As I mentioned previously, storyworlds are partially defined by their settings. But what, you may ask, goes into making a good setting? Conveniently, I answer, I have a list of such things. And at at the top of that list is unique imagery.
Ideally, someone could look at an image from your storyworld and know, without any other context, where it came from. For example, if I were to show you a Federation starship that you’ve never seen before, you’d take one look at the disc-like part attached tube-like engines and say, “That’s from Star Trek!” Or if I held up a coffee pot that was sleek, black, and decorated with scalloped fins, you’d say, “That’s Batman’s coffee pot! You’d better give it back!”
Imagery works on two levels.
At the highest level, it’s about aesthetics, or the general “look” of the setting. Firefly,for example, features a mix of sci-fi, western, and Chinese visuals that gives it a look uniquely its own. Star Trek, with its smooth edges and crisp-yet-pajama-like uniforms, has a look distinctly different from Star Wars, which is dirtier, messier, and more “left in the closet by the previous tenant.”
Aesthetics also tell a story, or hint of a bigger tale than what’s currently being told. Star Trek‘s sterile world tells of a setting that’s moved beyond mundane worries like making money or dusting the control panels, while Star Wars speaks of keeping the old machines running as long as you can, and being too busy working to worry about what they look like. Imagery can also ask questions that lead to more stories: Why all the Chinese bits in Firefly? How do the elves in Lord of the Rings get their armor so fancy? Why is the ruler of the Emerald City so obsessed with the color green?
On the low level, imagery is about specific images:
A lightsaber flashes to life. A transporter beam locks on. A Firefly-class vessel… does anything, really. It’s a very uniquely-shaped spaceship.
These images can become iconic, going so far as to represent the world itself. Think of the Big Daddy from Bioshock, the sonic screwdriver from Doctor Who, or Barad-dûr, the tower topped by Sauron’s burning eye.
As you ponder your storyworld’s setting, think about what it looks like. Ask yourself what sets it apart visually from other worlds in its genre. Focus on those things and your world will become that much more awesome.
