World building 101

Half the fun of writing fantasy is the fact that it doesn't take place in our world. Which is great, until you realize you have to create an entire world from scratch, then it feels like the hardest thing ever. How do you make a world that follows some reasonable set of rules while keeping things interesting? What if you don't want to write seven billion pages of backstory because you want to jump right into the story idea floating in your head? Where do you even start to build a world, and what are some things to avoid when you do? Today, let's tackle world building 101.

Why do I need to world build?
Look at you, asking great questions right off the bat! Have you ever read a story where the writer skipped the world-building step? It was awkward, right? Something was missing. It would be like making a coconut cream pie and forgetting the pie crust. Delicious? Sure, but messy as all get out. Writing in a fantasy world without world-building is the same.

Where do I start?
Is writing back story is your jam? Then, go ahead and tackle those long world-building lists. They'll ask you things like: What language do people speak? What do they eat/wear? What's the money system? Religion? And so on. But, if you're like me, you just want to write the story in your head begging to be written. If that's the case, you'll need to start with which aspects of this new world fit within the story's timeline. Does your story start at the dawn of creation? No? Then skip to the year your story does take place in this fantasy world. Who's in charge? Does it matter? What kinds of things does your protagonist experience because of the world they live in? You'll need to know what kinds of things they eat/see on a daily basis/wear/etc.

What kind of rules does my world need?
There are so many fantasy worlds and with each one comes its own set of reader expectations. But, generally, if there's magic in your world, you'll need rules for it. If there are magical creatures or plants we've never heard of, you'll need rules for them as well. Sure, these plants and magics can do amazing things, but there also has to be a limit to what they can do. Sometimes that means there's a quantity cap, and other times there's a time limit. For example, in The Curse Breaker, my debut novel, magic-born can use their magic, but it takes a physical toll on them so they can't use it forever. You'll need to do something similar in your own fantasy world to keep things interesting.

Tips for world-building:

• Draw a map of your world. Sometimes just being able to see what the world looks like makes it so much easier to write about it, especially if your protagonist is going from place to place.
• Watch movies/revisit your favorite fantasy worlds. What did they include? What did they leave out?
• Want to spice it up a bit more? Think big picture. What kinds of laws/history has affected the world your main character now lives in? 
• Don't forget to tell us WHY. Your character is on their way to save the day, but why is this happening now? Why didn't it happen fifty years ago? This is where thinking of the big picture comes in handy. The why doesn't have to be epically long, but it does have to feel logical for the reader to buy it. 
• Don't underestimate the importance of plants. You'll be describing this lovely world for around 400 pages, make sure you put some thought into what grows in your world. For bonus points, also consider seasons and weather. You don't have to reinvent the wheel, but if your story starts in spring and ends in winter make sure your plants are following suit. This advice also goes for infrastructure, transportation, and so on.
• Don't make one-dimensional inhabitants. People are people, and by definition quite interesting in good and bad ways. Don't write a bunch of stereotypical people, instead fill your world with lots of interesting citizens. 
• Make sure you account for societal changes. If your people have magic, how has that changed things? For starters, they probably don't do mundane things. Or if they have super cool technology, what differences exist in their world compared to your readers?

Don't be too scared of world-building. Once you get the hang of it, it's tricky to go back to writing in the real world! What are some of your favorite tips when it comes to world-building? Share them in the comments below. 

Happy writing.

April Jones has read, written, or edited her way through numerous fictional worlds. When she's not teaching or writing, she spends her time trying to learn other languages or keeping her mischievous cat from eating the pet fish. She received her bachelor's in English and her M.F.A. in creative writing. 

A Tennessee native, April currently lives in Michigan with her husband and three children. You can find her poems and short stories published in various literary magazines across the internet and in print. You can also check out her debut novel, The Curse Breaker. For more information visit her website thepathtostory.com