5 important things to remember about worldbuilding

Want to jump straight into writing without having to do a huge amount of research upfront? Here are the 5 most important aspects of worldbuilding to bear in mind:

Anchor your story in the appropriate place, situation, and history

Your story will have more emotional weight with readers if it is anchored in a setting that suits it best. This means that the place, situation, and history of your world should complement and enhance the themes, conflicts, and character arcs in your story. Doing so will create a cohesive and engaging narrative that resonates with your audience.

• Research Similar Settings: Look into real-world settings that align with your story's themes and conflicts.
• Create a Detailed Backstory: Develop a history for your world that influences the present situation and character motivations.
• Align Setting with Plot: Ensure the physical and cultural setting enhances the plot’s central conflicts and themes.
• Use Worldbuilding Templates: Utilize tools and templates to systematically build and document the world’s details.

Bring emotional depth to your landscape

A detailed landscape alone may appear lifeless to readers. As the writer, you should bring your emotional lens to it. Consider how your characters' emotions and experiences are influenced by and reflected in their surroundings. This emotional connection will make your world more relatable and compelling to readers.

• Show Character Reactions: Describe how characters emotionally respond to their surroundings.
• Use Descriptive Language: Employ sensory details and vivid descriptions to evoke emotions.
• Reflect Internal States: Mirror characters’ inner feelings with the state of the environment (e.g., a storm during a moment of turmoil).
• Create Symbolic Elements: Incorporate symbols in the landscape that have emotional significance for the characters.

Draw from your personal experiences of the real world

Your personal experiences of the real world are vital in worldbuilding, as they add authenticity and depth to your fictional universe. By drawing on your own experiences, emotions, and perspectives, you can create a unique and engaging environment that resonates with readers. This connection will help your audience invest in your story and empathize with your characters.

• Blend Experiences: Combine elements from different experiences rather than directly transplanting a single event.
• Fictionalize Details: Alter specifics such as location, time period, and character traits to create distance from real events.
• Focus on Emotions: Use the emotional truth of your experiences rather than the literal events.
• Incorporate Diverse Perspectives: Add variety by including experiences and viewpoints from research or imagination.

Create layers and depth with a multidirectional approach

Both setting and character development require a multifaceted approach that creates layers and depth. This entails considering various aspects of your world, such as its culture, politics, history, and geography, and how they interact with and influence your characters. Exploring these dimensions will create a rich and complex environment that adds depth to your narrative.

• Culture: Develop customs, traditions, and social norms that influence character behavior.
• Politics: Create political systems, power structures, and conflicts that drive the plot.
• History: Outline significant historical events and how they impact the current world and characters.
• Geography: Design diverse and detailed physical landscapes that affect the story’s setting and events.
• Economy: Consider the economic systems, trade, and resources that shape daily life.

Use your world to its fullest potential

When building your world, make sure you use it to its fullest potential. Avoid creating throwaway locations or elements that don't contribute meaningfully to the story. Instead, focus on building a cohesive and interconnected world that enhances your narrative and supports your characters' journeys. By doing so, you can create a more immersive and memorable experience for your readers.

• Plot Integration: Ensure every location and element advances the plot or reveals character development.
• Character Relevance: Tie world elements to characters’ backstories, goals, or challenges.
• Symbolic Value: Use elements symbolically to reinforce themes and messages.
• Consistent Use: Revisit and utilize elements throughout the story to maintain coherence and continuity.
• Editing Pass: During revisions, remove or repurpose any elements that do not serve the story’s core narrative.