I love it when magic systems exact a price!!! I love it when magic systems require you to give up something, to be less human, to cause deaths of others or to risk the chance you will go mad or destroy yourself!!!! I love when the epic workings of great and powerful magic come with a horrific cost!!!!
That shit RULES!!!!!!!!
please hear me out: multiple kinds of vampires like there's multiple bat diets yes, include the blood-sucking vampires, but also take other vampires into consideration. fruit vampires, who sucked the life out of fields due to their hunger. grub vampires, who... honestly aren't that bad for their environment, they're just gross little guys
will update this every few weeks/months. alternatively, here are all my tagged Writing Worksheets & Templates
Chapter Outline ⚜ Character- or Plot-Driven Story
Death & Sacrifice ⚜ Magic & Rituals ⚜ Plot-Planning
Editing: Sentence Check ⚜ Writing Your Novel: 20 Questions
Tension ⚜ Thought Distortions ⚜ What's at Stake
50 Questions ⚜ Backstory ⚜ Character Creation
Antagonist; Villain; Fighting ⚜ Protagonist & Antagonist
Character: Change; Adding Action; Conflict
Character: Creator; Name; Quirks; Flaws; Motivation
Character Profile (by Rick Riordan) ⚜ Character Sheet Template
Character Sketch & Bible ⚜ Interview your Character
Story-Worthy Hero ⚜ "Well-Rounded" Character Worksheet
20 Questions ⚜ Decisions & Categories ⚜ Worksheet
Setting ⚜ Dystopian World ⚜ Magic System (AALC Method)
Templates: Geography; World History; City; Fictional Plant
References: Worldbuilding ⚜ Plot ⚜ Character ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs
all posts are queued. send questions/requests here.
academy
adventurer's guild
alchemist
apiary
apothecary
aquarium
armory
art gallery
bakery
bank
barber
barracks
bathhouse
blacksmith
boathouse
book store
bookbinder
botanical garden
brothel
butcher
carpenter
cartographer
casino
castle
cobbler
coffee shop
council chamber
court house
crypt for the noble family
dentist
distillery
docks
dovecot
dyer
embassy
farmer's market
fighting pit
fishmonger
fortune teller
gallows
gatehouse
general store
graveyard
greenhouses
guard post
guildhall
gymnasium
haberdashery
haunted house
hedge maze
herbalist
hospice
hospital
house for sale
inn
jail
jeweller
kindergarten
leatherworker
library
locksmith
mail courier
manor house
market
mayor's house
monastery
morgue
museum
music shop
observatory
orchard
orphanage
outhouse
paper maker
pawnshop
pet shop
potion shop
potter
printmaker
quest board
residence
restricted zone
sawmill
school
scribe
sewer entrance
sheriff's office
shrine
silversmith
spa
speakeasy
spice merchant
sports stadium
stables
street market
tailor
tannery
tavern
tax collector
tea house
temple
textile shop
theatre
thieves guild
thrift store
tinker's workshop
town crier post
town square
townhall
toy store
trinket shop
warehouse
watchtower
water mill
weaver
well
windmill
wishing well
wizard tower
How do you make your fantasy world feel lived-in?
Making a world feel lived-in requires more than just describing the landscape or architecture—it’s about creating the sense that the world has a history, a heartbeat, and its own rhythms of life. Here’s how I approach it:
Layered History: Every city, village, and ruin in my world has a past. I try to tie in subtle references to historical events, old conflicts, and forgotten legends that shape how people live today. By letting the remnants of the past—such as crumbling statues, faded murals, or cultural taboos—linger in the background, I create the impression that the world has been evolving long before the story begins.
Daily Life and Rituals: I focus on the small details of everyday life—what people eat, the music they listen to, how they celebrate and mourn. By showing the rhythm of daily activities, from bustling marketplaces to quiet moments in a temple, I give readers a glimpse into the culture and traditions of the world. These details make it feel like people are living their everyday lives outside the main plot, even if the protagonist isn’t there to see it.
Architecture and Geography: The physical layout of the world matters—how cities are built around rivers, mountains, or deserts, and how architecture reflects the culture and resources available. I like to create buildings and cities that tell stories themselves, with intricate designs, magical defenses, or decaying remnants of a once-glorious era. The way people interact with their environment adds depth to the world.
Senses: I try to engage all the senses when describing a setting—the smell of the sea, the taste of the air before a storm, the grit underfoot on a well-worn path. These sensory details make the world tangible, giving readers something they can feel, not just visualize.
The Mundane and the Magical: In a fantasy world, magic and the supernatural are often present, but I balance that by showing how the mundane aspects of life coexist with the extraordinary. Maybe magic is used casually, like enchanted brooms sweeping the streets, or it’s feared and tightly controlled. Either way, showing how the mystical fits into the everyday helps make the world feel more real.
Economy and Trade: Who trades with whom? What resources are valuable, and how do people get by in different regions? By grounding the world in economics—whether through thriving markets or resource scarcity—I give the setting a practical edge. These systems help define the way people interact, where power resides, and what drives the tensions in the world.
Flawed Systems: No world is perfect, and by including corrupt governments, failing infrastructures, or struggling populations, I show that this world isn’t static—it’s evolving, sometimes deteriorating. Conflict isn’t always about the grand battles; it’s also about the slow decay of a once-great city or the quiet resistance of a village against an oppressive regime.
By combining these elements, I make my worlds feel like places that exist beyond the plot—places with their own stories, lives, and rhythms that readers can immerse themselves in fully.
Hello! 😊 Do you have any advice on word-building? I can imagine multiple scenarios in my head, but I can't seem to put them into words. 🥹
First off hi sorry I took forever to write this blog! I hope it helps you get your ideas onto paper <3
Worldbuilding is the backbone of any compelling story, especially in genres like fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction. Crafting a believable, immersive world can captivate your readers and provide a solid foundation for your narrative. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the essential steps to create a vivid and engaging world for your story.
Worldbuilding involves creating a complete, fictional universe that serves as the setting for your story. This process includes developing geography, cultures, history, politics, and even the rules of nature and magic (if applicable). The goal is to make your world feel as real and intricate as the characters who inhabit it.
Define the Genre and Tone
Consider the genre of your story. A high-fantasy world will have different requirements than a dystopian future or a historical setting. The tone—whether it's dark and gritty or light and whimsical—will also influence your worldbuilding decisions.
Establish the Setting
Start with the physical world. Sketch out maps, outline the geography, and decide on key locations where your story will unfold. Think about the climate, natural resources, and the flora and fauna that inhabit this world.
Develop a History
Create a backstory for your world. Major events, wars, discoveries, and cultural shifts shape the present-day setting. A rich history can add depth and realism, influencing characters’ beliefs and motivations.
Craft Unique Cultures
Think about the various cultures in your world. What are their customs, traditions, and social norms? How do they dress, what languages do they speak, and what religions do they follow? Diverse and well-thought-out cultures can add layers to your narrative.
Political Systems and Power Structures
Define the political landscape. Who holds power, and how is it distributed? Are there monarchies, democracies, or tribal councils? Consider the relationships between different nations or groups and the potential for conflict.
Economics and Resources
Understand the economy of your world. What resources are abundant or scarce? How do people trade, and what currencies do they use? The distribution of resources can drive plot points and character motivations.
Magic Systems
If your world includes magic, establish clear rules and limitations. What are the sources of magic? Who can use it, and how? Consistent magic systems prevent plot holes and maintain suspension of disbelief.
Technology Levels
Consider the technological advancements in your world. Are they using medieval weapons, steampunk machinery, or advanced futuristic gadgets? The level of technology can influence daily life, warfare, and exploration.
Historical Context
Establish the timeline of your world. Is it set in the past, present, or future? Consider historical events that have shaped the current state of the world. How have these events influenced societal development and cultural evolution?
Daily Life and Schedules
Describe the daily routines of your characters. What does a typical day look like for different social classes or cultures? Consider work hours, leisure activities, and societal expectations. The pace of life can vary greatly depending on technological advancements and cultural norms.
Timekeeping and Calendars
Develop a system of timekeeping and calendars. Are there specific seasons, festivals, or holidays that are significant? How do people measure time—by the sun, moon, or a mechanical clock? Unique timekeeping methods can add depth and authenticity to your world.
Cultural Significance
Explore how clothing reflects cultural identity, status, and occupation. Different regions and social groups might have distinct styles, fabrics, and accessories. What materials are commonly used, and how are garments crafted?
Fashion Trends
Consider the evolution of fashion in your world. What are the current trends, and how do they vary across different societies? Fashion can be influenced by historical events, climate, and interactions with other cultures.
Practicality and Symbolism
Think about the practicality of clothing in your world’s environment. How does the climate affect what people wear? Additionally, consider any symbolic meanings attached to certain garments or accessories. For instance, specific colors or patterns might denote rank or allegiance.
Pantheon and Deities
Create a pantheon of gods or a single deity, depending on your world’s religious structure. What are their characteristics, domains, and myths? How do they interact with mortals, if at all?
Rituals and Practices
Detail the religious rituals and daily practices of your world’s inhabitants. Consider ceremonies, festivals, and rites of passage. How do these practices influence daily life and societal norms?
Religious Institutions
Define the structure and influence of religious institutions. Are there temples, churches, or shrines? What roles do priests, shamans, or other religious figures play in society? The power dynamics between religious and secular authorities can add layers to your worldbuilding.
Linguistic Diversity
Develop the languages spoken in your world. Are there multiple languages or dialects? Consider the history of these languages and how they evolved. Language can be a powerful tool to convey cultural diversity and conflict.
Writing Systems
Design writing systems and scripts used for communication. Are there ancient texts or runes with special significance? How do literacy rates vary among different social classes and regions?
Non-Verbal Communication
Explore other forms of communication, such as body language, sign language, or symbolic gestures. How do people convey messages in situations where spoken language is impractical? These non-verbal methods can add depth and realism to your interactions.
Show, Don’t Tell
Instead of dumping information on your readers, reveal your world organically through the narrative. Use dialogue, actions, and descriptions to weave worldbuilding details seamlessly into the story.
Character Perspectives
Different characters will experience and interpret your world in unique ways. Use their perspectives to highlight various aspects of your world, making it richer and more complex.
Consistency and Continuity
Maintain consistency in your world’s rules and details. Keep track of your worldbuilding elements to avoid contradictions and ensure a cohesive narrative.
Maps and Diagrams
Create visual aids like maps, family trees, and diagrams to help you keep track of your world’s layout and relationships. Tools like Inkarnate or Wonderdraft can be helpful for map-making.
Worldbuilding Bibles
Maintain a worldbuilding bible—a document where you compile all your world’s details. This can include notes on geography, history, cultures, and more. It’s a valuable reference as you write and develop your story.
Inspiration from Real World and Fiction
Draw inspiration from real-world cultures, histories, and landscapes. Similarly, reading widely in your genre can provide insights into effective worldbuilding techniques.
Worldbuilding is a rewarding yet challenging aspect of storytelling. It requires imagination, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of your narrative’s needs. By following this comprehensive guide, you can create a vibrant, believable world that will captivate your readers and enhance your storytelling.
Are you an author looking for writing tips and tricks to better your manuscript? Or do you want to learn about how to get a literary agent, get published and properly market your book? Consider checking out the rest of Haya’s book blog where I post writing and publishing tips for authors every Monday and Thursday! And don’t forget to head over to my TikTok and Instagram profiles @hayatheauthor to learn more about my WIP and writing journey!
With religion in stories specifically fantasy, I feel as though the extent in which we see it explored is the characters will in dialogue or in thought curse saying things like gods, by the gods, or other curses. Hey, I do it to so know I’m not judging but I do want more expansion on these religions. If you want to expand on your world-building just research religions in our lives.
Think about it: in Christianity (I’m only using this because it’s what I’m most familiar, but feel free to get inspiration from other faiths) the church provided multiple services throughout history, priests and nuns often took care of orphans, were literate, recorded births, recorded deaths, performed weddings rites.
The religion should also have practical functions for example, in my own work their is a goddess of death. I had to think how this god would be worshipped and how the faith would get money to continue functioning and feeding their clergy. They’d do religious ceremonies, funeral rites, eliminate undead, and tend to burial grounds.
In secrecy though, if your a fan of secret religions, this same religion also works with assassinations and kills the people the god demands to die.
What I’m saying is that the religion in your own story should have some function in society whether it is widely known or not. This allows the world to feel more fleshed out and worked on. Also show the negative aspects of the religion and positive aspects.
What does a healthy relationship with that religion look like?
What does a toxic one look like?
What aesthetics are involved in this religion?
(The lamb of god): lamb symbolizes Jesus so think about the symbols in your story. If there is a holy animal is it a sin to kill it. Is it used in sacrifice?
Polytheistic? If so what does each god represent? Aspects of nature or society? (Think Titans vs the Olympians in Greek mythology)
Additionally, what values are important to the said culture the religion springs from?
If there are scriptures or sayings from the religion what are they?
Some religions are ethno-religions meaning only people of an ethnicity can be in the religion, if a religion has this what are the implications that would have in your world?
Can just anybody convert to the said religion and how?
What sacraments are in the religion?
How is somebody venerated in the religion (like sainthood)?
What environment do people worship in?
In Christianity, there was a movement namely baroque, renaissance, and medieval period to show the glory of god through how the buildings looked. The Protestant movement challenged this making more humble churches. Think about that when making your own religion. How do they present holy places?
Remember that religion is used to explain what philosophy and science can’t explain. Depending on when the religion is started and the extent of technology in the world they might have myths for anything like why animals exist? The seasons? Weather? And more conceptual things like why people began fighting wars? Why people die and where we go after we die?
Now this can all seem like a lot and you don’t have to include all of this but it is helpful when creating a world because religion affects aspects of culture, how the characters were raised, government, and even wars.
If you like posts like these, I have more and comment what you’ve done in your own works or what you’d like to see!
I see a lot of "roll for character" for dnd 5e, but i start to understand its not what would suit for me, so
i make a pathfinder 1e version!
feel free to use it for art or for creating a character!!
Hey everyone! I recently found a method that makes worldbuilding much more efficient and structured, so I thought I’d share it here. Maybe it’ll help some of you! :)
Whenever you add an element to your world, ask yourself **why** it exists. Keep questioning it like a curious child. This method prevents inconsistencies and ensures that every part of your world is connected.
To make this process easier, you can create checklist of key questions to answer. Here’s an example:
• Does your world have magic? → Yes?
THEN:
• Why do people have magic?
• Does everyone have it, or just specific groups?
• Where does this magic come from?
• Are there rules or restrictions for using magic?
• Are there different types of magic?
• Are there beliefs tied to magic (e.g., religious, cultural, or political conflicts)?
If, for example, magic comes from gods, then suddenly you have:
✔ A mythology
✔ Different groups with different beliefs
✔ Possible conflicts between those groups
Once your world has structure, it naturally helps shape the plot
For example:
• If there are different groups with opposing beliefs, you already have a conflict
• If magic is restricted, maybe your main character wants to change the system
• If there’s a prophecy, maybe someone wants to break or fulfill it.
Instead of creating random events,each event should naturally lead to the next
This makes your plot more organic and keeps everything connected!
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other worldbuilding strategies that work for you! :)
Types of government: What type of government exists (monarchy, democracy, theocracy, etc.)? Is it centralised or decentralised?
Leadership: Who holds power and how is it acquired (inheritance, election, divine right, conquest)?
Law enforcement: Who enforces the laws (military, police, magical entities)?
Legal system: How are laws made, interpreted, and enforced? Are there courts, judges, or councils?
Criminal laws: What constitutes a crime? What are the punishments?
Civil laws: How are disputes between individuals resolved?
Cultural norms: How do customs and traditions influence the laws?
Magic/supernatural: Are there laws governing the use of magic or interaction with supernatural beings?
Class/status: How is society divided (nobility, commoners, slaves)? Are there caste systems or social mobility?
Rights & freedoms: What rights do individuals have (speech, religion, property)?
Discrimination: Are there laws that protect or discriminate against certain groups (race, gender, species, culture)?
Currency: What is used as currency? Is it standardised?
Trade laws: Are there regulations on trade, tariffs, or embargoes?
Property laws: How is ownership determined and transferred? Are there inheritance laws?
Religious authority: What role does religion play in governance? Are religious leaders also political leaders?
Freedom of religion: Are citizens free to practice different religions? If not, which are taboo?
Holy laws: Are there laws based on religious texts or teachings?
Standing army: Is there a professional military or a militia? Who serves, and how are they recruited?
War & peace: What are the laws regarding war, peace treaties, and diplomacy?
Weapons: Are there restrictions or laws regarding weapons for civilians? What is used as a weapon? Who has access to them?
Technological advancements: How advanced is the technology (medieval, steampunk, futuristic, etc.)?
Magical laws: Are there regulations on the use of magic, magical creatures, or artifacts?
Innovation & research: How are inventors and researchers treated? Are there laws protecting intellectual property?
Natural resources: How are resources like water, minerals, and forests managed and protected, if at all?
Environmental laws: Are there protections for the environment? How are they enforced? Are there consequences for violations?
Cultural diversity: How does the law accommodate or suppress cultural diversity?
Ethics: What are the ethical foundations of the laws? Are there philosophical or moral principles that underpin them?
Traditions vs. change: Does the society balance tradition with progress? How?
Happy writing ❤
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you know how in some fantasy worlds, deities only exist when people worship them, and deities become real when people worship them?
what if spells worked the same way? what if people who wanted to make new spells needed them to go viral before they worked? what if you were using an indie spell and suddenly it was way more powerful and then you found out a wizardtok influencer had used it in their latest video? what if people posted spells on tumblr with the caption "likes < reblogs < usage"? what if there were ads for spells on podcasts?
just a girl obsessed with creating worlds to escape to | fantasy, ttrpg, gaming, and more 💚
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