audience is vitally important.
I walked into the family room where my son was playing a fantasy game on the PS3. When he finished the battle, I asked what kind of monster he’d just defeated. (I happen to be a fan of the mythology this game employs). His answer: Rage Demon.
Wow. Really? Because that thing looked nothing like Kresley Cole’s rage demons. Of course I kept this opinion to myself as I’d rather not explain my internal disillusionment. Yes, I admit, it took a moment to remember that the game creator’s idea doesn’t nullify Cole’s version of the same creature.
Hasn’t Cole taught us there are all kinds of things that go bump in the night and often the sexiest varieties have the worst reputations?) But I digress…
My son wouldn’t appreciate all that I find fascinating about Cole’s rage demons and their culture (especially, one specific recent exile). Neither would Cole’s fans be satisfied with a nearly faceless, flame coated thing my son was battling as it’s useful only for guard duty and training.
Clearly, when it comes to world building for paranormal romance, it pays to know the audience.
Whatever mythology you use to explain rage demons and their origins to your audience has an effect on the actual world building for a paranormal romance novel.
A young adult author in the paranormal genre won’t focus on the same things as a paranormal romance author wanting to catch adult fans. A fantasy author might spend much more page time on the mythology and origins of the world itself as the characters journey toward the goal.
And a game developer obviously has a different goal in mind as they build their world for various aged gamers.
Live the adventure!
