🌍 Building a World from Scratch: An Author’s Step-by-Step Guide 📝
Are you tired of using real-life countries and cities in your stories? Do you want to create a fictional world where you can let your imagination run wild? Building a world from scratch may seem daunting at first, but with this step-by-step guide, you can create a unique and captivating setting that adds an extra layer of depth and complexity to your writing.
📚 Step 1: Establish the Rules of your World 🛡
What kind of world do you want to build? Is it a dystopian society? A fantastical kingdom? A futuristic utopia? The first step is to establish the basic rules of your world. What are the laws of physics? How does magic work? What kind of creatures and races exist? By answering these questions, you can create a foundation that makes sense and remains consistent throughout your story.
🗺 Step 2: Draw a Map of Your World 🗺
To make your world feel more real, a map is essential. It can help you keep track of different locations and their distances from each other, as well as give your readers a visual representation of where events are taking place. You don’t need to be an artist to create a map – you can use online tools or even hand-draw one if you prefer a more artistic approach.
💬 Step 3: Develop Cultures and Societies 🧑🤝🧑
The cultures and societies of your world will help define the different groups within it. By developing the norms, values, traditions, and beliefs of your fictional societies, you can create a rich tapestry of cultures that adds depth to your story. You can think about the different ways your fictional societies interact with each other and with the world around them to create unique dynamics.
🏰 Step 4: Create Unique Settings and Landscapes 🏞
Do you want your world to be set in a lush jungle or in a barren wasteland? The landscape and settings of your world can set the tone for your story and make it more immersive for your readers. You can create different types of terrain, such as mountains, valleys, rivers, and plains, that will give your world life. You can also add unique buildings or monuments to specific locations to make them stand out and evoke emotion.
🎭 Step 5: Develop Characters that Fit Within your World👥
Once you have all the elements of your world in place, you need to make sure your characters fit within this world. How have their experiences shaped them? What are their backgrounds and beliefs? You can also consider how their societal norms and expectations will affect their actions. By creating realistic and relatable characters, readers can more easily connect with your story.
🔎 Wrap Up 🔎
Building a world from scratch is not easy, but it’s worth it to make your story stand out. By following these steps, you can create a unique world that engages your readers and helps build a better story. Remember, your world doesn’t need to be perfect; the flaws and inconsistencies make it human and believable.
