Organized Chaos Part 1: Creating a World Compendium using Microsoft Word
One Document to Rule Them All!
Many writers and world-builders wonder how to keep their vast web of lore and character notes organized efficiently. There are dozens of software solutions for this task, but after trying out a few, I found myself returning to Microsoft Word and Excel. Why? How? You’re about to find out!
Welcome to Part 1 of Organized Chaos, where I share the secrets of my Word-based Compendium! Part 2 will delve into managing story timelines using Excel.
Toolkit
I specifically use Microsoft Word (Office 365 desktop version). However, there are also free alternatives that can perform the same functions: Google Docs (online) and LibreOffice (desktop software)
Rationale for a Single Word Document
Centralized Information: Consolidating everything into a single document simplifies your workflow.
Search and Retrieval: Word’s built-in search ensures quick information retrieval without navigating multiple files.
Find and Replace: Word’s 'Find and Replace' function, especially when used within a single document, saves time and maintains consistency in your lore.
Table of Contents: Using Word's Table of Contents enhances navigation and organization.
Effective Sectioning with Headers: Headers allow you to segment and categorize your content. The ease of moving sections via the Navigation Pane allows for seamless reorganization (what I call the ‘cue card feature’).
Hyperlinks: Hyperlinks offer a clever way to cross-reference information. For instance, linking a character's name in a city's history to their dedicated section streamlines navigation and comprehension.
Potential for Publication: Word lays the groundwork for potential future lore publication (information already compiled in one place).
The Primordial Engine Compendium
‘The Primordial Engine Compendium’ is the cornerstone of my world-building process. With my sci-fi novel, ‘The End of the World’ set to be released on February 5th, as the first book in a series of five, the sheer scale of my world lore became evident. Managing separate documents for locations, characters, character images, history, and more was rapidly becoming an overwhelming task.
A Page From the Primordial Engine Compendium
How to Set Up Your Own Word Compendium
1) Define Your Header Layout
Headers provide structure and clarity; choose them based on your project, with more generic ones at higher hierarchy levels. Below is my Compendium’s header layout, tailored to my own world-building needs.
Primordial Engine Compendium Layout
2) Create a New Word Document / Give Title
Open Word. File > New > Blank Document. Type the title at page top.
3) Insert Table of Contents
Move your cursor below your title. Click References > Table of Contents > Custom Table of Contents > Under Show levels, pick the number of levels you want visible on the Navigation Page > Click OK.
Why Show So Many Levels? Navigation Pane can act as a “cue card” list for your Compendium, allowing you to drag and drop headers/sections to new locations.
Ta-da! You now have a table of contents… with nothing in it! Once you add headers, manually refresh the Table of Contents by clicking References > Update Table.
3) Headers
Headers appear in the Table of Contents and in the Navigation Pane.
Show Navigation Pane
View > put a check mark beside Navigation Pane. The Navigation Pane appears on the left side of the screen. Headers are under Headers.
Set Colors and Sizes of Headers (Optional)
Click the ‘Show more’ arrow under the Styles ribbon (see screenshot below).
RIGHT-click the Heading you want to adjust.
Select Modify.
Make your desired font and size adjustments, then check off Automatically update at bottom of window. My compendium uses:
Title - Calibri, black, bold, 28pt (Titles don’t appear in Navigation pane)
Body/Normal - Calibri, black, 11ptHeader 1 - Calibri, dark blue, bold, 20pt
Header 2 - Calibri, medium blue, bold, 18pt
Header 3 - Calibri, dark blue, bold, 16pt
Header 4 - Calibri, medium blue, bold, italic, 14pt
Header 5 - Calibri, dark blue, bold, 12pt
Header 6 - Calibri, medium blue, bold, italic, 12pt
Header 7 - Calibri, dark blue, bold, italic, 11ptClick OK.
Insert / Change Header
Option 1: Highlight the text you want to become a header. Click the header type in the Styles ribbon.
Option 2: Select the header type in the Styles ribbon. Start typing in the document.
Moving Headers / Sections
Example: SideCharacter is now an antagonist. Using the Navigation Pane, I drag the “SideCharacter” header from its current location to under the “Antagonists”.
Make sure your Navigation Pane is open (View > select Navigation Pane).
Use your mouse arrow to click and drag the header to a new location within the Navigation Pane. Anything underneath the header (including subheaders) will be moved too.
The header and its content now appears at new location in the document.
4) Add Your Content
Add Basic Content
This one’s obvious. Write your stuff!
Insert Images
Got some character pics or other art you want included?
Click the place you want to insert the art
Insert > Pictures > This Device
Use the Insert Picture window that appears to navigate to the folder on your computer that stores your picture. Select picture, then click Insert.
Add Hyperlinks
In the example below, I've hyperlinked "The Witherlands" in a historical section, allowing users to click the link, which will take them to the Witherlands section.
RIGHT-click the word you want to link to another section/header
Select Link
In the window that appears, click Place in This Document
In the middle section, scroll to locate the section/header you want to link the word to
Click OK
The word will now have an underline under it to indicate it is an active hyperlink.
Insert Tables (see Templates)
Click the place in the document you want to place the table
Insert > Table > Select the number of rows / columns you want (if you need more, you’ll need to insert them afterward) > Insert Table. The table appears.
If you need to add additional rows/columns, RIGHT-click a row/column > select Insert > pick Insert Above / Below to add a new row OR Insert Left / Right to add a column
5) Create Templates (Optional)
As you update your Compendium, you’ll discover recurring information such as character stats. Consider creating templates using tables to make these sections more uniform. These blank templates can act as reusable building blocks that can be copied and pasted into relevant sections. Below is my sample main character template:
Conclusion
To wrap it up, Microsoft Word empowers you to master organized chaos in world-building through a well-structured Compendium, with headers, hyperlinks, and templates streamlining your creative process and making your world-building journey more focused and enjoyable.