In a guest post on C.S. Lakin’s blog, Dario Villirilli suggests five ways you can build a fascinating story world. “The art of creating new worlds is essential for the sci-fi or fantasy writer, but it’s helpful for writers of other genres too, as it is part and parcel of crafting powerful settings,” he says. His tips include:
- Draw inspiration from real places. “It might seem daunting to imagine a brand-new environment, but it doesn’t have to be,” Villirilli says. “Our own planet has plenty of unique and awe-inspiring places that might as well belong on another planet.” Use your research as the basis for an extraordinary setting.
- Make sure every detail serves a purpose. You’ve created a huge world, but your reader doesn’t need to see it all. Add only those elements that support your story. Details should perform double duty – as description and setting, but also as mood, atmosphere, plot movement, and character development.
- Reveal your world gradually. You shouldn’t reveal every element of your story world right away. “Instead, it’s better to make your readers eager to know the answers to the mysteries of your world,” Villirilli writes. “You can do so by introducing your world’s features gradually, in relation to the story development.”
- Say something about our own world. Science fiction and fantasy settings let you comment on events and situations in our real world. “Consider how your story might offer a new lens on how we view our own culture and society,” Villirilli says.
- Map your world in detail. Even though you don’t need to show your reader every street corner, it’s important for you to know your extraordinary world backwards and forwards. Create maps and geographical sketches. Consider a personal wiki of your world’s history, technology, social mores, and other elements. “As you’ll spend lots of time creating your world, this will help you stay sane and your world building consistent,” Villirilli notes.
