Creating an Authentic Fantasy World

 

1. K. Rowling and the like make it look easy to build a fantasy world, but when coming up with completely original material from scratch can be pretty daunting. There are certainly challenges in bringing a new world to life in a story, the greatest of which is transferring that world from your head to the page. Abi Wurdeman of Dabble shares a simple guide on building a fantasy world.

Step 1: Start with the story.

Throughout the process of building a fantasy world, the story is the number one consideration. A fascinating pretend world is meaningless without a good story. So try and least know the basics of your story (i.e., the tone and subgenre, the themes, the conflicts, etc) before creating a fantasy world. You can easily get lost in worlbuilding, so knowing where your story is headed is important. Fleshing out the story or developing characters first can help you not get caught up in wordbuilding details that may be irrelevant later on. Having said that, it is totally fine to let your fantasy world inspire your story.

Step 2: Build the physical world.

In building your fantasy world, the physical setting lays the groundwork for your story to develop. It is the stage where your characters will perform.

The physical setting involves the following:

• Terrain: The terrain of your fantasy world creates the physical barriers, defines limitations and challenges, and influences your characters’ lives.
• Map: Maps provide a visual representation of your fantasy world. It contextualizes the story and helps orient the readers of your fantasy world. It can show the geographical features, political boundaries, or the cultural and historical context of the story—all of which enhances the readers’ understanding of the story.
• Weather and Climate: Details regarding climate and weather can affect the story in the following ways: shaping the civilization and culture, developing the geography, and influences the history of the make-believe world.
• Flora and Fauna: The plants and creatures that make up your fantasy world contribute to the visual setting of your story and help set its tone. Your fantasy world is not complete without plants and animals as they can add depth and intrigue to your story.
• Natural Resources and Trade: The natural resources available in our fantasy world can affect the diet, clothing, buildings, economy, etc. of your world and characters. It is important to have an idea of what is available to your characters and the different ways these are distributed.
• Cosmology: The nature of the universe and where it comes from helps us understand how our world works. This is the same with your fantasy world. What role, if any, could the cosmos play in your story?
• Magic System: The magic system determines how magic works in your fantasy worlds—

that is, the rules, abilities, restrictions, etc. of the magic world.

Having established the physical setting of your world, you can now start building the cultural aspects.

 

Step 3: Create the Cultural Setting

While the physical world strongly influences the story, the cultural setting is most likely affect the conflict and characters of the story, giving the story more depth and complexity.

The cultural setting includes the following:

• History and Lore: A compelling and believable history will not only help ground your story, giving it more depth and richness, but will also set the stage for the story’s beginning events. On the other hand, lore, which delves into the myths and legends, often shapes our cultural values and beliefs. The same is true in your fantasy world. History and lore are not only decorative elements but are integral to the overall story.
• Religion: Having a strong fictional religion can have a significant impact on the story, as how the characters live their lives or how they act is greatly influenced by their faith.
• Language: Tolkien considered language inextricable from his created worlds. Language is a defining characteristic for a group of people and can indicate geography and culture; thus, considering the language in your fantasy world is of utmost important.
• Traditions: Like religion, traditions can help make the characters more real and their culture more tangible. This could include formal ceremonies, rites of passage, and holidays that the characters practice.
• Politics and Power: Politics and the power dynamics of the world greatly influence the everyday lives of the people. The same is true in the fantasy world. Considering the political system and the power dynamics of your fantasy world and weaving them into narrative would make your story more believable and immersive.
• Food, Fashion, and Entertainment: When coming up with the food that the characters eat, the clothes that they wear, and the entertainment they engage in, it is important to remember that these elements are heavily influenced by geography, climate, and trade of your fictional world.

Considering these various cultural elements will give you a good start in building a believable fantasy world.

 

Step 4: Tighten the Setting and Narrative Connection

Once you’ve developed your fantasy world, it is time to get better grip of your story. Thus, try to establish the following: (1) the protagonist, (2) the character arc, (3) the external conflict, (4) the protagonist’s internal conflict, (4) the theme of your story, and (4) a general sense of how the story begins and ends.

Also, consider how the elements of your fantasy world can be used to develop the story. Remember that the story and the setting influence each other. Keep developing both and your story and your world will slowly come into focus.

Step 5: See the World through the Characters’ Eyes

Looking at the fantasy world you created through your characters’ eyes will help you create a clearer, more vivid image of the world in your mind and help you imagine their everyday lives, their daily grind. Also, in visualizing their world, it help you to solidify the connection between the setting and the story.

 

Hopefully, with these steps, you will be able to make it beyond wordbuilding and bring your fantasy world into the hands of readers. There is one final step though in creating a fantasy world, according to Abi Wurdeman, and that is, have fun. Because there’s a lot of fun to be had in bringing fantasy to life.

 

Sources:

Strathy, Glen. “Creating a Fantasy World: Worldbuilding for Writers Who Hate Wordbuilding,  https://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/creating-a-fantasy-world.html.

The Darling Axe. “Building a Fictional World: A Novelist’s Guide. Last modified December 10, 2022. https://darlingaxe.com/blogs/news/world-building.

Wurdeman, Abi. “How to Cteate a Fantasy World without Getting Lost in There.” Last modified April 20, 2024. https://www.dabblewriter.com/articles/create-a-fantasy-world.