Worldbuilding

Worldbuilding (A well-developed setting)

In fantasy writing, you must develop your setting thoroughly. This is often referred to as worldbuilding. A writer must create a place where fantasy elements of the story are believable and feel real to allow the reader a “Suspension of disbelief”; a reader knows magic doesn’t exist, but is willing to believe what the writer is showing.

Consider the following when starting the process of developing your setting:

• What does your world look, sound and smell like?

• What is the landscape, climate, man-made structures and people's appearances like?

• What are its people like – any distinct groups or classes? How does society work?

• Who holds power in your world? Rulers, governments, etc.

• Where do your characters fit into this world?