Fundamentals of World Building - The Joy and Power of Fiction Writers

Hello everyone!

Today, we will cover what goes into building your world and how worldbuilding ties into your plot and characters, aiding you in crafting a rich, well-rounded story that is uniquely you. 

World-building truly is the power of the fiction writer. Think about it: not only are you typing living and breathing characters into existence, but you are also bringing to life the world around them, its people and creatures, incredible magic systems, wondrous locations, and unique histories. Worlds that we love, like Tolkien’s Middle Earth, Rowling’s Hogwarts, and so many others, come from the imagination of people like us, which is a humbling and daunting thought. 

But how did these master-class writers do it? Well, it isn’t quite as complicated as you might think. In the case of Tolkien and Rowling, it was the product of many years of plotting and, you guessed it! Worldbuilding. 

THE JOINING OF PLOT AND WORLD

First things first: Plot.

This is a lesson in worldbuilding, but we must first clarify something. Plot goes hand in hand with the world you create. They cannot be separated, and they shouldn’t be. 

Elements of your world should drive your plot. Let’s use Professor Tolkien’s masterful work as an example. What is the plot of Lord of the Rings? 

A hobbit named Frodo Baggins must destroy the One Ring of Power to prevent the Dark Lord Sauron from conquering Middle-earth.

All of the major plot beats of Lord of the Rings are deeply intertwined with the world of Middle-earth. It’s history and mythology.

 Imagine the plot without world-building.

A person named Frodo Baggins must destroy the thing to prevent the person from conquering the world.

It's very bland. It's not at all interesting. This is why world-building is so integral to your story, especially in this day and age. 

After all, as King Solomon wisely said in Ecclesiastes 1:9-10:

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time.

Every single plot idea has been done before. Now, it is up to you to creatively mix what was and add unique spins to make things fresh.

DISCOVER THE BASICS

Now that we have all that cleared up, how does one even go about it?

I know it is easy for some to come up with a world (my friend is one of those avid world builders), but for others, it is a terrifying, daunting, and possibly annoying task. So, let's break it down.

Here is our Lord of the Rings example again:

A hobbit named Frodo Baggins must destroy the One Ring of Power to prevent the Dark Lord Sauron from conquering Middle-earth

WORLD:

Our location is Middle-earth, a fantasy world with mythical beings.

So, the first thing to ask yourself is: Where does my story take place? What kind of world do I want?

PEOPLE:

Frodo isn’t just some person. He is a hobbit. Next, ask yourself: What factions are in my world? Groups of people? Jobs? Fantasy Races or Aliens? How do these apply to my main character and the plot?

In Frodo’s case, it is significant because, as we find out by reading, hobbits are little folk who have yet to make a significant mark on history. Most people don’t even know they even exist. 

SYSTEMS AND ITEMS:

The next thing we see is One Ring of Power. This, of course, is an integral plot point of the story and an item of historical significance. It is what incites the external conflict of the story. Of course, not every book has a single item of this importance, but what in your world incites your external conflict? It could be an item, a historical event, a magic system, etc. But whatever it is should further tie your plot to your world.

ANTAGONISTS:

The overarching villain of Lord of the Rings is the Dark Lord Sauron. Of course, not every story has a direct villain or even an antagonist. But even if your character is against nature, it should tie in, again, with your world. Who is the antagonist or main obstacle of your story? What significance do they play in the world? How do they tie into your external conflict?

CRAFTING THE DETAILS

Now that we have the basic ideas for our world, how should we craft it into a unique world? Well, research, of course!

As fantasy and/or sci-fi writers, we draw from the things that have come before us to forge something new! A whole world of wonders is at your fingertips. Learn from History, Mythology, other Authors, Art, and Music.

Anything can spark an idea; the more you know, the richer your imagination will be. Plus, the more you know, the more you can avoid doing something someone has already done before.

 I love diving into mythology from around the world. Most of the time, if I read a book or watch a movie (or play a new video game), I come away with a brand new idea, anything from major world-building to local cuisine. All that to say, as much as it can be tedious for some, research is the friend of all authors. 

But that, of course, leads to my next point. Make it you. Don’t copy and paste what came before; tweak here and there. Twist it on its head and filter it through how you viewed it. Shove a huge old dash of what you love and what interests you into it. Mold it and shape it until you have something that might not be technically “new under the sun” but something that is its own thing.

If you filter all you see, hear, feel, etc., through your imagination, no matter if it is based on something else, it becomes something unique to you in a way that no one else can do.

From there, work on the details of your world. Language, Religion, Traditions, Magic, Politics, Locations, Creatures, Races, Factions, Histories, Weapons, Holidays, Food, Flora, Fauna—there is so much you can explore regarding world-building.

To some, this sounds like the most fun part of the writing process. To others, this sounds like an actual nightmare. But I would encourage everyone who loathes this part of writing to at least nail down the basics regarding your world. When you are reading, does a surface-level world draw you in? Or the one that feels like a living, breathing world you could enter?

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, world-building is a lot of work. But it is one of the greatest gifts you can give to your story and audience. It will set your story apart and raise it to new heights. Who knows? Maybe one day, if you are an aspiring young author with great ambition, you might be engraved in history alongside the likes of Tolkien and Rowling.

This is one of God's gifts to us: the imagination and freedom to express ourselves and craft little worlds to share with anyone who will read our works. Enjoy the freedom. Celebrate the world He has made through your own. Use what He has given you, your unique quirks and passions, to mold your creation into something that maybe people have seen before but never like this. 

In other words, go forth and build your world.