One of the most important, if not the most important, elements in storytelling is theme. In many ways, the theme is the core of a story. It’s also the glue keeping all the other storytelling elements together. Although everybody talks about the theme, it’s also one of the hardest things to fully understand. There are many different definitions of what a theme is and isn’t. Furthermore, many writers argue the…
There comes a time in every writer’s life when they’ll write a fictional world, and it might be the hardest thing they’ll ever have to do in their career. Don’t take me the wrong way; there’s nothing easy about writing, but some things are just more difficult. You want to write a good story. I want you to write a good story so I might someday get the pleasure of…
Depending on what kind of writer you are, worldbuilding history can either be the most boring or exciting thing you’ve done so far in your book. Although I enjoy creating a fictional history, I know many writers don’t like to plan a lot before writing. I’m happy to inform you that I know a simple worldbuilding history framework for both those who like to plan and those who don’t. The…
To be honest with you, many fictional worlds feel fabricated. (I do know it’s fabricated). You roll your eyes as you turn the page and think, “That would never happen.” Even if you are creating a fictional story, readers need it to feel somewhat realistic, especially if you’re creating a fictional world. That’s why good worldbuilding isn’t an option, but a necessity to write a believable story. Good worldbuilding makes…
When it comes to worldbuilding, many writers focus on the visible parts of their world. They create maps or languages, and forget all about what makes a story feel truly alive: culture. Storytelling in itself is a form of culture. The kind of story you write is heavily affected by your culture. Therefore, you can’t write a good story without writing a strong fictional culture. Your worldbuilding will be one-dimensional…
Fantasy stories don’t always take place in our world. Sometimes it simply isn’t possible. Some fantasy stories are so wild and full of imagination that our dull and painfully ordinary world can’t hold them. It certainly can’t hold dragons or spells. That’s where fantasy worldbuilding comes in. Fantasy worldbuilding is the process of creating a fictional setting for your story. It’s a clever solution to the hindrance of creativity that…
You don’t realize how complex a city is until you have to create a fictional city from scratch. At least I didn’t. To be honest, I never thought of all the things that made a city a city. Throughout the years, I’ve learned that a city isn’t just tall buildings, coffee shops, and busy people. Both from living in a city and writing multiple ones myself, I concluded that a…
One of my favourite aspects of writing is the creative freedom to create a completely fictional world. I love how some words on a paper can turn into a whole world you can envision as if you’re right there. That’s the magic of worldbuilding. When you’re worldbuilding geography, you can choose exactly how the world is going to look. You decide if the world has high mountains, rivers, or long…
Conflict is the foundation of every story. Usually, the protagonist has a goal, and then something prevents them from reaching it. That’s the conflict. The best and the worst stories have conflict. What determines if your conflict is good depends on the way you build it before the story begins. If you want to write a great story, you need to get your conflict right. Admittedly, writing a great conflict…
Since the beginning of time, humans have used technology. Today we know technology as smartphones, TVs, and refrigerators. New technology is invented all the time, and it has helped us advance as a species. Due to technology, we have advanced healthcare and entertainment. However, many experience technology as scary. It’s unfamiliar territory with endless possibilities. In today’s society, many people fear the development of AI (artificial intelligence). Many of them…
