Most of my stories begin in my daydreams, sometimes it’s a struggle to know when to leave them ☁️
I love building worlds, imagination is one of the few places the mind can truly run free. I fell in love with books at a young age because of the wondrous places they took me to, and writing is my joy because I get to create something wondrous, too. Since I am not really a plotter, it’s easy for me to get lost in the excitement of bringing something to life on the page. I write with the wind, and sometimes the wind can be confusing and out of context. This is usually because the world I’m writing about already exists in my mind, so I know how things work and why they work the way they do. Of course this is fine when you’re just drafting and getting the story out of your head and onto the page, but it doesn’t translate well when you’re developing a polished draft for agents or readers; they’re going to have questions, and a good story has to answer them!
There are a few key things us builders of worlds should consider to ensure our readers don’t become confused or lost in aspects that don’t quite make sense, are too overwhelming, or just a bit unrealistic.
🗝️ History, Culture & Rules
Every story has a beginning that precedes the first page. Just as it does in our real world, the past dictates the present of any story. How has your world’s history impacted the way people live in the present? Are they coming out of war or plague? Is this a colonized society or a self-actualized one? Think about the myths they tell, the heroes they revere, and the wounds they carry. These all shape attitudes, power structures, and daily life. A well-crafted past creates emotional resonance and makes the present feel earned rather than invented.
Culture is at the center of all that we do. Culture is our values, social behaviors, customs etc, and it is ever evolving. When you’re considering the culture of your created society, ask yourself: What do people in this world believe in? What do they celebrate, and why? How do they treat outsiders, the elderly, or the marginalized? What roles do art, religion, family, and tradition play in their daily lives? By answering these questions, you begin to shape not just a setting, but a living, breathing society with its own logic, tensions, and beauty.
Establishing the rules of your world keeps things logical and consistent. When we talk about rules, we’re talking about systems and how things work. Is this a monarchy or a democracy? Are there guilds, castes, or corporations that wield power? If there’s a magic system, what are the limits, costs, and consequences? Consider the geography and climate of your world, how does this impact trade, agriculture, architecture, or even warfare? Clear rules create boundaries that both your characters and your readers can rely on, making the world feel real, grounded, and immersive.
🗝️ How do people live and navigate this world?
Once the larger systems of your world are in place, zoom in on the lived experience and how everyday people navigate and make meaning of their lives. What forms of travel exist: are people riding horseback, navigating airships, or riding on high-speed trains? What do they eat, and how is food tied to region, class, or tradition? How do people communicate through shared language, gestures, technology, or magical means? Consider what they wear and why; clothing reflects everything from climate to status to cultural values. What kinds of work do people do, and how are they divided by class or caste, if at all? These details may seem small, but they’re what bring a world to life, helping readers step fully into the shoes of those who live there.
🗝️ Show and Tell!
You might have heard the old saying, “show, don’t tell,” but I believe a great story has a balance of showing and telling. Striking that balance is key to weaving your world building seamlessly into the narrative. Beware of an over dependence on info dumps that slow the pace or feel like textbook excerpts, readers want to discover the world through your characters’ eyes, not through lectures. Use sensory details, natural dialogue, and character perspectives to reveal world elements organically. What a character notices, how they describe something, or even what they ignore can say volumes about the world they inhabit. Thoughtful storytelling invites readers to feel like insiders, not just observers.
In the end, have fun with it, write with the wind, let your mind take you on an adventure, just don’t forget to tend the roots along the way!
Happy Writing 🍃
Autumn Irene 🌕 
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