8 Do-s and Don’t-s of Building a Fictional Universe
Tags: Worldbuilding, Writing Tips, Writing, Writing Life, Writers Life

Middle-Earth, Narnia, The Wizarding World, or Neverland; fictional worlds created by various authors don’t stop impressing the readers with their enchanting scenery and attention to details. Some of them are closer to our world, others are so imaginative that they make you lose your sense of reality. No matter where those universes are on the fantasy spectrum, we can state with confidence that they are very captivating for the readers.

If you have clicked on this article, the chances are that you have at least once in your life thought about building your own fictional realm. We all have created fantasy worlds in childhood, where everything went according to our will. However, world-building for a book is a more serious job than just letting your imagination loose and adding ideas on the go. It takes a lot of time, research, and patience to create a fascinating universe for your readers. But don’t worry, we’re here to help! Here are some do-s and don’t-s for building a fictional universe:

DON’T start spontaneously

Of course, it is way easier to start writing whenever your inspiration strikes. But you have to remember one thing: while the idea of the fictional universe already exists in your head, your readers only know the information you have exposed them to. Don’t rush with your world-building: it will only lead to confusion.

DO plan ahead

Instead of creating the whole universe right away, jot down the random ideas that come to your head. Then, when you think you have brainstormed enough, try connecting those ideas somehow. If necessary, add or remove certain artifacts to complement your world better. After that, it is time to do some serious research based on the type of universe you want to have. Come up with an outline, a “skeleton” for your world, then fill it with fun details. If you want to, you can even make a map both for the reader and for yourself to visualize the world and understand it better. Make a backstory and support your ideas with logic.

DON’T contradict yourself

We love finding mistakes or missing spots in movies and books. There are various YouTube channels that point out such mistakes in their videos, when an illiterate character suddenly starts reading, or an iPhone appears in a 14th-century setting. In books, this usually comes from the author diverging from their set rules or not having any rules for their universe at all. Even the most magical worlds need to have at least some fundamental rules to avoid illogical plot holes that contradict previous statements.

DO follow your rules

A set of rules can keep your fictional realm from falling apart. Even if you want to destroy that world, you have to start with building it first. You can break the law and turn the universe into a dystopia after having some order and laws to violate. Take your rules into consideration when introducing a new idea to your universe. Ask yourself: does it suit the world, or does it contradict any of your earlier ideas? Remember the time period, the rules of physics, the economy, and the history of your world that you have created when making the skeleton. Connect the parts of your world, and they will come together as a whole.

Check out this video by TED-Ed on the importance of rules when creating a fictional universe.

DON’T isolate your writing

After revising your world for the 100th time, it will start to become boring to you. You won’t notice the errors because you will already be used to seeing them. Many writers want to keep their ideas private and only expose the final, polished version of their fictional world/story. They mostly do this to avoid judgment towards an unfinished piece. The fear of your world not being only yours anymore and the vulnerability to criticism are difficult to overcome. However, not showing your work to anyone will make it weaker, as it will have a one-sided perspective. This might lead to monotony throughout the whole book.

DO discuss your drafts

In order to understand what your reader wants, you need to have a reader first. Find someone knowledgeable and trustworthy, and ask them to read your drafts. Be ready for any feedback, including constructive criticism. Discuss your ideas with them, listen, and consider their suggestions. If possible, get a couple of more peers to give feedback on your drafts. Try to get opinions from people that have various tastes. No matter how much you like compliments, you shouldn’t create an echo-chamber that will only praise your work. Employ the suggestions that you like, and your world will start blossoming in front of your eyes.

Don’t know anyone to show your world to? You can upload it to ForgeFiction — a community-driven writing platform that has the option of building a fictional realm and allowing others to contribute to it. Who knows, maybe the heroes of the next best-seller will have their adventures in your universe.

DON’T stress out too much. After all the hard work put into your world, it is easy to get annoyed by it, especially when something goes wrong. You spend time perfecting every single detail, yet the plants refuse growing according to your biology rules, and that one character still doesn’t know the other one’s name. Don’t worry about it too much, take a deep breath and chill out. DO have fun with your writing. It’s not going to come out polished right away. Is something not right? It’s okay. Have confidence that you will settle that minor issue. Take a break, if necessary. Enjoy creating your fictional universe. After all, what is the point of writing, if it’s not going to make you happy?

Now, start brainstorming some ideas. Get inspired: Walk around in the park, listen to music, drink some tea. You won’t even notice how fast your world will come together. Good luck on your journey of building a fantastic fictional universe!