World Building Tips

@reeseweston asked me if I have any tips on world-building, so I thought I’d share them on here in case it’s helpful for anyone else. (You tagged me as @thereisnothingwrongwithbeingmad - this is my writeblr.)

I can only speak for what I personally do and what works for me, but feel free to reblog this and add your own tips and advice from your own experience. So, let’s start by breaking it down into different sections. Before anyone panics - I very rarely fill all of these points out before I get into the story (or even after I finished it), and I don’t think you should either. Just start with the basics - the first two is the one I find most essential - and come back to the list whenever you’re stuck while you’re writing the story, or whenever something pops into your mind that you think would be helpful later.

Geography - To me, this is the most helpful thing to start with. You don’t necessarily have to draw a map, it’s enough if you write down where everything is and what characteristics each place has (dry, humid, forests, deserts, etc.), but you should know where your settings are within the world you created. It doesn’t matter what genre you write in or how big your world is - like, half of my current WIP is going to take place on a ship, but I still have to know where my OCs are going and why. It also gives you an opportunity to name everything, so your characters can actually refer to places by their names.

Political/social structure - Second most important thing when I’m starting a new story. How is your world governed? What is it made up of? Countries? Empires? Kingdoms? Are there governments? Oligarchies? City states? Tribal chiefs? A mixture of things? Is there a religious authority? Multiple religions clashing with each other? Is religion outdated or a central aspect of life? What is people’s relationship to their regional authority? Do they like how things are going? Is there a revolt brewing? Is there slavery? Lower classes? Filthy rich people? Is the state responsible for keeping everyone fed or is it every men for himself? And most importantly - what is your characters’ relationship to the governing authorities? Do they like how things are run? Are they outside of the influence of their government/king/etc.? Or are they in the middle, taking part in every important decision?

Religion/Science - What is the central truth that the inhabitants of your world live by? Is it technology and science that runs everything? Is it magic? Religion? Post-apocalyptic sense of dread and survival instincts? What do people think about the world and why? Do your characters agree with the mainstream? Disagree? If you have a religion, what type of god/gods are there? What are the rituals that need to be observed by people to be considered good citizens? If science is what people trust and believe in, how do they view religious societies outside of their own country/region? Did their beliefs change over time? Why?

Law and Justice - What sort of moral codes do people in your world have? How is murder viewed and punished? Can you get into jail for stealing some food? What sort of disciplinary actions are there to keep people from breaking the law? Who are the people allowed to judge and punish others? Is law to be feared or respected? Do people have a right to a trial when accused? Do the gods decided or do men decide? Humans or other species? Are there death sentences?

Creatures/species/races - is your world inhabited mainly by humans? What sort of species are there other than your average human? Are there fantastical creatures like griffins, dragons, etc? Do they co-exist peacefully? Is one considered inferior to the other (i.e. humans vs other species)?

History - what events in the country/realm/planet’s past have defined their present? Were there wars with others that shaped how they view the world and interact with each other? Did they form alliances with others? Are they a big power or an insignificant political entity? Did religion disappear in favour of science? The other way around?

Culture - what behaviours are seen as normal? Is there a difference between what is expected from men and women? Low and high classes? How do they view art? Is a profession like being a painter or a singer accepted or frowned upon? Do they have an extensive written history? Do they use books for record keeping or entertainment? Do they even have books/ever had books? Do they have time for leisure or is it all business? How many languages are there and is it important to know more than one? What does an educated person behave and look like in your world? How do people dress?

Planned Parenthood got LOUDR 🔊 @ Tumblr

WHO THEY ARE:

Planned Parenthood’s mission is to ensure all people have access to the care and resources they need to make informed decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures. Founded in 1916, Planned Parenthood is a trusted health care provider, educator, and passionate advocate in the U.S. as well as a strong partner to health and rights organizations around the world. Each year, Planned Parenthood delivers vital sexual and reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people.

WHAT THEY DID:

🩺 On October 1, 2021, Planned Parenthood partnered with Tumblr to rally supporters for abortion justice and defend access to abortions at 539 rallies in every state.

🩺 On September 3, 2021, Tumblr and Planned Parenthood partnered up in response to a Texas law that came into effect September 1, S.B. 8., effectively banning abortion in the state and asking private citizens to act as bounty hunters who “enforce” the law.

We made the following calls to action along with the graphic below:

Ways to take action:

Hit the ❤️ and 🔁buttons to share this post

Make sure your voice is heard by signing this petition

Give your community a little ✨razzle-dazzle ✨with this poster

Make a donation: Text “Texas” to 22422 or visit wearepp.org/Texas

P.S. Check out @plannedparenthood's Tumblr blog

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reblog

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bellablack38

3 years ago

Why don’t people talk about lily Bowen more?

She’s one of my favorite companions in the whole series! She’s so nice to you,has an intresting backstory,she even has a god damn Vertibird wing as a sword!

We need to appreciate this amazing woman more in the fandom.

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bellablack38

1 year ago

me, incorrect: everyone is probably sick of me drawing this character by now...

my inner voice, wise: ah, but this cannot be... because I am part of "everyone"... and until I am sick of drawing them... it will not be everyone

me, opening a new blank canvas: ur so right

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reblog all the blorbos

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bellablack38

1 year ago

That’s Louis Rossman, A Repair Technician And YouTuber, Who Went Viral Recently For Railing Against

That’s Louis Rossman, a repair technician and YouTuber, who went viral recently for railing against Apple. Apple purposely charges a lot for repairs and you either have to pay up or buy a new device. That’s because Apple withholds necessary tools and information from outside repair shops. And to think, we were just so close to change.

Follow @the-future-now

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reblog tech apple apple repairs this is a good thing

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bellablack38

3 weeks ago

Still Holding On, Because of You 💙

I never thought I would be in a position where I had to ask for help just to survive. But war does not give you a choice. It takes everything—your home, your family, your future—and leaves you with nothing but grief and uncertainty.

I lost 25 family members. In a single moment, everything changed. My mother, my sisters, my nieces… gone. The house that held our memories, our dreams, was turned to dust. We have been displaced over and over, never knowing where safety is, never knowing what tomorrow will bring.

But I refuse to give up.