World building balance

[mythosandmagic]

In my original story, I spent the first few chapters world-building and was told by just about everyone that this was not the best way to do it. Chapter 7 was when my main protagonist, Sarah, was introduced.
In my current version of my story, I do some world-building in the prologue and introduce my main character in the first sentence of chapter one. I have the main protagonist present a school report in the 3rd chapter that establishes more world-building. Then I continue trying to present the world through dialogue rather than explaining it in my narrator voice.
I like it better this way, but I would appreciate honest feedback from anyone and/or everyone. Good or bad.
The story link is in my signature.
Lightfall's Edge.

 

[Sunsetinapainting]

Um ok

 

[mythosandmagic]

Um ok

Um ok what?

 

[Th3Breadnought]

When it comes to worldbuilding I think there is a real tension between writing what you want to write and optimizing for reader reach and retention.

I think what you describe as your current approach is going to have more potential to retain readers than bounce them, especially if your first approach was I meet the protagonist in Chapter 7 after 6 worldbuilding chapters. I love worldbuilding, I get it (so to speak) but that's a big ask and I think you've gone in the right direction.

My golden rules are

1. Try to demonstrate details about your world in the subtext of what's happening, rather than narrate or just tell. The more you can introduce through contextual character dialogue and the more organic you can make it seem rather than narrate, the better. Don't indulge in non-essential worldbuilding until you've given the reader a reason to care about the worldbuilding. Lead with characters, character dynamics, the plot, the conflict and use these things and conversations to organically introduce worldbuilding through context, before anything more overt.
2. Always ask yourself "does the reader need this or would the reader want this based on what's happening... or do I just want to share?" If you just want to share, you gotta do a cost benefit analysis.

Hope this helps!

 

[mythosandmagic]

When it comes to worldbuilding I think there is a real tension between writing what you want to write and optimizing for reader reach and retention.

I think what you describe as your current approach is going to have more potential to retain readers than bounce them, especially if your first approach was I meet the protagonist in Chapter 7 after 6 worldbuilding chapters. I love worldbuilding, I get it (so to speak) but that's a big ask and I think you've gone in the right direction.

My golden rules are

1. Try to demonstrate details about your world in the subtext of what's happening, rather than narrate or just tell. The more you can introduce through contextual character dialogue and the more organic you can make it seem rather than narrate, the better. Don't indulge in non-essential worldbuilding until you've given the reader a reason to care about the worldbuilding. Lead with characters, character dynamics, the plot, the conflict and use these things and conversations to organically introduce worldbuilding through context, before anything more overt.
2. Always ask yourself "does the reader need this or would the reader want this based on what's happening... or do I just want to share?" If you just want to share, you gotta do a cost benefit analysis.

Hope this helps!

Yes, it does.
Thank you!

Um ok

I'd love to discuss your thoughts on my worldbuilding.
I'll start. What do you think of the way I restructured the beginning of my story? Would you rather I have left it the way it was?

 

[Yusrohemendator]

I will give it a read and drop feedback, what count is it currently?

 

[mythosandmagic]

I will give it a read and drop feedback, what count is it currently?

Thank you.
Currently, the Prologue is at 707 words, and the overall story is at 104,000+.