Backgrounds Quote by Garth Nix
“I don't do all the background and the worldbuilding before I start the story. What I do is I work out the bare minimum I need to start the story, and often that really is a bare minimum - it's a character in a situation, and I know nothing about the character, I know nothing about the situation, and then I think about it for a long time, and make notes about where I think the story is going to go and so on, but I don't really make notes to do with the background or the magic system or the world.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Writing Process, 2020
The author starts stories with minimal setup, focusing on a character and situation, allowing the world to develop organically.
In simple terms: Start with a character and situation, let the world emerge.
Key Takeaway
Begin writing with a simple character scenario.
Themes
writing
creativity
process
Mood
practical
encouraging
Type
instructional
creative
When to use this quote
- novel drafting
- short story workshops
- game narrative design
Key Concepts
character-driven narrative
organic worldbuilding
Questions to Reflect On
- How does starting minimal affect plot development?
- When should you flesh out background details?
A Different Perspective
Lack of early worldbuilding may cause later inconsistencies.
![“Mmmmmm, said Ardent [the Royal Dog]. He liked cooked food. Also raw food and semicooked food, and things that might be food and so were worth chewing on for a while to make sure they weren't food.” quote by Garth Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/62f/garth-nix-2783_cooked_mmmmmm-said-ardent-the-royal-dog-he-like_181626.jpg)
