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I’m currently in my fifth and final year studying architecture at university. When I decided to go into architecture it was because I liked maths and design and I figured it was a combination of both. That wasn’t necessarily wrong, but architecture was not what I expected it to be.
What I expected was something more along the lines of engineering, but I’m so thankful it wasn’t. I don’t particularly like building things, and have little interest in how they’re built. I’ve had classes on building technologies and the responsibilities of an architect, but I’ll avoid that side of architecture if I can. Many also assume architecture to be similar to drafting, so before I address writing I’d like to first explain what architecture is. This may not be very comprehensible (if it was, my family would better understand what I do) but I’m giving it a go anyway.
Architecture
Fundamentally, architecture is designing spaces, but that doesn’t just mean measuring room sizes and making buildings look aesthetically pleasing. It’s creating atmospheres, evoking emotions, respecting cultures and responding to the users needs. In a way, architecture is a manipulation of the user, as writing is to the reader. Not in a ‘I will control your life and mind’ way, but in a ‘I will improve your health and quality of life’ way. I once heard someone refer to architects as creative problem solvers and I think that’s pretty accurate.
Architecture is a very diverse field. I’ve covered building design, infrastructure design, landscape design, city design, exhibition design, installation design, game design, portfolio design and (since I accidentally signed up for a coding class) website design. If you haven’t noticed yet, all my projects have something in common: design. So I figure, why not add world design to my list?
Design
Studying architecture has taught me the complexities of the design process. It’s altered my way of thinking to find connections and commonalities in projects that can improve the coherence of ideas and how they are presented. It’s also taught me to think critically about my own work. The design process is an invaluable skill to learn and can be applied to anything, including writing but especially worldbuilding.
I started to actively build my world in 2014, half-way through my second year studying architecture. It’s been over four years since then and I know my way of thinking, planning and processing ideas has changed. I’ve always been someone who looks for patterns and ways to make sense of everything in relation to other things, but architecture provided me with the means to focus my understandings and utilise them in my own work. Below are the three main aspects of writing a book that have been influenced by my studies.
Worldbuilding
This is the most obvious aspect that relates to architecture; the physical appearance of the world – cities and buildings. But, as explained above, architecture is so much more than that and so is worldbuilding. Everything needs to connect and I don’t mean the roads between cities. I mean the magic system must influence the backstory, and the backstory must influence the culture, and the culture must influence the politics, and the politics must influence the… you get the gist. Depending on the story, not all of these will be relevant, but likely many will. Everything is either caused by something or causes something, or both.
Theme
Recurring themes bring coherence to stories, and can be integrated into writing in a variety of ways, such as foreshadowing, the language used, the decisions characters make, or the end goal. Themes can also be integrated through mood, which is utilised in architectural image making. There are similarities between creating a seen image and an imagined image. Although one uses photoshop and the other uses words, both require editing. By understanding the extent of all the themes you integrate into your story, you create a brief for yourself with set boundaries, beyond which the purpose or message of the story may become muddled.
Plot
The skill to understand the details and complexities of themes helps create interconnected plots, especially when it comes to character motivation. Characters need a reason to act. No one in real life acts without purpose or reason, no matter the validity, morality or legitimacy of their actions. They always need a motive. Think of detective shows – they’re always looking for the motive behind a murder. But a character doesn’t need to kill to require a motive. They need a reason for talking to a certain person, for sneaking out, and even for abiding by rules. If you understand exactly what moves your plot forward, you can mould it to fit with the themes in your story and the world you’ve created, altogether creating a coherent story.
There are many writers who come from different backgrounds, but all knowledge is useful for writing. This is just my experience of utilising what I’ve learnt in a different discipline (studying architecture) in my writing. If you’re also a writer from a different discipline, feel free to share in the comments!