World Building Template: 50 Questions for Fantasy Writers

Crafting a believable fantasy world requires planning and creativity. This guide gives you 50 essential questions to shape every aspect of your world – geography, politics, culture, and magic. Here’s what you’ll cover:

• Geography: Landforms, climate, resources, and how they shape societies.
• Politics: Power structures, alliances, conflicts, and population dynamics.
• Culture: Traditions, values, art, and how people interact.
• Magic/Technology: Rules, limits, and their impact on daily life and power systems.

These questions ensure your world feels consistent and immersive, while staying focused on what matters for your story. Use this as a flexible guide to create a setting that enhances your narrative.

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1. Geography and Nature

Geography serves as the foundation of your world – it shapes landscapes, influences cultures, and drives conflicts. A well-thought-out environment impacts everything from daily routines to major political struggles. Here are key points to consider when building your world:

• World Layout: What are the main landmasses, oceans, and other significant geographical features? These elements set the stage for everything else in your world.
• Climate Systems: How do weather patterns vary across regions? For example, extreme climates like those in Jemisin’s Broken Earth can transform entire societies.
• Natural Resources: Where are critical resources located? Think about how their availability might lead to cooperation or spark disputes.
• Geographical Barriers: What natural obstacles, like mountains or deserts, separate populations? These barriers often influence cultural development.
• Sacred Geography: Are there specific landmarks that hold spiritual or cultural importance?
• Environmental Challenges: What natural threats, such as storms, droughts, or volcanic eruptions, do the inhabitants face?
• Ecosystem Diversity: Do different regions support unique cultures or lifestyles, similar to Martin’s Seven Kingdoms?
• Transportation Routes: How do natural features like rivers, mountain passes, or coastlines influence trade and travel?
• Strategic Geography: How do the location of resources and terrain shape settlement patterns, trade networks, and power structures?
• Seasonal Patterns: What is the seasonal cycle in your world, and how does it impact farming, travel, or festivals?
• Natural Boundaries: Do rivers, mountains, or other features define territories or political borders?
• Environmental Change: Is the environment in your world stable, or is it undergoing changes like rising seas or shifting climates?

Geography isn’t just a backdrop – it actively shapes the cultures, politics, and lives of the people in your world. In the next section, we’ll dive into how these populations interact with their environment and each other.

2. Population and Politics

Geography shapes the physical world, but it’s population and politics that dictate how people organize, interact, and govern. When building these aspects of your world, think about the following key points:

• Power Structure: What type of government rules each region? Systems like monarchies, oligarchies, or democracies influence how societies are organized and how decisions are made.
• Population Distribution: Where do people settle, and why? Historical events, geography, and societal factors often play a big role in shaping settlement patterns.
• Social Hierarchy: Are there distinct social classes or castes? If so, how do they interact, and what impact do these divisions have on daily life?
• Cultural Diversity: How do different ethnic groups coexist? Consider factors like language, traditions, and the potential for both conflict and cooperation.
• Political Alliances: What alliances or treaties are in place? These could include trade agreements, military partnerships, or diplomatic ties between regions or groups.
• Resource Control: Who controls key resources, and how does this influence power dynamics in your world?
• Legal Framework: Who enforces the laws, and how is justice administered?
• Population Movement: What drives migration? This could include trade routes, seasonal changes, or even forced displacement due to war or natural disasters.
• Political Leadership: Where is power concentrated, and how is leadership passed on? Is it hereditary, elected, or something else?
• Political Conflicts: What are the sources of tension? These might stem from disputes over resources, historical grievances, or ideological differences.
• Demographics: What does the population look like? Think about age groups, gender roles, and how these demographics shape societal norms.
• Magic and Politics: If magic or advanced technology exists, how does it influence governance or political power?

Once you’ve nailed down these details, you’ll have a strong foundation to understand how population and politics shape culture and societal norms in your world.

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3. Culture and Society

Geography and politics play a huge role in shaping culture and society, influencing how people live, interact, and form their identities. When building a cultural framework for your world, here are key aspects to think about:

• Social Organization
  How are families, clans, or groups structured? Are there unique systems like Dune’s Bene Gesserit? What determines someone’s social status, and how do they move up or down? How is knowledge passed down – through oral traditions, formal education, or something else entirely?
• Values and Beliefs
  What ethics guide your society’s actions? Do religious beliefs play a big role in daily life or major decisions? Are there symbols or icons that represent the core values of the culture?
• Traditions and Ceremonies
  What rituals mark key life events, like births, marriages, or deaths? How do people celebrate seasonal changes or religious holidays? Are there traditions that shape everyday life, like specific greetings or meals?
• Cultural Expression
  What forms of art, music, or entertainment reflect the society’s identity? How do people preserve and share their stories – through songs, books, or oral storytelling? Are there particular artistic traditions that hold deep meaning?
• Intercultural Dynamics
  How do different cultural groups interact? Are there sources of tension or cooperation between them? How are newcomers or outsiders treated – welcomed, ignored, or met with suspicion?
• Social Justice
  How does this society handle inequality? What rights and responsibilities are granted to different groups or classes? How are conflicts between social classes or groups resolved?
• Cultural Change
  How do traditions adapt when faced with new technologies or magical innovations? What historical events have shaped current practices? Do some groups resist change while others embrace it?
• Knowledge Systems
  How is education structured – does it differ by social class? Are there specialized institutions like academies or guilds that play a key role? How is cultural knowledge preserved – libraries, elders, or something more unconventional?

These elements should work together seamlessly to create a vibrant, believable world. And don’t forget – introducing magic or advanced technology can completely transform how traditions and daily life evolve.

4. Magic and Technology

Magic and technology often influence one another, shaped by the geography, politics, and societies of your world. When designing magical systems, think about these key aspects:

• Source and Nature of Magic: Where does magic come from? Is it tied to natural forces, like in Tolkien’s Middle-earth where it flows from the Valar and nature, or does it stem from celestial bodies or divine entities?
• Magic-Technology Relationship: Do magic and technology work together or clash? For instance, in Harry Potter, magical communities largely avoid modern technology.
• Limits and Costs: What boundaries exist for magic use? Are there physical, mental, or spiritual tolls, such as exhaustion, corruption, or unintended side effects for those who practice it?
• Politics and Ethics: How does magic shape leadership and political systems? Is it regulated, banned, or exploited for power? What moral dilemmas arise from its use?
• Economic and Social Effects: How does magic influence class and wealth? For example, in The Magicians, magical ability is often linked to privilege and status.
• Everyday Life and Culture: How does magic integrate into daily routines, traditions, or art? In The Dresden Files, magic is used for tasks like heating homes or creating protective wards.
• Historical Influence: Has a magical catastrophe led to rules or taboos around its use?
• Education and Training: Who gets to learn magic, what’s taught, and how do institutions control or guide its practice?
• Risk and Safety Measures: How does society handle the dangers of magic? Think about magical law enforcement or systems for preventing disasters.

These questions help create a richer, more believable world where magic and technology are more than just tools – they’re deeply woven into the fabric of society.

Conclusion

World-building plays a crucial role in crafting engaging fantasy stories. It provides the structure that transforms fictional settings into vivid, believable realms. The 50 questions in this template, covering topics like geography, politics, culture, and magic, work together to help you create a rich and immersive world.

This process isn’t a one-and-done task – it evolves as your story develops. Think of this template as a guide that adapts to your creative needs rather than a strict set of rules.

“World building is like an iceberg. You, as the writer, need to know everything; you have to in order to make your work believable. But your readers only need to know about the tip of the iceberg, otherwise, it’s overwhelming, irrelevant and distracting.” – Jericho Writers ^[1]

As a writer, you’ll delve deep into your world’s details, but your readers only need what’s relevant to the story. Focus on what drives the narrative forward and avoid bogging it down with unnecessary information. The best world-building supports the story without stealing the spotlight.

Here are some tips for effective world-building:

• Concentrate on elements that directly influence your plot.
• Keep track of your decisions to maintain consistency.
• Stay open to letting your world grow naturally as your story progresses.
• Test how different aspects of your world interact to ensure they work together smoothly.

The goal isn’t to cram in endless details – it’s to weave them into the story in a way that feels natural and engaging. Every decision you make should enhance the overall experience for your readers while serving the needs of your narrative.

World-building isn’t just background work – it’s the heart of storytelling that makes your world feel alive and keeps your audience captivated.