3 Ways To World-Build

When you’re starting a new writing project, you’ll probably do a lot of exploration of the world you’re creating. Whether you know a lot about your setting already or it’s all just a question mark on a big blank map, here are some tips from participant Victoria Schroeder for building your novel’s world:

1. Draw a map of your world.

When I was fourteen, I spent a hot summer week drawing a map.

I took a blank sheet and said “I am going to draw the best map anyone has ever seen. There are going to be borders. There is going to be one big river.” I drew the map (and let’s just say it needed work). Then I remembered that countries have people. “Huh… country in the north means it’s… cold? So… what do I know about Russia?” I followed that up with  “I will use my history knowledge to develop a world for a story! These’ll be the best countries ever!” Six years later I’ve cared for that map like a rosebush; prune the stuff that’s not working, water it, and let it grow as it pleases.

2. Draw a map of your characters.

A separate map took longer because it was built around someone. This character was, H, was originally designed as someone’s love interest, so she was inserted into a strong, well developed group. I wanted H to be more than “the love interest.” I had questions and H made me think. How do I make her interesting?

H’s father became a spider-monster-thing of unknown origins. One day, when H was traveling with her friends, he stole her away. But I didn’t like that. I wanted there to be more to him. What do I want from him?

The spider monster became a god with a pantheon, with a role that sent him to spy in the country where H’s mother was. Why was he spying? There’s a…  neighboring country that once took slaves and this pantheon wants to keep it from happening again? Yeah, I like that!

Three years later, I have five countries, four pantheons, a complicated history, and everything in between. I drew the map a year ago. It has big rivers too.

3. Use the stories you love as inspiration.

For my very first “real” story, one of the main characters was inspired from a fantasy series I loved. (David Edding’s The Belgariad, if you’re curious.) He ran away to Earth, where he became a 16th century pirate (with plenty of historical inaccuracies. I wanted to write about pirate friendships with a hint of gay.) That was where I started my world building journey. What do I love? What do I want to write about?

At the end of the day, there is no “right” way to world-build. You can spend a week drawing maps, you can borrow from real world cultures or your favorite media. You can take your character and look at what you want from them, what you think they need. You can borrow from an old story, brainstorm with a friend or six. You can look at other writers - what have they done well? What have they not? There is no shame in your source of inspiration. Make a world out of a sandwich if you want.

The cultures around us are combinations of their people, the world around them, and their circumstances over hundreds of years. There’s no harm in borrowing from them to inspire you. You don’t have a thousand years to cook up a culture. You’ve got a few minutes during your lunch break or half an hour before homework.

The most important thing is that cultures are always growing. Your worldbuilding won’t be perfect the first time, and it may never be. What’s important is that you keep striving to make it better. It should make you happy. Make it so you want to read the story you write about it. Make it so it’s something you can write every day.

When you’re ready?

Draw a map, and see where it takes you.

Victoria Schroeder is a university student working towards a double major. She’s loved writing since forever and is hoping to one day become an author of a non-fiction series, hopefully multiple. While she cooks up her longer works she’s happy to share fanfiction or little drabbles of her own. When she’s not writing, she’s scrolling Tumblr, cooking, drinking tea, or listening to K-pop. Probably all four at once.

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Top photo by LB on Unsplash.