Worlds of the Complex Nature

Worlds of the Complex Nature

So we’ve got a great story idea, and we’ve got two great characters now we need a world…

Let’s begin with the basics

I’ve been told there are two ways to go about writing a story world.

• Outside In
• Inside Out

Are you Inside Out or Outside In? #teenwriter #worldbuilding Share on X

    Both are correct, and it’s all preference. (I’d like to begin with point 2. ‘Cuz…why not?)

Inside Out

To put it simply it’s the exploration and discovery of your world in your writing. There’s no drawing board, no brain storm, no intense game plan needed for this style of world building. You start small and expand. Start with your character, and as she or he lives life, your world will begin to shape and take form. You’ll end up coming back and adding to it, but as you do it’ll get fuller and richer.

“The quintessence of life…So full and…rich?”
—the Secret Life of Walter Mitty

Outside In

With this approach you’ve really got to love planning. You create a world, and understand it, long before you ever place your precious character in it through writing. Nothing is a surprise to you. You start big and detailed then work your way in. I met a guy at the Realm Makers conference I went to this year, and he was really cool. He enjoyed creating and defining his worlds by drawing his own maps of them. I’m not much of a planner myself, but I think that knowing your world well enough to recognize it on a map is great for any style of world building. Eventually, I would even venture to say it’s essential.

Now there will be a quiz at the end, so I hope you’re all paying attention.

Basic Stuff

No matter which of these styles you prefer, there are some basics that are necessary for any universe. You should have a government and common religion. You have to ask yourself, Is you’re world a safe place and how many intelligent races (at present) are in it? Is there a world history or has it been lost to the ages and humanity’s fate is in the hands of your characters. These are important for you to know, because they’re your story, and they really define your world.

A few questions you can ask yourself to really kick your world into gear are:

• What do your government and religions look like?
• How does government affect it?
• How do the religious systems affect your land?
• What do people wear?
• What do people eat?
• How does your natural world (landscape and climate) affect your character’s culture?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you weren’t paying attention.

        This is how worlds are birthed and nurtured.

This is how worlds are birthed and nurtured. #fantasy #makeaworld Share on X

Quiz Time!

1 + 1= ?

Thanks for playing! Extra credit if you comment below, and share your thoughts, questions, or concerns.

Alser…I just wanna say if you need some incredible inspiration for a fantasy landscape, I highly suggest clicking through the link to google images.

So that’s how I see things through my lenses, how do you see things through yours?

Thanks to Adrian Scottow and Barabasi_Istvan for the unaltered images.