There is a part of me that is terrified about leaving the world of the DSA at the close of season 1 edits. It’s the part screaming for me to keep going, keep drafting the next one and the next one until the story is finished. The small voice in the back of my head promising I will never get this close to this world again. Never nail the character voices, never remember all the subtle nuances of each character’s behavior and back story.

It can be a real fear.

But I’m going for it anyway.

Here is how I am preparing for the world hop back to Greystone next month.

World hopping tips:

Take it slow.

Pretty simple, right? One would think so. Over the last week, I’ve spoken to a number of writers who have a problem with taking it slow on a project. Either they are so jazzed about the world they’ve created or are afraid of a detail slipping through the cracks that slowing down seems to be the opposite of what they should be doing.

However, when crossing to a new project it’s exactly the right move.

Instead of launching into a novel sized plot, step back. Take some notes. Learn the subtle differences. Figure out the rules of the new project.

If you’re jumping into an older world, like I am with Greystone, rediscover what makes that story special. Read relevant passages from previously published work. Revisit old notes taken months, or years, earlier.

Reacquaint yourself with old friends.

Focus on smaller aspects first.

Instead of building a new series, work on a single character. Instead of understanding their entire history, focus on one specific event. Tear it apart, build it back together, anything to learn why it should matter and what it tells about your story.

Figure out those rules. Is your lead a smoker? Does she have a tattoo? College education? Siblings? Nothing is set in stone so play with the dynamics.

If characters aren’t your strong suit, turn to the plot itself. Pick up small events, images in your head surrounding your new world. Build the sequence and incorporate different aspects – character, important objects, history, etc – all to create a fully formed picture in your mind.

Broaden your scope

It’s all about building. As you learn each new piece, put it side by the side with the previous ones, to see where it leads. Don’t jump in and hope everything falls in line, create from the ground up and let it expand across the canvas.

Differentiate from the past

This is one aspect I’m nervous about. Making each world unique while playing to your strengths as a writer can be a challenge. Sometimes characters seem TOO similar, or are going through the same arc previously traveled in a different world. Learning the reason behind them, finding new dynamics or changing the game completely is your goal here before you’ve traveled too far and come up short.

Why is this story different? How should it be different?

Asking questions helps the transition when world hopping. Discovering those answers is the fun in creating the narratives that fuel your imagination.

Take it slow but don’t be afraid to push yourself in new directions. Explore possibilities. Your readers will thank you for it.