The First Draft Pro Blog

We freaking love stories

You do too? Well, well, well. That smells like BFF potential.

A mysterious landscape with snow and something uncanny in the distance.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

How to keep mystery alive for your readers

The elements of mystery, techniques for maintaining intrigue, and how to adapt mystery to different genres.
Mountains, hills, and strange triangle shapes.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

How to add depth with details

Details can make your fictional world feel richer and more tactile. Here's a guide on using them effectively.
Mountains and trees, with stylistic geometric shapes.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

The role of cause and effect in worldbuilding

To build a believable and engaging fictional world, it's important to consider the principle of cause and effect.
A deep valley through spooky mountains.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

The role of logic in worldbuilding

Logic is crucial to building fictional worlds that feel believable and captivating.
An image of otherworldly planets floating through space.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

5 important things to remember about worldbuilding

This article explores five essential things to remember about worldbuilding, focusing on emotional weight, personal experiences, and depth.
An image of otherworldly planets floating through space.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

3 things to avoid when worldbuilding

This article will discuss three things to avoid when worldbuilding, focusing on the balance between setting, characters, and narrative.
An image of otherworldly planets floating through space.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

8 things your world-building needs to do

No matter what scale you're building on, here are eight things your worldbuilding needs to do.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

The ultimate list of worldbuilding questions

These questions cover various topics that can help you create a fully realized and immersive world.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

How to world build when you don't know everything

Strategies to help you world build when you don't know everything about your fictional world.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

A comprehensive guide to worldbuilding

Helpful worldbuilding strategies and approaches based on your story's scale and your personal writing style.
Worldbuilding
3 min read

A short introduction to worldbuilding

Worldbuilding is an important aspect of storytelling that involves establishing the setting, establishing rules and laws, and adding details that bring the world to life.
Story Formats
5 min read

How long should your book be?

There are different conventions for how long your book should be, based on different genres.