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Sep 1, 2021 · How to Write a Believable World: A Guide to Worldbuilding. Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Sep 1, 2021 • 4 min read. Whether you’re writing a book, a film, or a video game, the imagined world you build should still feel like a real world, which means it must function with its own set of rules.
- Define Your World’S Name and Setting
- Create A Map of The Territory
- Populate The World with People
- Elaborate Your Civilization’s History
- Create Systems of Technology and Magic
- Distribute Resources with A Working Economy
- Determine Your World’S Power Structure
Broadly speaking, the setting of your story will either be our own world, or an entirely fictional world— what’s known as “second world” fantasy. Before you start work on your backstory, it’s essential to know which of these categories your story will fall under.
Once you’ve named your world, it’s time to fill it. That means having at least a broad sense of its geography and ecology, so that you know what the landscape looks like, and what beasts your characters are likely to encounter. You can consult our worldbuilding guide for a full list of prompts, but some questions to consider include: 1. What sort o...
Now that your physical landscape exists, let’s drop some people into it. To create a textured and believable setting, you’ll want to populate your planet with a variety of races and cultures — which can be either created, or based on real-world cultures. You may wish to pull species from the rich traditions of high fantasy (elves, dwarves, trolls, ...
Civilizations are defined by their history. That might be a very broad statement — but it contains a kernel of truth. Writers should have a solid grasp on the history of their world, regardless of genre, and should be familiar with the key events that matter to the story they’re telling or the culture they’re exploring. So, how can you go about thi...
Perhaps the defining feature of any SFF book is its systems, whether they be magical or technological. It’s important to consider the details of how these things work carefully; just waving your hand and saying “and there’s magic” won’t cut it. You’ll have to define the magical or supernatural elements of your world. With both science fiction and f...
It may not sound too exciting, but considering something as fundamental as the economics of your world can be extremely helpful in making it a believable one. This isn't essential, but having an understanding of the economy can help you imagine how your characters will move through the world. Take, for example, Anne McCaffrey’s iconic fantasy serie...
As well as creating the history and economy of your world, you may also want to consider other institutions and power structures, such as religions, governments, or political ideologies. Again, this might be drawn from reality: Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series features a society dominated by the Magisterium, a religious body modeled in pa...
Jan 26, 2022 · What did those authors do to make their imaginary worlds so compelling? And how do you build a detailed world like that for your own story? Read on to learn how to create a unique fictional world that your readers can get lost in.
- Plan but Don’t Over-Plan. Outliners prefer to map out everything before they start writing. Pantsers, those who write by the seat of their pants, write as a process of discovery.
- Describe Your World. Paint for your reader a world that transports them, allowing them to see, smell, hear, and touch their surroundings. Core aspects to consider
- Inhabit Your World. Are the inhabitants people but somehow different from you and me? Are they aliens, monsters, or some other new species? When writing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien gave Frodo a past, certain personality traits, and unique morals.
- Establish the History of Your World. Many stories are defined by their pasts: The Lord of The Rings focuses on an ancient war. The Hunger Games is built on decades of oppression.
Oct 1, 2021 · reddit. Tumblr. Maps are a great way to visualize your setting as you create your world, and can be really inspirational for worldbuilding. Later on, they’ll be a great way to share your novel or campaign setting with others – your players and readers.
Start with the basics – Begin by sketching out the basic shape and layout of your world, including the locations of oceans, mountains, and other geographical features. Add in natural features – Include natural features such as forests, rivers, and other landmarks that might be important to the story or the characters.
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Oct 22, 2024 · How to master worldbuilding in a story with Milanote. Follow this step-by-step guide to learn the modern process of worldbuilding in Milanote, a free tool used by top creatives. Start imagining your world.
