One of the best aspects of writing fiction is the freedom to invent your world. Whether it is a kingdom ruled by faeries or a colony on Mars, worldbuilding is the process of taking a small idea and transforming it into a whole new world.
Worldbuilding is a huge topic with many subtopics, such as geography, culture, and history. If you have no idea where to start, read this guide about worldbuilding 101.
What Is Worldbuilding?
What do we mean by the word worldbuilding? Worldbuilding is the process of creating settings, rules, and background for where your story takes place, not just the physical land, but also civilization.
For example, if you are creating a magical world, you need to know what the landscape looks like. Where does the magic come from? How does magic affect the culture? Many questions need to be answered to create a fictional world with magic.
Worldbuilding is not just for fantasy novels set in a fantasy world. It can be a contemporary fantasy set in a real town. It can be a historical novel. If you want to write a story that takes place in another realm, you need to worldbuild. For example, you want to write a dystopian novel. You can write a dystopian novel that takes place in Tokyo, but you need to know how that world works.
Worldbuilding turns a setting into a living environment that shapes your characters and drives your plot. Therefore, you need to take some time to consider how that world came to be.
Define the World You Are Building
Before you can write anything, figure out what your story needs. Is it based on the current reality or a secondary world? If it is based on the current reality, you do not need to figure out the landscape or the climate of that world. However, if it is based on a secondary world, a completely invented one, you will need to think of the geographical and social aspects.
Questions to ponder over:
- Is this a secondary world (completely invented) or an altered version of our world?
- Is it based on real history, a future society, or an abstract magical realm?
- How much of the world will appear in the story?
The Five Core Elements of Worldbuilding 101
These are pillars of worldbuilding. Think of it as a way to summarize worldbuilding. They answer some basic, but important, parts of your world.
Geography
Your world’s geography directly affects everything from how people dress to how they survive.
Question to ask:
- What kind of climate is typical? (Tundra? Jungle? Desert?)
- Are there mountains, oceans, or rivers? Are they safe to inhabit?
- What natural resources are available, and who controls them?
Geography can determine the type of housing built in a region since it depends on what materials are available. A village in the middle of the forest will have houses that are made out of wood. Houses in a warmer climate will probably have courtyards. Naturally, people use the material available.
For example, in Dune, the desert planet Arrakis is not just a backdrop. It is the story. A harsh environment shapes the economy, politics, and even religion.
Culture and Society
Culture is the way people live, what they believe in, and how they interact with one another. It can also be affected by geography and history.
Things to know:
- What are the values of this society?
- What do people eat, wear, and celebrate?
- Is there a clear gender role?
- What do they fear? What do they aspire to?
You do not have to create a whole history book, but it is beneficial to be aware of these details because they influence who the characters are and how the plot unfolds. Learn more about Worldbuilding Culture: How to Create Believable Societies
Power and Politics
In every civilization, there is some sort of power structure. If someone is in charge, it means someone is not. Who decides that, and why?
Ask yourself this:
- Who governs? Are they elected, born into power, or self-declared?
- What does justice look like? Is it fair? Is it feared?
- Are there hierarchies based on class, race, species, or belief?
- Is there conflict with other societies or within the same society?
Power dynamics can decide relationships, drive the plot, and form backstory. Think beyond king and queen. Why is everything the way it is, and who enforces that? The people or the political force?
History and Lore
A world with no history feels fake. It should feel like it has existed before the first page instead of being staged. Although you will not show everything, the present is a consequence of the past.
Ask this:
- What major events shaped the world before the story started?
- Are there ancient myths, ruins, or heroes that people remember?
- How do people interpret history? As the truth or propaganda?
Use history to create mystery. What do people think happened vs. what actually did? That tension can power your story’s conflict, themes, or give you a starting point to write the story.
Rules of Reality
What makes this world interesting enough to write about?
Is it the following: magic, technology, gods, or talking animals? Every world has its own rules. To demonstrate, think of our reality. We have gravity and biology as boundaries to our abilities. Remember this when you are worldbuilding.
Consider these questions:
- What kind of supernatural, magical, or futuristic elements exist?
- What can people do, and what is forbidden or impossible?
- Are there costs, side effects, or dangers to breaking the rules?
I recommend adding a limitation or risk. If magic or technology is accessible to everyone, it has no downside. There is little risk of using it. That means less potential for conflicts you can use later to create storylines.
Final Thoughts on Worldbuilding 101
Worldbuilding is a complex task. There are many places where things can go wrong, especially as a beginner. I hope this worldbuilding 101 guide helped you navigate what worldbuilding is. Depending on what kind of story you are writing, the worldbuilding can become detailed.
When worldbuilding, consider geography, culture, politics, history, and the rules of reality. All of this stuff shapes your world, characters, and plot. Worldbuilding is the foundation of your story. It is there to help you write compelling and amazing stories. The sooner you can create your world, the sooner you can start writing your first draft.
