Thread:Alexander of Volzhsky/@comment-3298705-20150716190808/@comment-104549-20150720153949

Thoughts as an outside observer, and one who has come up with rather a huge departure from anything canon and dealt with the accompanying issues:
 * Think of things you like from the movies, and how you can incorporate them
 * Think of things from the movies that make you think, "Geez, that was stupid. What kind of idiot would do that?" and remove them.  I see this in Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy, which bluntly addressed the fact that Darth Vader's "strangle people for failures" policy wasn't exactly good for morale.
 * Think about the logical consequences of whatever you're taking as canon. An idea that occurred to me (use it if you want, ignore it if you don't) just now:
 * At the end of Return of the Jedi, Palpatine and Vader are dead, and Luke is set to restore the Jedi. He (and, consequently, the leadership of the Rebellion) know the Sith were instrumental in demolishing the Republic and establishing the Empire.  If he creates a New Jedi Order, they might have to hunt down and destroy the remnants of the Sith.  Either due to or despite Luke's leadership, some Jedi might become...overzealous in this task.  It could lead to the Jedi taking control of the government as happened during the New Sith Wars, or even a Sith Purge.  Out of a legitimate desire to wipe out the dark side, the Jedi could become the villains, creating a split in the Order that enables the Sith to actually appear to be the good guys and gain support.  By the time the galaxy realizes that supporting the Sith might not be the smartest idea, it's already too late.  That's related to Roan Fel's Empire accepting the collaboration with the One Sith, without being the same thing.

As far as settings or ways to bring characters together, again, think of logical consequences that flow from your starting premise. I strongly suggest figuring out the basic premise, then letting the story flow naturally from there. If you're starting with a Second Galactic Civil War: okay, what are the natural consequences (resources depleted; worlds recovering from damage; hostile planets held by force; increased smuggling and criminal activity on both sides; resentment for Jedi, Sith, or both)? That being the case, where does it make sense for characters to encounter one another (this will depend on who and what the characters are)?

In my experience, worldbuilding works better if you start big and work down, rather than starting small and trying to work up.

I don't mean to meddle; just thought an outside, detached perspective might help. Hope it does.