Style Sheets: The Writer's Punch List

I hadn't planned on discussing style sheets until the end of the month, but Shelley Munro asked about series bibles on her blog recently so I thought I would go ahead and do it early.

Because the worlds I build are so complex, I regularly use style sheets. A style sheet in its simplest definition is a punch list of every unique detail in your story. A series bible is usually the same document but it transcends the style sheet in that it keeps track of the over-arching details like names, phrases, and other world building facts that will appear in book after book. 

Both are indispensable. It's especially useful for SF & Fantasy writers when designing aliens, languages or customs.

True Believers had an immense style sheet. Not only did I have to keep track of the Nephilim, Alturians, and humans, but the computer characters as well. 

Each aspect of the world building has its own style sheet. Some readers said True Believers had an epic feel to it. That was totally intentional. But I wouldn't have been able to accomplish it without my punch list.

I recorded religious holidays, human politics, language, and cultural habits. There was also a style sheet on time lines that not only kept track of the time of day, but the time of year. Even though I lived and breathed that story, it was too complex to do it without a guide. It saved my bacon plenty of times when I was trying to remember spellings and practices.

Readers notice when you screw up. A style sheet helps keep the facts straight as you're telling your story.

Names & slang: Every time I used a proper name or created a new term, it went into the bible. Hint: When you create a character name especially one with a unique spelling, add it to your Word dictionary so Word will correct it if you spell it wrong later on in the story.

Characters: Each of my characters had his own page where I described physical appearance, quirks, what made them angry, and what made them scared. In my new book, "Mistress of the Stone", my heroine uses sea-faring expressions unique to her. I jot them down both under "Slang" and "Characters" so I know these are distinctly hers.

Time: It is so easy to lose track of time. If the hero is making breakfast at the start of the chapter, you have to make sure you don't have him eating dinner by the end of it.

Weather: Atmospheric conditions are common in settings. Like the time line, you want your weather to be consistent. If it's sunny when your heroine looks out the window, it can't suddenly be dark and stormy just so you can match her mood.

Topography: Fantasy authors often deal with vast distances and geography. It doesn't matter where you send your characters, but stay aware of the time in relation to the geography. If your hero crosses a desert in the morning, don't have him land on the other side to a tropical paradise (unless you're talking virtual reality).

Whether you use a style sheet just for your own peace of mind or turn it in to your editor with your manuscript as a supplementary database, it will save you hours of searching for a specific detail and it will keep your story consistent from book to book.

Have you ever used a style sheet or series bible?

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Other stuff: I'll probably be late answering comments today. The county in its infinite wisdom called me in for jury duty. In my whole adult life, I have never been chosen. Greg says it's because I have the look of a hanging juror. But who knows. It's a different county. Maybe they haven't heard of my reputation yet.

If you follow me on Facebook (and why shouldn't you) you saw a picture of the giant snake on the gravel road in front of my house. This was a big guy, far bigger than the one who was climbing up my office window a few weeks earlier.

There are days when I think I'd rather live in the city... 

Anybody want to place bets on whether I'll get picked for jury duty?

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This week on Back to Basics we talk about cheapo gardening and re-purposing empties.