14 Fun Ways to Build Your Fantasy World

    Writing is an art, no one can deny it. On their own, words hold a simple meaning. But the ability to entwine those words and their meanings into sentences, paragraphs, and pages that hold something far deeper is a gift from the Lord that should be used to his glory alone. Like any art, many parts make up that big picture. Characters, prose, plot, world-building and so much more are all as different hues of paint that fall together into a beautiful picture. Today, I am going to focus on one of these hues: world-building. Whatever your story may bring or how your characters respond to it, all happens in a "where". A place. A setting. A world. Look around you! Wherever you may be, whether it be America or a distant island in the Pacific, there is so much surrounding your story! History, culture, dialect, and the list goes on! If your story is to truly capture your readers, you will need a world that they can see in their mind's eye.
    There are many ways to world-build. At times you may put your ideas together in an organized fashion and other times you let the ideas freefall through your pen or keyboard. There also are many intensities of world-building, for writers vary in their techniques and styles. Writing a realistic world doesn't need to mean you know the exact placement of the constellations or the doorknob style in the royal palace. Though there's nothing wrong with going all out in world-building, be sure that you don't bite off more than you can chew.
    World-building is important, but for many, it can be a challenge. Don't know where to start? That's what this article is for! I will be presenting you with a grand total of 14 ways to build your world that will give you a boost as you dip into this hue of writing! I encourage that you read through them and decide which ones would offer the most aid to the establishment of your world, or, if you're up for a real challenge, do them all! Have fun!

    (I will refer to your setting as your "world", but this does not necessarily mean the entire planet. You may choose to focus primarily on a single continent or country, but, for simplicity, I will use "world" as an overarching term.)

1. Create culture. What a community is based around will shape the whole culture. If your world has no long-term vision and/or bad morals, it could be counted as a dying culture. The state of the country will be chaotic, dangerous, and untamed. Without that long-term vision, no account will be made for the future, and thus there will likely be no future. That could really shape your story! On the other side of things, worlds founded on true beliefs, good morals, and long-term vision will thrive and prove to be a safe dwelling place for your characters. So what does your culture value? What is it based upon? The culture that surrounds your characters will shape their experiences and beliefs, so it truly is important to consider!
2. Establish jobs. What sort of work is offered in your world? If your world relies primarily on overseas trading, then shipwrights and sailors would be common lines of work. If your world is at war, weaponsmiths and soldiers would be greatly needed. The state of the world, its values, and its financial sources will all contribute to what types of workers are in demand and the career choices available. Is the working class in your society oppressed? How does this affect your characters? 
3. Design social ranking. What decides rank in your world? Wealth? Bloodline? Physical strength? What your culture values ties into social ranking, for that will be the way for the people to move up. If your culture has a high value of science, then those with that type of mastery will be most respected. If they value bravery, then a person's deeds on the battlefield could play into their life at home. Are the higher-ranking citizens dominating the poor? Is the power evenly distributed? Try drawing a pyramid of the social ranking, with the high classes on the top and the low classes on the bottom. Where do your characters fall on this pyramid?
4. Establish government. What form of government is your world under? To give you some idea of your options, here a short list of some of the most common types: 
• Monarchy: Ruled by one person (such as a king or queen). Rulership is hereditary.
• Republic: Citizens elect representatives to vote on matters. Led by a president. 
• Federation: A group of segments, such as states, that are mainly self-governed, but still under a central government. 
• Democracy: Means “rule of the people.” Decisions are made by the voting of all citizens, with the majority ruling. 
• Communism: A system that eliminates private property. Everything is owned by the public. The purpose is to abolish social classes; however, if you look at history… it never worked out very well….
• Dictatorship: Nearly limitless power belongs entirely to one person or group of people. Usually hereditary. 
• Oligarchy: Ruled by a small group of people, such as a family or band of powerful or wealthy people. 
• Technocracy: Leadership is determined by knowledge. Ruled by scientists and technical experts. 
• Plutocracy: Those with wealth have authority. Ruled by the rich. 
• Theocracy: Ruled by religious leaders who are regarded as divinely guided. 
• Empire: A group of nations under one ruler (such as an emperor or empress). 
• Anarchy: No government or law. An absence of authority characterized by disorder. 
Now that you have the form of government, it’s time to determine how it affects the people. Does the government have much control over the lives of normal people? Is there any abuse of power going on? Wars of power, perhaps? Government happenings, such as tyrannies or rebellions, can play a huge part in your story! Developing your government is undoubtedly an important aspect of world-building that is not to be overlooked.
5. Develop a history. What happened in the past shapes the present. Every experience that someone has been through is like a seed planted that grows and gives fruit (whether good or bad!) in the present. How the countries in your world interacted in the past dictates their relationship at the time of your story. Here are a few questions to get you started: What events in the past shaped the country that your character lives in? What wars have been fought? What kingdoms have fallen? How did rulers rise to power? Who founded the country (or city)? History has such a large impact on society, no world is complete without it. 
6. Create a dialect. So much of how we speak is founded on the history of our world. Sayings, greetings, etc. were all developed in this world over time. A totally different world could differ dramatically in this area. What are the common greetings in your world? Is small talk considered polite? What would well wishes look like? Weaving these things into your story gives the reader a glimpse at the layers of world-building beneath the story. 
7. Make a calendar. Holidays in our world are mostly derived from our history, such as Thanksgiving (which celebrates the Pilgrim's Thanksgiving feast) or Christmas (which celebrates the birth of our Saviour.) What events occurred in your world's history that causes them to remember it every year? A discovery? An alliance? A new beginning? Developing your calendar isn't limited to holidays. You can also create your months, weekdays, and even seasons! Give it a try!
8. Invent legends. Legends are funny little things. They’re remembered, cherished, and sometimes even believed. Some can be beautiful works, crafted with passion and decorated with taste. Fabricated from the finest fabric. Forged with the fieriest... fire. Dazzling like a chest of glass diamonds. Yet, perhaps, deep down in that chest there is a true diamond. A truth. A seed of truth. If your characters were to chase down a legend, would that seed of truth see them through? Or would they find it to be nothing but a myth? What legends does your world contain? What stories, whether true or not, have been passed down through generations? Is there any legend that your world is perhaps based around? Founded on, even? Pluck up your needle and fabricate a tale. Fire up your fiery furnace and forge a story. Pick up your pen and scrawl down legend for your world. And perhaps, way deep down, you can find that seed of truth that the whole story blossomed from. 
9. Add astronomical twists. Looking far up into that black expanse upon that earth can a breathtaking experience. Our moon, our stars, all those little lights up there have stayed the same for centuries. Empires have fallen, but stars never have. Astronomy is an amazing part of nature. So, take a moment. What wonders does your sky contain? What constellations shine down? What stories lie behind them? Over the years, mankind has recognized the courses of the stars and learned to use them as tools in navigation. How are stars used in your world for navigation? Is there a West Star? A South Star? Think of how those distant orbs affect our life here on earth. The moon controls the tides and the sun provides light and warmth. Does your world have multiple moons or suns? How does this affect them? There are many ways to transform normal astronomy. This can provide depth to your setting.
10. Determine the weather. What type of climate do your characters live in day to day life? The weather obstacles that your characters encounter will shape your story. If they travel through a harsh region--such as a desert or wasteland--they will be far more at the mercy of the elements than if they merely romped through a flowery meadow. If their climate is prone to frequent earthquakes, their town must find ways to stabilize their buildings and establish safety protocols for the citizens. The weather has the potential to seriously affect a person or civilization, so it’s important to take a moment to think about how weather and climate affect your world. 
11. Create a currency. Does your world use coins? What are they made of? What are they called? Or do they use slips of paper? Even though you may mention forms of currency only a few times in your story, it's important to determine their value so you can stay consistent with it. Keep in mind, coins and notes are things developed by this world and, though they're fine to use in your story, you may want to put a twist on things and create something different. So, think, what unique items could your world use as currency? What is rare and valued? Have fun brainstorming!
12. Design weapons. This is a fun one, especially for the artistically-minded. Swords, axes, and bows, we've heard about them all. But what if your world had something different? There are endless opportunities when it comes to designing weapons. What would a cross between an arrow and an ax look like? What kind of weapon could take out a fortified city wall? You could add some fun spice to your climax if your characters throw a flaming javelin into the enemy lines or your villain whips out a double-bladed, serrated sword. Try taking a common weapon and adding joints, flames, spikes, or anything else that crosses your mind!
13. Create technology. If you have a futuristic sci-fi world, this will definitely be an extremely important element to consider. Some things to ponder when designing the technology of your world are these: How advanced is the technology? How is energy generated? What social rankings is it available to? How dependent is your world upon it? Remember, technology isn’t limited to just futuristic and modern settings. Whatever sort of devices they may have in older time periods, no matter how primitive, still are considered technology. 
14. Draw a map. This could be a map of a town, country, or continent. Putting a map in your book will give your reader a better grasp of the story, and it's a lot of fun to draw! There are many different styles of map drawing, so figure out what works for you and your story best. Should your map be colorful or lean towards muted tones? Should it be simple or detailed? Do you want to use shading to get a 3D effect, or would you prefer it to be laid out in an organized fashion? I won't get into the specifics of drawing a map here, but I will recommend the book How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps by Jared Blando. 

    And there you have it! Though this article was a compilation of fun writing activities, there are a few things I'd like my readers to take away from it.

1. What a person or culture values affects everything about it. 
2. What happened in the past shapes the present.
3. To capture your readers, they must be able to see your world in their mind’s eye.
4. Context is everything. The setting is a vital part of the story’s context. 

    I hope you enjoyed today's article!
    Cheerio,
    ~Madelyn