Creating a Distinct World
what is, in your opinion, the best way to world build? how can you avoid writing a bland, archetypal universe or copying an already existing one? sorry if Iâm not being clear, haha, and thanks so much!
Hey there, thanks so much for your ask! I honestly love talking about the world-building process, so Iâm really glad you sent this; letâs dive right in!
In my opinion, there isnât a best way to world-build. The âbestâ process depends on what is needed and what youâll actually need to know for your writing. What follows isnât necessarily what I would call the best way, but itâs a good way to cover your bases and opens up a lot of options for going in-depth with details. (Itâll be a bit of a long list, but definitely worth it in the long run.)
For each country youâre going to include or mention in your story, think about:
Capital and major cities, and locations
Historical sites or places that mean a great deal to the people living there
General economic scheme (ex. capitalist, Communist, Socialist, etc)
Major differences from the characterâs homeland
Military setup (different branches, enlistment age, etc)
Relations with surrounding countries
Societal norms (gender roles, public & professional behavior, etc)
Stance on LGBT+ rights, and treatment of LGBT+ people
Most and least respected professions
Stereotypes about this country (any and all)
Common pastimes and hobbies
Popularity of sports, movies, and other forms of entertainment
Genres of music (and possibly stereotypes of people who listen to them)
Beauty standards and the commercialization of them
Commercialization that feeds off of the peoplesâ insecurities
For each city youâre going to include or mention in your story, think about:
The âaestheticâ (think of it the way NYCâs aesthetic is taxis, skyscrapers, and nightlife)
Public opinion of street performers
Any recreational centers and common activities
Popularity of a town counsel or the idea of opening to the public for improvement ideas
How well-known the city is by everyone around it, or how much of a tourist attraction it might be
State of educational buildings
Percentage of unemployment versus those who are actively searching for jobs, and how this affects the cityâs reputation
3+ popular businesses, maybe food or clothing stores
The way business is generally conducted
Opportunities for nightlife (etc. bars, night clubs, etc)
Usual daytime attire, usual nighttime attire
Any sort of tradition (ex. sharing dreams in the morning, praying before meals, etc)
Stance on more advanced technology
Treatment of different age groups
Again, cliches and stereotypes that might exist of people who live there
Most common architectural style (ex. modern, Victorian, etc)
Any inflation that might exist, local economic troubles
Peopleâs opinion on the government as a whole (then in-depth, if you want)
As you can see, these two lists are very open-ended. I canât go too far in-depth with world-building ideas and explaining, because itâs all up to you to create this world. Every single item on this list here can be expanded into tons of different things, but if your goal is just to cover your bases and explore needed details then I think this would be a good place to start.
Making Your World Distinct
This can be pretty tough, honestly. Thereâs (almost) always a world themed around something out there thatâs probably more well-known, famous even. Letâs start with everyoneâs favorite wizarding world, that of the Harry Potter books. Your world can be as interesting and different as it gets but because it includes wizards, someone out there is always going to relate it to Harry Potter. So how can we avoid this?
Thereâs one proven way to this this, especially if you donât want to change your world. Accentuate any and all differences that would set your story apart from a more well-known world. Maybe our wizardsâ spells depend on a material transaction, or they wonât work. Maybe thereâs some sort of wizarding god who must be pleased to cast a successful spell. Not so much like HP anymore, huh?
Just remember, thereâs a huge difference between world-building through details and world-building through exposition. Both are acceptable, but both have their own appropriate time to be utilized. Take a break from telling the reader flat-out how this thing works, and instead reveal it through the worldâs details. Not only does this help treat your readers like the competent individuals they are, it also immerses them so much in the world that there isnât much of a chance to compare your world to others.
Tl;drâWorld-building isnât really something that can be explained for you by someone else. There are certainly questions that exist to help you, but following a guide that works for someone else might not work for you. Explore the details! (And let the reader explore them, too!)
