How to Start Worldbuilding (for Complete Beginners)

By L.E. Williams

Imagine with me for a moment, dear writer. You’re sitting at your desk, innocently minding your own business, when bam!—an idea materializes out of the ether and smacks you in the proverbial face. It has everything you’ve been looking for: potential for a gripping plot, an appropriately snarky band of heroes, a tragic but compelling villainous backstory… You snatch up your pencil, ready to unleash the floodgates of your creativity, when you suddenly balk at the realization:

You’re going to have to build a world for this story, aren’t you?

Now, to some, the prospect of worldbuilding thrills them to no end. I’m sure there are many of you out there who have already lovingly crafted languages, cultures, maps, and more to accompany your fantastical tales. However, to others, the thought of having to create a fantasy or science fiction universe out of thin air seems an insurmountable task. 

So, the question is: How do you start worldbuilding, especially if you’ve never done it before?

I know exactly the feeling, dear writer. I write primarily fantasy, after all, and have many a time balked at the prospect of creating a universe for my characters to inhabit. Thus, as someone who has “been there,” I offer you five suggestions to guide you as you take the first few steps into the realm (pardon the pun) of worldbuilding. 

1. Hone (or Expand) Your Focus

The very first step to many a writing-related endeavor is to ask yourself what level of detail you want to include in the project. The answer to this question can determine whether you write a short story or a novel, a novella or a five-part series. Worldbuilding is no different.

For example, do you want to build a complex political system of interlocking and/or warring factions, or a simple, fairy tale-esque kingdom? 

You see, neither answer is the correct one. A more complicated story world isn’t necessarily the better one—in fact, too many details can leave your reader lost. Conversely, a more simple approach is not necessarily the preferred one. 

However, the thought of creating an entire realm from scratch might feel intimidating, especially if you’re new to the worldbuilding process. If that is the case, try taking it slow and keeping the scale small. Instead of inventing an entire planet’s worth of countries and cultures, try focusing on a singular kingdom, a small town, or even just one humble space-ranch. 

On the other hand, don’t be afraid to go all out! If the prospect of worldbuilding fills you with excitement, then invent as much material as you want. The world is truly your oyster, my dear writer. 

All in all, the level of detail you put into your story’s world entirely depends on your preference, especially at an early stage like this one. Decide how much or how little you want to invest into this part of the creative process, and proceed accordingly. 

2. Ponder Your Favorite Stories, Fictional or Otherwise

This step is probably something you’ve already done without realizing it. Think about which story worlds really impacted you—perhaps The Lord of the Rings made a lasting impression on you, or the time-traveling shenanigans of the Doctor Who universe always puts a smile on your face. Maybe you love the elemental bending of Avatar: The Last Airbender or the space western vibes of Star Wars.

Now, try to determine what exactly it is about each of the story worlds you love that fascinated you. Pinpointing what makes each one “tick” for you often sparks your own creativity. Plus, it’s a fun exercise in general to analyze something you enjoy—I highly recommend it. 

Alternatively, consider researching time periods or cultures that interest you. The real world can provide an excellent starting ground for a fictional one. 

3. Don’t Be Afraid of Clichés!

Now, before you throw your laptop out the window and never visit the fair realm of Kingdom Pen again, let me clarify: I’m not telling you to intentionally be cliché. What I do mean is: don’t let the fear of being cliché hold you back from creating. 

Unfortunately for us, dear writer, no story on earth is ever going to be completely original. Take the Star Wars saga, for example. Episode IV is a fairly standard Hero’s Journey, heavily influenced by westerns and Japanese samurai films. However, the film (and subsequent prequels, sequels, and spinoffs) remain some of the most iconic and beloved pieces of American cinema to this day, even though many of the elements are not original in the slightest. 

It is perfectly acceptable to be cliché, or to even take inspiration from another fictional world. So long as you’re not directly plagiarizing something, you’ll be fine. Your story remains uniquely your own, dear writer. Regardless of how much you borrow from other stories’ elements, it will still be original in that it is yours. Only you can tell this tale, and you can take joy and comfort in that knowledge. 

However, if you do heavily borrow from another story world or aesthetic, consider counterbalancing it with a unique character, an unexpected spin on the world, or a unique plot. To use my previous example, your world can resemble the Star Wars universe, just make sure that your main character isn’t a supposed orphan living on a desert planet who destroys a moon-sized space station before getting his hand chopped off by his estranged father. 

4. Build the World Around Your Characters 

This step is particularly helpful if you’re already fairly acquainted with your characters. As you chip away at building your marvelous story world, think of ways you can mold it around your characters. Perhaps the world itself is in a state of flux or change, such as Luke Skywalker’s galaxy being on the tipping point of a rebellion at the beginning of A New Hope. 

Consider the challenges your characters will face, or aspects of their life you’ve assigned to them. Could, perhaps, your story world itself add another layer of depth to their inner (or outer) struggles? 

For example, does your character have an affinity for magic? Make magic frowned upon by her aristocratic family. Does your character prize a simple, antiquated way of life? Introduce a wave of industry that changes the very landscape around him. 

In this way, your story’s setting itself becomes a source of conflict. Lean into the prospect, and perhaps you’ll even find a plot twist or two waiting in the world you’ve created.

5. Enjoy the Process

Last, but definitely not least, remember to enjoy the process. At the beginning of a project especially, worldbuilding should not be something to stress over. However much or little worldbuilding you do, always try to have fun with it. No one else has ever made a story like yours, dear writer, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what you come up with. 

What is your process for worldbuilding? What are your favorite fictional worlds?