Regardless of what genre you write, you will always need to do some form of worldbuilding, because each setting (even if it's our contemporary world) needs rules and laws and the culture that's unique to your book and characters.
Creating a vivid and compelling world can be difficult though. The environment, culture, politics, and history of your world can all impact your characters and the story. Here are ten tips to help you build a strong, believable world that stands in the way of what your hero or heroine wants.
1. Develop a Detailed Environment
Your world’s environment shapes every aspect of your story. Consider the setting—is it isolated or connected to other places? Think about the flora and fauna, the climate, and the population density. Even if these details don't appear directly in your story, having a clear understanding of them will make your world more immersive.
2. Create a Complex Religious Landscape
Religion can deeply influence the morals, politics, and daily lives of your characters. Consider whether your world has one dominant religion or multiple conflicting ones. How do these beliefs affect the characters' decisions and the society as a whole? Is there a connection between religion and politics?
3. Define Family Structures and Social Roles
Family dynamics and social roles can add depth to your world. Consider the rules of marriage (polygamy, arranged, or free choice), the structure of families (nuclear or extended), and the roles of men, women, and children. These elements can create societal norms and personal conflicts for your characters.
4. Determine the Level of Technology
The level of technology in your world will impact everything from daily life to major conflicts. Is your world in a hunting/gathering stage, post-apocalyptic, contemporary, or futuristic? The technology available can influence the types of problems your characters face and the solutions they can devise.
Language is a powerful tool in world-building. You can create your own language or use an established one, but remember to make it relatable and not overly complex for readers. Specialized language and cursing can reveal what is sacred or taboo in your world.
The state of your world’s economy will affect the livelihood of your characters. Consider whether the economy is healthy or struggling, the types of jobs available, and the age of the workforce. Economic conditions can be a source of conflict and motivation in your story.
Politics can add a layer of complexity to your world. Is your world governed by a democracy, anarchy, dictatorship, monarchy, or communism? The political system can shape the characters’ lives, influence the plot, and create obstacles for the protagonist.
While prologues can be useful, they should be used sparingly. Avoid omniscient points of view, dreams, flashbacks, myths, or celestial explanations. If a prologue is necessary, ensure it adds significant value to the story without overwhelming the reader with information.
Introducing characters and backstory gradually can keep your readers engaged. Don’t halt the story to provide extensive backstory. Weave it in naturally through dialogue and narrative. Starting your story in the right place helps avoid the need for excessive backstory.
Beginning your story at the correct moment is crucial. Define what is normal in your world before introducing chaos. This gives readers a reason to care about the characters and the world they inhabit.
Creating a world that stands in the way of what the hero or heroine wants is a powerful storytelling technique. The environment, societal norms, political systems, and other world-building elements can all present obstacles and conflicts for your protagonist.
Imagine a heroine in a dystopian society where strict family structures and oppressive politics dictate her every move. Her goal might be to escape or change the system, but the world’s deeply ingrained norms and powerful leaders stand in her way. Each element of the world—the harsh environment, the scarcity of resources, the rigid social hierarchy—can be used to create tension and drive the story forward.
By meticulously crafting each aspect of your world, you can create a rich, immersive setting that not only enhances your story but also challenges your characters, making their journey more engaging and rewarding for readers.
What tips do you have for building an effective and engaging fictional world?
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