#ya fantasy worlds

[annafromuni]

The Gang is Back Together in Cassandra Clare's The Lost Book of the White

I couldn’t wait to get back into the wonderful world of Cassandra Clare and Wesley Chu’s The Eldest Curses Trilogy, and I was so very happy to see the gang back together for another adventure. I did love the random selection of characters in The Red Scrolls of Magic, but there is a nostalgia with these characters and a bittersweet aspect to their interactions and reactions which had me in a death…

[hayatheauthor]

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.

Understanding Worldbuilding

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.

Starting with the Basics

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.

Building Cultures and Societies

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.

Crafting Magic and Technology

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.

Time and Place

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.

Clothing and Fashion

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.

Religion and Beliefs

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.

Languages and Communication

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.

Integrating Worldbuilding into Your Story

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.

Worldbuilding Tools and Resources

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.

Final Thoughts

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.

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

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! 

[johannamation]

One of my favorite (spoiler-free) scenes from THE GHOSTKEEPER, and a reminder to be patient with yourself today 🤍

📕👉 https://theghostkeeper.carrd.co/

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

Road To Ruin

start of a postapocalyptic fantasy series set in an Asian-inspired desert world plagued by dangerous storms

follows a courier who transports romantic letters between a prince and princess, who helps the princess escape across the wastes towards the prince’s safe haven

but they’re pursued by bounty hunters, and accidentally uncover some ancient secrets. and also she’s in love with both of them

dinosaurs, magical motorbikes,

bi MC, start of polyam triad

[boltlightning]

i've read more books this year than i did in all of 2022 and 2023 combined and my prevailing thought: most books could deal with having 100–200 pages removed and be vastly improved for it. this is not a matter of my attention span. i love robin hobb i read all of the terror in 4 days i adore a long book but some simply Do Not need to be that long. thank you.

[smolandweirdwriter]

reblog if you'd be ok with me ranting about my fantasy world

[toasted-melow]

*hug-ambushes your tfdw gangle* ">:3"

Honestly she wouldn't be complaining about it!!

She loves hugs in general any kind of hugssss

But except that she gonna definitely return it >:3c

[spiralshells]

Caught poachin' in the Kingswood

[viscericorde]

not a harry potter kid or a percy jackson kid but a secret third thing (bartimaeus trilogy kid)

[tanoraqui]

The Rise and Fall of Empires

Chapter 9: The Downfall of Númenor

24 Days Before the Fall of Númenor

The plan had been, wait for Ar-Pharazón and his fleet to get halfway to Aman, then break every Palantir connection between them and anyone else, cueing everyone else to start their coordinated military campaigns, slave rebellions, etc. On the mighty Isle of Númenor itself, they’d been going to stage a smooth coup in favor of Míriel and get everyone not rabidly a King’s Man off the island, before setting off the volcano in their wake and leaving the rest to Ulmo.

No plan, however, survives contact with the enemy. In this case the enemies were fear, ignorance, and several decades—several centuries—of pent-up aggression between the various political factions of the Númenorean Empire.

“I told you I could’ve started a civil war in just a few years,” Annatar said idly, sitting on the plinth that had once hosted the King’s Square Temple statue of Morgoth-as-Fëanor-as-a-Man. 

[keep reading on AO3]

[thebirdqueen]

Thinking about Vincent and being all happy about him then BAM! I'm hit with the realization that he will live forever. He will outlive the gang. See them in all their stages of life and leave their mark on not only the planet, but on him as well as he lives on. Yet it makes sense when considering Chaos. Chaos being a Waepon of sorts and ultimately playing the role of an end-all entity. Of course he sees all those who return to the planet. Of course.......

[annafromuni]

My Infernal Devices Trilogy Review (It's The Best YA Trilogy Ever)

A much beloved trilogy on bookstagram and booktok, The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare is a popular must-read. Unlike newer “popular must-reads”, this trilogy had its initial run over a decade ago, making it a historic historical fantasy and a classic on the YA fantasy shelf. Clockwork Angel, Clockwork Prince, and Clockwork Princess make up the first of the historical fantasies under the…

[elvhendis]

Micah Bayar from the Seven Realms Series, but I aged him up because I'm choosing to ignore that everyone is only 16 lol. I only just started the second book so this may or may not age well?

Edit: I think I got his eye colour wrong? 😭 I could've sworn it was blue-greyish

[she-posts-nerdy-stuff]

Today I had to do a lot of looking back through my worldbuilding master document, which is all of my answers to a brilliant online questionnaire that I will post the link to if anyone wants it. So now you get some of the best quotes I found that I wrote months and months ago and had completely forgotten about until going through this questionnaire:

“There are laws against that but they're easy to find loopholes in (sorta loosey goosey)”

“Does the culture value strength or compassion more highly? - excellent question, don’t know”

“Oh but not if you say you like fish, then it’ll get controversial super quickly, Etelljin people are WEIRD about fish”

“Picture a human English city, then replace the Chinese restaurants with Fae restaurants and then replace the Indian restaurants with Elven restaurants and then continue in that fashion with all the restaurants”

“What do people drink? - whatever they want? But you DO NOT want to make Etelljins drink from the water in their capital city, they’d riot. That’s where the fish live”

“Are some foods poisonous to certain people? - yeah, I’d say so”

“They probably have a magic version of Ikea somewhere (maybe the furniture builds itself to reduce stress and improve the mental health of the buyers)”

“Do people mostly eat meat, fish, or vegetables? - NO FISH”

“Do people make sacrifices to gods? - sacrifice isn’t a big thing because of the aforementioned fear of death that shaped their entire society, but […]”

“Imagine houses but magic-er”

“Are there professional guilds/institutes/etc? - If I may answer your question with a question, what the hell does that mean? Because I googled it and it did not help”

“What constitutes a social faux pas? - ok erm… saying you like to eat fish. That would be a big one. They have a real thing about fish”

(By the way, these are all from just a few questions and I do have plenty of real answers alongside them, but if y'all find this funny I have a lot more content to draw from to keep sharing them with you lol)

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

The Sapling Cage

YA fantasy, start of a trilogy

a trans girl and her friend swap places so she can join the coven of witches who wander the land instead of becoming a knight

as they travel and she starts to learn from them, while hoping she’s not found out , they uncover a corrupt magical blight that threatens to become a civil war

bi demi MC

[romantasyreader28]

Dark academia-ish collage📚

My collage, pls don’t steal❤️