World-Building for Writers: The Complete Handbook: From Constructed Languages to Mythical Realms

The Importance of World-Building

Today, I’m shifting focus to a different type of book, and it’s a great time for me to be diving into world building, as we spend time at home rewatching the original Fellowship of the Ring on DVD. My daughters have asked tons of questions about why the hobbits look like they do; are in awe of the scenery of the Shire; and are CONSTANTLY wanting to know what happens next in the story.

As a writer myself, I know how critical it is to not only build believable characters but also the world they live in. After all, if a reader is going to come along for the ride of your book, they need to feel immersed in the world you create.

Building the world that your story belongs in is a lot like building the foundation of the house – everything you need for a stable and sustainable story. As I get started, I think of a few items to get me started:

• Genre – Am I writing science fiction, fantasy, romance? Though it’s not specifically the world where my characters live, by focusing on the initial genre idea, I know that there are certain “rules,” that I may need to keep in mind as I build my story
• Character Species – Are my characters human or otherwise? Again, there are expectations with the types of characters I am using? If I’m writing about vampires, am I going to go classic and have them sleep at daytime, or can they exist in a different way?
• Homes – Piggybacking on the vampire theme, is my character living in a dark castle or living downtown in a big city?
• Time Period – modern day or long ago?

Even that quick list has my mind trying to build upon my initial ideas, and so begins the art of world building.

A fellow writer, H.C. Harrington, has created this handbook resource for writers to help keep those creative juices flowing. From thinking about the languages your characters speak to the weapons they may need to carry, and much much more, this book will take you on a journey to making your writing, and the worlds you build, better.

Each chapter highlights an important piece of world-building and is full of writing tips. Whether you take this book for a full read or tackle one chapter at a time, it’s chock full of great insights. Once you’re ready, you can snag the complementary workbook and put pen to paper as you create your next fictional world.