World Building

As a writer delving into the realms of fantasy and science fiction, world-building is an essential skill to master. Crafting immersive worlds that captivate readers requires attention to detail, consistency, and creativity. Here are some techniques and exercises to help you develop your settings:

Create a Detailed Setting

Start by visualizing your world in vivid detail. Describe the geography, climate, architecture, and technology unique to your world. Consider the culture, customs, and social hierarchy that shape the society within it.

Let the setting become almost like one of the characters. Grow it with the characters and immerse the reader into the world.

Establish Rules and Laws

Every world operates by its own set of rules, whether they be magical laws in a fantasy realm or scientific principles in a futuristic world or even the laws of the land in contemporary Kansas. Ensure consistency in how these rules are applied throughout your story.

Don’t break the rules of your world. When the reader is immersed in your world and you break a rule, you will pull them out and break their suspension of disbelief.

Develop a Rich History

Delve into the past of your world to give it depth and complexity. Create myths, legends, and historical events that have shaped the current state of affairs. This will add layers of authenticity to your world.

The important thing to remember in creating a world is not to dump the entire world onto the reader in the first few chapters. Reveal the history as if the reader already knows it and understands in – through hints, dialogue, and subtext.

Include Diverse Characters

Think of the combination of cultures and ethnicities in a busy restaurant in a large city on a Friday night. We live in a diverse culture – there’s no reason not to put that into your story. Populate your world with a variety of characters from different backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. This will make your world feel more dynamic and realistic.

Map Out Your World

Sketching a map of your world can help you visualize the geography and locations of key landmarks. This can also aid in maintaining consistency in travel times and distances between different places.

If you’re writing about a place that already exists, try to use real landmarks and street names.

Write Descriptive Scenes

Practice writing descriptive passages that vividly depict the sights, sounds, and smells of your world. Engage all the senses to transport your readers into the heart of your setting. Remember all of the senses in your writing. How does it feel, taste, smell, sound, look? In every scene, make sure the reader feels like he or she is there.

This is truly just a touch of world building – the highlights more than depth. It’s a good start to get you thinking, though, and a point of reference to check your world – whether it’s completely fantastical or a park in small town USA.