Should I make a conlang? A Flowchart

[torylltales]

I made a flowchart!

If you can't see it, I'll try to write it out.

 

Should I make a conlang?

1. Why should I?

A. Because I want to -> Go to 2.

B. To flesh out my story / worldbuilding -> Go to 2.

C. Because Tolkien did it -> NO.


2. How much time do I want to spend on it?

D. I shall make it my life's work -> YES

E: As much as I need for my story -> YES, BUT ACTUALLY NO

F: Not too much -> NO.


My basic point: conlangs are an art form in their own right, but if you're not willing to put in the time and effort then it's probably better not to.

There is no story that suffered for the lack of a conlang, but many stories that were made worse by the addition of an unnecessary conlang.

There is no story that cannot be told without a conlang.


Make a conlang if you want to make a conlang. Don't make a conlang if you think it will make your story cool, or because you think you need to  in order to be a serious fantasy writer.
 

 

Disagree? FIGHT ME.




 

Comments

[snarkbotanya]

My own conlang is sort of in a limbo between "it will be my life's work" and "as much as I need for my story." I put a lot of time and effort into it, but the only real use of it that makes it into the book is in constructing names for people and places and describing some difficulties characters with different native languages have in understanding each other.

[torylltales]

Same, I conlang because I enjoy it as an art form and as a creative exercise, but if/when I write a story readers will barely be able to tell that I'd done anything in the way of a constructed language. I basically would only use it for proper nouns.