I've seen a lot of disquisition on Plot. Some of it is profound, and some is mere pomposity. It can be conflict between good people or bad, people of conflicting cultural paradigms, haves and have-nots. I'm not interested in Generic Bad Guys, or Generic Good Guys either. Story These three elements, and what happens to them, make up the Story.
Story is what the novel's about.
Like many nineteenth century novelists were, I am drawn to a green time, when life was simpler, when peace was real peace, when justice worked, when one could live a life of beauty and art. Bringing me to World-Building. World-Building can be done from the ground up, or top down. After your world is in place, you develop the history, and then focus in on the story you wish to tell. Top down world building means you being with the image you like, and then work downward, asking yourself why it's there, and why that's there, and so on, until you get right down to that map level.