Hello, Readers!
Let me tell you something you already know: worldbuilding is HARD.
Building a world comes in many forms. Whether it is creating a small town for a contemporary YA tale or deciding how a new planet works in your science fiction realm, there is a lot to figure out. As a fantasy writer, my brain deals in magic and kingdoms, knightly orders and royal conflict, but I empathize deeply with those pulling their hair out over what a nation's main export will be and when they want their main holiday to happen in relation to the winter solstice. It can be far too easy to get pulled into the weeds and become distracted by the itty bitty details, then wondering later if you got to all of the important parts.
(This semester, I'm taking a class on this very subject and learning a lot about organized and smart ways to create. Lots of what I write about in this post comes from those discussions with my class and the amazing "Wonder Book" by Jeff VanderMeer.)
If you're starting to craft a new land and are wondering where to begin, here are a few categories to get you started:
- economy
- geography
- climate/weather
- politics
- religious customs
- cultural conflicts
- legends
- technology
- gender relations
Though these are broad and certainly don't cover everything, they are a place to begin. Start by brainstorming a few facts about each of these categories and let what you come up with bleed into the other sections. Is your new land known for their metalwork and forging of weapons? Is that influenced by what they worship or their relationship with surrounding peoples?
Once you've come up with a place interesting enough to write about, the next task becomes introducing it to the readers in a way that makes sense. No matter what kind of story you're writing, you have to have a character to follow and see the world through. Who this character is can do you a lot of favors and make your life a whole lot easier.
Is this person a newbie? If they know absolutely nothing about what's going on, their curiosities and questions can stand in place of the reader's. Why is so-and-so in charge? What is with that building? Why does everyone have their shoes on the opposite feet? What they notice will point the way to what is important and let your reader feel like they have someone who is learning about the world just the same as them. Your MC will be their trusted partner in crime!
Think Percy Jackson. I'm currently listening to a podcast called "The Newest Olympian" which is hosted by a 29 year old reading it for the first time. Not only is he narrating the process of piecing the world together, he's also marvelling at the masterful way Uncle Rick crafted Percy's introduction into the land of Greek mythology. If you're looking for a way to shove a character into a new world, take a look at PJO!
Or is your MC a veteran? They can become a guide for the reader and show them every important detail because they notice them all and understand every inner-working. By way of their internal dialogue or the way they interact with their immediate surroundings, the exposition becomes incredibly revealing. From the get go, the reader gets to see the dangers of this world and become an instant cog in the wheel. There may be questions, but at least there will be a strong foundation to begin with.
An example of this is following Katniss. She's lived in District 12 her whole life and knows how she's lived, the culture of her district, the history of the games, and how she feels about all of it. That's a good place to start. From then on, Katniss learns about the ways of the Capitol and the politics of the games as we do. Head back to Panem for a reminder of what this looks like!
So: Who is telling your story? Where do they live? And how do they feel about where they live?
As one final tip, I'll offer a few helpful resources. I love a good map, and though a lovely friend of mine made me one using her graphic design skills, there are some amazing websites that you can customize to your every need. Here are a few to check out!
https://inkarnate.com/
https://azgaar.github.io/Fantasy-Map-Generator/
https://watabou.itch.io/medieval-fantasy-city-generator
However you create your world, I am confident that it will be one you're ecstatic to write about and someone will be itching to read about. Now get out there and worldbuild! I know you can do it.
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