I have been asked several times what is the best way to start a new world building project? The problem is that is not one good way to start. However, in general, there are three good ways to construct a fictional world.
In this week’s episode, we will walk you through how to figure out the best way to build your world. You will end up with one of these methods.
I do not mean it is backwards or wrong to use this method, stop being such a wordsmith. I mean work backwards to develop your world. Take the settings that you want to tell stories in and work backward in history, so do not evolve but devolve your world.
I really like working backwards if I know how I want the world to look at some point of the story. I use it to give the world some historical details and more cultural depth and I know when I am done when I get to prehistory and I have covered all the basics of worldbuilding.
Top-Down is typically the method people think about world-building. You pick a point of time and evolve the history to a certain place and time you want to tell the story in your world. You can start from the beginning of time or better yet in the prehistoric period of your world and evolve the world in increasing detail to flesh out the frame for your story.
This is probably the most likely version to be used. You will go back and forth in time depending on the topic until you have fleshed out the frame for your story.
There might not be a need. However, it will help connect you better to the world and give you access to a certain depth that will make your world feel like it could really exist outside of the story making it feel naturalistic. It also helps create a framework for you to tell more stories in your world later if you wish.
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The bigger benefit for me was increased focus. It was another major issue of mine. However, that is a story for a different day.
Listen to Michael and I as we go into this critical topic.
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Make sure you have your world foundations
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Episode 4: Worldbuilding rules are the key
Episode 5: Fantasy and Technology do mix
Episode 7: Worldbuilding Basics Breakdown
Episode 8: The Places of your World
Episode 13: Cultures in your Fantasy World
Episode 15: Religions in your Fantasy World
Episode 16: Laphinnesehïrïm errr Languages
Episode 17: What is the state of your nation(s)?
Episode 32: Fantasy States Revisited
Episode 40: Types of Governments in Fantasy Worldbuilding
Episode 45: Cause I need the Magic wand?
Episode 48: Character Traits and Flaws
Episode 73: Types of Animals … Looking for inspiration for Monsters and Fantasy Races
Episode 106: Language First Culture Create Episode 106: Language First Culture Create
Episode 108: Philosophy-first culture building in Fantasy Worldbuilding
Episode 116: The Simple, Succinct Technology Level Method
Episode 120: The one thing you need to create a naturalist fantasy culture
Episode 168 Frame your fantasy world
Episode 170: Why your fantasy world needs subcultures
Episode 181 The 7 rules of fantasy magic systems
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http://gardul.com/blog/episode-191-3-methods-to-create-your-fantasy-world
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Episode 4: Worldbuilding rules are the key http://gardul.com/blog/episode-4-rules-breakout/
Episode 5: Fantasy and Technology do mix http://gardul.com/blog/episode-5-fantasy-technology-breakdown/
Episode 7: Worldbuilding Basics Breakdown http://gardul.com/podcast/episode-7-worldbuilding-basics-breakdown/
Episode 8: The Places of your World http://gardul.com/blog/worldbuilding/episode-8-the-basics-breakdown/
Episode 13: Cultures in your Fantasy World http://gardul.com/blog/worldbuilding/episode-13-cultures/
Episode 14: Races http://gardul.com/blog/worldbuilding/episode-14-races/
Episode 15: Religions in your Fantasy World http://gardul.com/blog/episode-15-religions-fantasy-world/
Episode 16: Laphinnesehïrïm errr Languages http://gardul.com/podcast/episode-16-laphinnesehirim-errr-languages/
Episode 17: What is the state of your nation(s)? http://gardul.com/blog/episode-17-state-nations/
Episode 32: Fantasy States Revisited http://gardul.com/blog/episode-32-fantasy-states-revisited/
Episode 40: Types of Governments in Fantasy Worldbuilding http://gardul.com/blog/episode-40-types-of-governments-in-fantasy-worldbuilding/
Episode 45: Cause I need the Magic wand? http://gardul.com/blog/episode-45-cause-i-need-the-magic-wand/
Episode 48: Character Traits and Flaws http://gardul.com/blog/episode-48-character-traits-and-flaws/
Episode 49: Who am I? http://gardul.com/blog/episode-49-who-am-i/
Episode 73: Types of Animals … Looking for inspiration for Monsters and Fantasy Races http://gardul.com/blog/episode-73-types-of-animals-looking-for-inspiration-for-monsters-and-fantasy-races/
Episode 106: Language First Culture Create Episode 106: Language First Culture Create http://gardul.com/blog/episode-106-language-first-culture-create/
Episode 108: Philosophy-first culture building in Fantasy Worldbuilding http://gardul.com/blog/episode-108-philosophy-first-culture-building-in-fantasy-worldbuilding/
Episode 116: The Simple, Succinct Technology Level Method http://gardul.com/blog/episode-116-the-simple-succinct-technology-level-method/
Episode 120: The one thing you need to create a naturalist fantasy culture http://gardul.com/blog/episode-120the-one-thing-need-create-naturalist-fantasy-culture/
Episode 135 The Basic Worldbuilding Questions To Ask Yourself When Beginning A New Fantasy Project, Part One http://gardul.com/blog/episode-135-the-basic-worldbuilding-questions-to-ask-yourself-when-beginning-a-new-fantasy-project-part-one/
Episode 136 The Basic Worldbuilding Questions To Ask Yourself When Beginning A New Fantasy Project, Part Two http://gardul.com/blog/episode-136-basic-worldbuilding-questions-ask-beginning-new-fantasy-project-part-two/
Episode 168 Frame your fantasy world http://gardul.com/blog/frame-fantasy-world/
Episode 170: Why your fantasy world needs subcultures http://gardul.com/blog/fantasy-world-needs-subcultures/
Episode 181 The 7 rules of fantasy magic systems http://gardul.com/blog/episode-181-7-rules-fantasy-magic-systems/
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