#worldbuilding templates

[oliolioxenfreewrites]

the free 50 book creation prompts collection: vol. 1

ready to download now

linktree is fully updated with all my creative writing content links! 🩷

go check it out and head over to my kofi to snag the first volume of prompts free of charge!

ALL 80+ of my in-depth character creation, world-building, and story structure prompts and templates will be uploaded to my ko-fi website within the coming weeks as well.

[bogcreacher]

what if dragon hatchlings were fluffy. what if gumdrops fell from the sky.

[canisalbus]

hii i'm so fascinated with the anthro dog worldbuilding and had a question about it !!! if domesticated canines exist in the world, do undomesticated canines (wolves, foxes, coyotes, maned wolves, etc) also exist? if so, what role do they play in society? ^_^

Domestic dogs are the only anthropomorphic species, they exist in place of humans.

Wild canines exist, but they're just regular wolves, foxes, coyotes and so on. Anthro dogs view them the same way humans view apes and other primates. They recognize that wolves are superficially similar to them in some uncanny ways, but have no gualms about hunting them. To a dog living in the pre-Darwin era, a wolf isn't a distant relative, it's a wild beast that will eat their livestock.

Actual pet dogs are entirely absent.

Other domesticated animals exist as normal. Anthro dogs keep cats as pets, raise chickens and ride horses.

[olis-inkwell-symposium]

getting all of my templates in order and categorizing them. they will be yours very very soon 🙂‍↕️🩷

like/reply to be in the taglist for the announcement post 👇🏾

should i post these templates 👀

[literaryvein-reblogs]

World Building Worksheet

Time

If you could compare the era of your story to one on earth, when would it be?

In the present? In the past? In the future?

Location

What is the settling of your world?

Does it take place in a parallel universe?

Is it on another earth-like planet?

Does it occur in another dimension?

Population

Who lives in your world?

Are they humans, aliens, animals, insects, hybrids, monsters?

What is the population?

Are there multiple races?

Is there tension between the races?

What distinguishes the races?

Where do they live? Do they live in small villages or large cities?

What type of living arrangements do they have?

Do they live in houses? Tents? Communes?

Society

How does your collective population relate to each other?

What is the basis for society?

Is there a class system? Who is rich? Who is poor?

How do the different classes relate to each other?

Can one go from poor to rich and vice versa?

What is the family structure?

Are couples married? Are they monogamous? Polygamous?

Do they have children?

How many children do they typically have?

What are people’s values?

What is sacred?

What is universally accepted as right and wrong?

How do they deal with old age?

What are the gender roles?

History

What is the history of your fantasy world?

What created the current circumstances of the story?

What is the catalyst for change?

Laws and Government

What are the relevant laws in your universe that the characters must obey?

What is the political environment?

Who are the controlling parties and why?

Is there a struggle for independence? Is there growing dissent?

How does magic affect these laws?

Magic

What type of magic will you include in your story?

Are there wizards? Genies?

Is it mental magic?

Science-based magic, like time-travel?

Supernatural, like superheroes?

Who has the magic?

Is magic only available to a select few? If so, how do they get it?

Is magic banned?

Is magic respected?

What are the rules of magic in your world?

Daily Life

What do people do to pass the time?

What do they eat? Drink?

Do they exercise?

What type of clothing do they wear?

Does clothing reflect their values or their social class?

How are they educated?

What do they learn in school and why?

Sentiment

How do your characters feel about the world in which they live?

What do people agree with?

How do people differ?

Religion

What is the name of the prevailing religion?

Are the characters monotheistic? Polytheistic? Atheistic?

What is their folklore?

What do the characters believe?

What do they value?

Physical Attributes

What does the world look like in a physical sense?

What are the natural resources?

What type of plants grow there?

What type of animals?

What is the atmosphere?

How does the world smell?

What does the night’s sky look like? Is there night?

What is the climate?

Source

Writing References: Worldbuilding ⚜ Plot ⚜ Character

[tinytowns]

* ( ❀ ˆ꒳ˆ˵ ) ♡ Ꮺ 𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗬𝗧𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗦 — 𝖥𝖠𝖨𝖱𝖸 & 𝖣𝖤𝖵𝖨𝖫 ੭

— introducing fairy & devil , the latest google docs template from tinytowns' vault. this document is designed to help you build a world , with an in - universe laws section and space for two nation / country - like locations along with history + a free section ❀ this google doc requires some experience in order to be navigated comfortably , but help is always available through ask - though , this particular template has spent time in my drafts for about a year now so it may take me time to remember how i did something ❀ link can be found in source code + a gif of the full document is under the cut since it needed to be chopped weirdly in order to have a screenshot taken , lol . hope you enjoy this template it took so long to get out of the drafts so apologies if the ending part is a bit un-inspired .. ( Q ᵕ Q ♡) ~

link in source code !!! tumblr doesn't like hyperlinks :(

[speculativepages]

Magic System Notion Template to help writers build a magic system for their fantasy world! ✨🐉🌸

Follow the 16 steps to build your system, from the system structure to its source, users, abilities, and how it interacts with your story’s world and plot.

[plentyeyes]

portfiend's oc directory template

three weeks ago i began work on a little Eleventy-based website template for storing character information akin to Toyhou.se. it's been in a releasable state for about a week, but i've also been pushing updates to it near daily!

i also wrote up a quick tutorial for setting up the project on its download page, but i plan to improve it in the future.

click here to preview this template: NeoCities click here to get the code: GitHub

features:

built-in "namespaces" for characters, locations, and stories, with their own page templates and information card formats

uses eleventy's tagging system to allow you to tag pages for fine categorization

a big focus on linking to other pages. each "creative" page lets you navigate between the previous/next item in the category. pages have a "linked pages" list that allow you to navigate to related pages, including "what links here"

a content filtering system allowing developers to hide/blur certain content from people who have not opted into it. optionally supports needing to click an "i am 18+" box before entering the site

lightbox images; clickable image links that can reveal metadata such as captions and artist credits

tabbed views allow you to view specific sections of content at a time, used in the various creative pages

SASS wrapper for optional better-formatted stylesheets. don't know how to use SASS syntax? SASS also supports regular CSS!

this project is licensed under MIT License.

[kimyoonmiauthor]

Disease Template

Because you are a sick bastard that wants to maim, injure and kill thousands or millions or even billions of people characters in your story.

I did a ton of research to create this list. And I'm probably the only one really interested in it. I created the three major classes: Parasites, viruses, and bacteria. I also considered genetic factors.

I looked up a lot of wikipedia pages on various diseases, looked up parasites of various types (the type that kill, maim and bother), looked up CDC pages, and also fictional diseases to make sure I wasn't missing anything.

Cholera, foot and mouth, Scarlet fever, Huntington's chorea, Huntington's, Foot and Mouth, etc. So Congenital and pandemic type—you have to strike off items of made up congenital/genetic diseases, but that shouldn't be too difficult. (N/A it)

Slight note here, but I am kinda sick (haha) of people using Zombie virus type of things to reinforce colonialism, Neoliberalism, and pro-oppression narratives. Haha, white person getting attacked by zombies because they are going to take over and that white person is a Southern US person doesn't quite read like you think it does considering that zombies were an allegory about becoming slaves. Looks like a slave uprising, in which case, the zombies should win over that white person's butt. The original Zombie Mythology was supposed to do the exact opposite. I would hope that people would honor and remember what the original mythology was about.

So when you do diseases, etc, think about *how* you are going to portray it and the people who have it carefully. I've done some of that work. Also, this isn't ND sort of things or creating a new ND. Creating a new ND, I think takes a lot more knowledge and thought since it doesn't affect everyone.

Should not have to be said, but please don't steal the template and then say "I came up with this idea". I genuinely took weeks of research to come up with this list. It's free, link it/reblog it if you like it.

Disease Name

Name Information Scientific Name:

Scientific Classification:

Name Meaning:

IPA Pronounce:

Common Names:

Common Name Meanings:

Subspecies:

Taxonomy Who Discovered it:

Date of Discovery:

Subsequent Famous Scientists:

Anatomy Pathogen Type: (Bacteria/Virus/Parasite) Body’s Biome:

Cell Target:

Symptoms:

Severe Version:

Severe Version Symptoms:

Subtypes:

Symptoms:

Complications:

Epidemiology Origin species:

Species Found In:

Geographical Origin:

Geographic Hotspots:

Transmission: (Water, air, food, rodents, fleas, mosquitoes, water droplets, etc) Infection Rate:

Incubation Time:

Carrier Rate:

Resistances: (heat, cold, drugs) Infected Population Number:

Inflicted Population Type: (Female, males, children, Elderly) Mutation Rate:

Death Rate:

Diagnosis and Treatments Diagnosis Methods:

Severe Version Diagnosis:

Medicines:

Folk Cures:

Vaccination:

Prevention Methods:

Mortality Rate:

Post Disease Syndrome:

Post Disease Symptoms:

Additional Notes:

Human Relationship Stigma Level:

Social Impacts: (Can they donate blood, etc) Visibility:

Public Awareness:

Misconceptions:

Economic Impact:

Famous Deaths:

Famous Art:

Mythology/Religion:

Literature:

History Major Outbreaks:

Pandemic Dates:

General:

Miscellaneous Background:

Notes:

[kheprriverse]

Just a stupid thing that's been on my mind. Plus Linkle (Apollo) being silly and harassing Volga. This was actually supposed to be way smaller and not take me a day to make but yk... Sometimes the brianrot comes in full force.

Hope y'all enjoy the random dragon lore :'D

[brandywyne]

Worldbuilding - Countries

...You didn't think that was the end, did you?

Let's see how much you've really developed and put it all together.

19/18

What is the name of the country? Does it have other names or nicknames?

- What do the people look like? What are their races and unique types? Are there natives?

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- Where is the country located, and what are its defining geographical features?

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- What is the climate like, and how does it affect daily life and the economy?

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- How was the country founded, and what major events shaped its early history?

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- What type of government does the country have (monarchy, democracy, etc.)?

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- Who is the current leader or ruling body, and how do they maintain power?

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- What are the dominant religions or belief systems, and how do they influence society?

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- What languages are spoken, and are there regional dialects or unique scripts?

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- What is the country’s primary source of income or wealth (agriculture, trade, mining)?

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- What is the country’s relationship with neighboring nations or regions?

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- What are the key traditions, festivals, or cultural elements that define the country?

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- Does the country have a military, and how does it protect itself from threats?

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- Are there distinct social classes, and how do they interact with one another?

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- How are cities and towns structured, and what is the state of transportation and communication?

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- How advanced is the country’s technology, and how does it compare to others?

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- How is education structured, and who has access to it?

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- What are the staple foods, and how does the country sustain its population?

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- What historical or ongoing conflicts shape the country’s identity?

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- What are the national symbols, flag, or emblems, and what do they represent?

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- What are the country’s aspirations, challenges, or prophecies about its future?

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GEOGRAPHY AND THE NATURAL WORLD

1. What is the country’s geographical location within the world?

2. What are its major physical features (mountains, rivers, forests, deserts)?

3. What is the climate like? Are there seasons, and how do they affect the country?

4. Are there any unique geographical phenomena (volcanoes, geysers, floating islands)?

5. How does the geography influence the culture, economy, and history?

6. Are there any natural resources that define the country?

7. Are there notable landmarks, either natural or manmade, considered significant?

8. What kinds of flora and fauna are native to the region?

9. How has the natural world shaped the myths and beliefs of the inhabitants?

10. Are there any supernatural elements tied to the landscape, such as cursed forests or sacred mountains?

HISTORY AND ORIGINS

1. How was the country founded, and by whom?

2. What events led to its formation (wars, migrations, divine intervention)?

3. What is the timeline of its major historical events?

4. Has the country undergone significant transformations (conquests, revolutions)?

5. Are there legendary figures or heroes in its history?

6. How does the country’s history shape its identity today?

7. How is history recorded (oral tradition, written archives, magical means)?

8. Are there any forgotten or forbidden parts of its history?

9. What are its neighboring nations, and what are its relationships with them?

10. Has the country ever been colonized or been a colonizer?

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

1. What type of government does the country have (monarchy, democracy, theocracy)?

2. Who holds power, and how is it maintained (elections, divine right, military strength)?

3. Are there political factions or parties?

4. How are laws created, enforced, and challenged?

5. Are there any notable leaders, current or historical?

6. What is the country’s approach to justice and punishment?

7. Are there corruption or hidden power struggles?

8. How does the government interact with its citizens?

9. Is the government centralized or decentralized?

10. How does the country engage in diplomacy with others?

ECONOMY AND TRADE

1. What is the country’s primary economic activity (agriculture, mining, industry)?

2. What are its major exports and imports?

3. What is the currency, and how stable is it?

4. Are there distinct economic classes or inequality?

5. Does the country rely on a barter system, gold, or another economic base?

6. Who are its main trade partners, and how are trade routes maintained?

7. Are there monopolies or major guilds controlling resources?

8. How is labor organized (slavery, serfdom, unions)?

9. Are there any unique goods or services the country is known for?

10. How does the economy influence its relations with other countries?

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

1. What are the dominant languages and dialects spoken?

2. What are the major religions or belief systems?

3. Are there traditions, festivals, or holidays unique to the country?

4. How is family structured, and what are common social norms?

5. What role do art, music, and literature play in society?

6. Are there significant cultural taboos or superstitions?

7. How is education structured, and who has access to it?

8. What is the status of marginalized groups in society?

9. How do people dress, and what influences fashion?

10. How do the citizens view outsiders or foreigners?

MILITARY AND DEFENSE

1. Does the country have a standing army or militia?

2. What is the level of military technology?

3. What are its major threats (neighboring nations, rebellions, monsters)?

4. How does the country train its soldiers?

5. Are there elite forces or legendary warriors?

6. How does the country defend its borders?

7. Has it been involved in major wars?

8. Are there alliances or treaties that ensure security?

9. Is military service mandatory or voluntary?

10. Are there magical or supernatural elements in the defense strategy?

TECHNOLOGY

Is magic real, and if so, how is it integrated into daily life?

2. What forms of magic exist (alchemy, elemental, divine)?

3. Who has access to magic (everyone, select classes, special guilds)?

4. Are there laws governing the use of magic?

5. How advanced is the country’s technology?

6. Are magic and technology integrated or in conflict?

7. Are there famous inventors or magicians?

8. How does magic or technology shape warfare?

9. Are there magical artifacts or lost technologies?

10. How does the country’s use of magic/technology compare to its neighbors?

INFRASTRUCTURE AND DAILY LIFE

1. How are cities and villages structured?

2. What modes of transportation are used?

3. How do people access water, food, and other necessities?

4. Is the country industrialized, agrarian, or nomadic?

5. What is the level of healthcare available?

6. How do people communicate over long distances?

7. Are there major public works (aqueducts, roads, walls)?

8. How is waste managed in urban areas?

9. What is the role of markets and public spaces in daily life?

10. Are there notable architectural styles or innovations?

RELATIONS WITH THE SUPERNATURAL

1. Are there gods, spirits, or other entities influencing the country?

2. How do citizens interact with the supernatural (worship, appeasement, avoidance)?

3. Are there sacred sites or cursed places?

4. How do myths and legends shape the country’s identity?

5. Are there supernatural threats or protectors?

6. How does the country’s religion influence its magic?

7. Are there individuals or groups that act as intermediaries with the supernatural?

8. What role do omens and prophecies play in governance or daily life?

9. Are supernatural beings integrated into society, or are they adversaries?

10. Is there a belief in an afterlife, reincarnation, or other spiritual journey?

FUTURE AND ASPIRATIONS

1. What are the country’s long-term goals or ambitions?

2. How does it plan to expand or sustain itself?

3. What threats could destabilize the country in the future?

4. Are there visionary leaders or movements shaping its direction?

5. How is the youth being prepared for the future?

6. What role do innovation and creativity play in its vision?

7. Are there unresolved conflicts or tensions brewing?

8. How does it see its place in the wider world?

9. What is the country’s relationship with environmental sustainability?

10. Are there prophecies or predictions about its future?

Cheers motherfucker 🥃

(But still, drink responsibly)

[oliolioxenfreewrites]

[the-corset-witch]

Obsidian Writing Vault (v2)

I've added a section to the readme that covers Property Types, since these may (or may not) automatically set themselves, and if they don't this'll really save a headache.

I also added two new templates (this being one of them), a new folder, and updated the Creatures template with a new property.

Download it Here

[just-a-local-dreamer]

Organizing writing documents is hard.

I used to have 9+ google documents per a single project, and at one point it just got too much. Lucky for me, I found an alternative -- Notion.

Notion is a free website that lets you make customized pages for anything you need, and makes writing and organizing and plotting so much easier.

That said, the learning curve can be steep and I recommend you start out with a template (you can find some on their website or on the internet).

And these templates look hella cute!

Here's some that I've made:

Just try it, trust me.

(My templates are available on Etsy).

[olis-inkwell-symposium]

As I develop my Pantheon and world of Sonoric Sorcery, I created a detailed guide for…

Geographical Creation by Divine Influences

Purpose and Cosmic Intentions

Start by determining the underlying reasons for the gods’ involvement in geographical creation. Did they shape the world to foster life, establish realms for their divine power, or create natural barriers for protection or punishment?

Establish how the divine will interacts with the world—whether it’s nurturing or harsh, collaborative among deities or singularly tyrannical.

Pantheon Influence and Divine Roles

Outline which gods or celestial beings are responsible for specific parts of the world. A god of oceans might have sculpted the vast seas, while a god of fire could be the origin of volcanic regions.

Clarify if these divine creators acted alone, in alliances, or through conflicts. Introduce rivalries where a god of order creates plains and structured landscapes while a chaotic deity disrupts them with jagged mountains and whirlpools.

Creation Myths and Narratives

Craft epic stories that detail the moments of creation. These myths might include dramatic events, such as titanic battles that split continents, tears shed by a mourning goddess creating lakes, or the laughter of a trickster god forming rolling hills.

Ensure these stories are not just tales but have religious and cultural significance, with ceremonies or pilgrimages tied to these narratives.

Unique Divine Marks on the Landscape

Highlight distinct features that could only be formed by gods. This might include:

Sacred Mountains: Peaks imbued with divine energy, often home to shrines or ancient temples.

Enchanted Forests: Woodlands blessed or cursed by gods, filled with mystical creatures or shifting paths.

Celestial Rivers: Waterways said to carry pieces of stardust, linking the mortal world to celestial realms.

Mythic Abysses: Deep chasms rumored to be gateways to the underworld or places of divine punishment.

Mortal Interaction with Divine Geographies

Explain how mortals view and interact with these divine creations. Do they see them as blessings or threats?

Are there rituals or traditions based around sacred lakes, healing springs, or cursed wastelands? Define the taboos or reverence attached to certain areas.

Divine Errors and Cataclysms

Introduce instances where divine actions caused unintended destruction or shifts. For example, an angry god might have triggered earthquakes that reshaped the terrain or split civilizations apart.

These cataclysms could be seen as divine retribution or warnings, shaping not just the land but the evolution of societies and their beliefs.

Cross-Pantheon Influence

Determine if the world’s geography shows the influence of multiple pantheons or opposing divine forces.

This can create places where magical energies clash or merge, resulting in areas that defy natural laws, such as floating islands, frozen deserts, or fire-fueled glaciers.

Residual Divine Power and Resources

Discuss the remnants of divine creation in the form of powerful minerals, crystals, or herbs that mortals seek for their magic or technological advancements.

These elements might carry divine essence, offering great power but at potential costs to those who use them.

Geopolitical and Theological Influence

Describe how these divine creations influence politics and power dynamics. For example, a city might be built around a sacred waterfall said to have healing properties, making it a pilgrimage site that brings wealth and influence.

Other civilizations might go to war to control such places, viewing them as conduits of divine favor.

Mystery and Forbidden Zones

Leave space for unexplored or forbidden areas said to be shaped by gods whose motives are unknown or feared.

These could be deserts filled with mirages, haunted forests, or towering monoliths etched with inscriptions no mortal has been able to decipher.

This template provides the framework to enrich your world with divine geographies, turning the physical landscape into a character itself, imbued with history, power, and profound cultural meaning.

tag list ; @slenders1ckn3ss @lucistarsfire @mai2themai @fond-illusion @p00lverinecentral

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: World-building Questions

How long has your world existed?

How many major cultures exist in your world? (You can answer the following questions for each of them!)

How did your world originate? Do the people who inhabit this world/culture have a creation myth, or a scientific explanation for how it came to be?

If your world/culture has religion, is there one main religion, or many religions? Are the main religions of your world monotheistic or pantheistic?

What resources are in your world/culture? What are the imports/exports? Which resources are rare and valuable, and which are necessary or common?

What are some important historic events in your world/culture? How did they contribute to the geographic or social structures that exist in your world’s present day?

What holidays does your world/culture celebrate?

What is considered a curse word in your world/culture? What is considered sacred, and what is considered profane?

What is the geography and climate of your world/culture?

What are the distances between important places in your world? Draw a map if you want to!

What is the structure of your world’s/culture’s government? Are they at peace or in conflict with neighboring worlds/cultures?

What language(s) do your characters speak? Is language ever a barrier to communication?

What are some of the main dishes the people in your world/culture eat? Where does the food come from, and how is it prepared?

What are the limitations of power, energy, or magic in your world/culture?

What kinds of objects or ideas are familiar to the people of your world/culture? What kind of objects or ideas are strange or outlandish to them? Note: the answers to this might vary depending on the culture your various characters (and readers) come from! What’s familiar to you or your main character might be wildly unfamiliar to someone else. 

What are some details you can use from real-world places that are similar to your story world to make it feel more believable? (Think concrete: Sights, sounds, tastes, smells, textures)

How does your main character feel about the world/culture they grew up in? 

What does your main character’s home look like? You can describe their room, their house, their neighborhood, their city.

Does your main character most often interact with people who share their experiences, worldview, and upbringing, or do they most often interact with people from very different cultures and life experiences from themselves? What are some of those similarities or differences?

Where does your main character fit into the class/social status of your world/culture? What are some specific things about their location or appearance that indicate wealth, status, profession, etc.?

Source