Worldbuilding can be tricky. Chances are, you’ve found “worldbuilding guides” that include over 100 questions to fill out. The questions range from what the food tastes like to what the fashion is like.
If you already have a well-developed world and want to dig into the details, these guides are helpful. But if you are overwhelmed and want a simple guide, this 12-question method may work better.
A country is like a person. (After all, a country and a world is defined by its people.) The history, culture, geography, and people of a country are intertwined. Therefore, creating a world is similar to exploring someone’s personality.
Check out these 12 simple questions, or download the free guide included below.
1. Power: What determines power, and who has it?
Does power come from magic (Lord of the Rings), politics combined with magic (Game of Thrones), metal burning (Mistborn Saga), demons (Bartimaeus Sequence) or pain (Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy)? (Or more simply, maybe just money?) Can anyone obtain power, or is it limited by social class or special training? Power is important to explain early in your worldbuilding, because power highlights the difference between your villains and heroes. Villains use it for harm; heroes use it for good.
(For more details on specifically developing magical systems, check out this highly detailed guide from Dabble Writer, or a more summarized one from Jane Friedman.)
2. Trauma: What terrible events does everyone in your world know about? How have these events defined history and culture?
Sci-fi and dystopian stories often revolve around a sudden disaster or worldwide collapse, while fantasy worlds often revolve around a war or magical shift. These events are tumultuous and traumatic. Traumas are painful events that happen to people (and countries). But how countries respond, whether ethically or unethically, rationally or irrationally, can affect history for centuries.
Brainstorm the painful moments in your world’s history. How did the various countries in your world respond to this trauma? Was there a rapid increase in magically gifted people, or perhaps a sudden invasion of supernatural monsters?
3. Dangers and Challenges: What dangers and challenges does your country or world face? How do the people deal with this danger?
Brainstorm the unique difficulties each country faces. Maybe an abundance of portals to the demon world, warring neighbors on their borders, or recent independence from a larger nation? If your country has recently gone through a severe famine, war, government change, or social revolution, these challenges will shape the culture and decision making.
These dangers and challenges loom throughout your story, distracting the main character with obstacles and side quests, and creating the buzzing background of stress normal for human beings. (After all, your main task today might be going to school or work, but dangers loom in your mind all the time—car crashes on the road, bad weather soaking your clothes or making you fall, forgetting to unplug your iron causing a house fire, and so on.)
Additional stresses don’t stop for anyone, even your main character. They simply stack onto the tension you’re already building throughout the plot. Harry Potter didn’t just have to beat Voldemort—he had all kinds of personal issues and academic challenges to handle.
4. Fear: What does your country or world fear most?
Do they fear invasion, failure, or appearing weak? How does your country respond? Do they hoard wealth, conquer territories, or make allies? Humans are shaped and defined by fear, and so are fantasy worlds. As Judy Blume puts it, “Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives.” Some countries overcome their fear—others are overcome by their fear.
5. Desires and Dreams: What is your country/world’s greatest desire?
Does your fantasy country want to be powerful, safe, affluent, comfortable, or famous? How does this show up in the people’s actions? In Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo shapes the country of Kerch, and especially the city of Ketterdam, around the desire for wealth. Ketterdam’s wealth brings the city power and success, but also darkens into greed. Bardugo designed the country of Ravka around the desire to hold onto power and not be conquered, which contributes to their warlike culture.
6. Pride: What is your country most proud of?
What would they like everyone to appreciate about their country? Think about the country you are from (especially during the Olympics). What accomplishments and personality traits make you proud of your own country? Do other countries appreciate this trait enough (according to its citizens)? Perhaps your country is famous for its hospitality, its courage in being the first to confront evil, or its dedication to knowledge. How does this show up in the culture? (Guest rooms in every house; weekly training to stay prepared; libraries everywhere?)
7. Time Orientation: Is the culture adventurous and forward-looking; cautious and backward-checking; or peaceful and accepting of the present?
Time orientation will determine how the country responds to threats or opportunities. For example, in the Lord of the Rings, the five elf realms are cautious and withdrawn, looking to the dangers of the past to inform their actions. The hobbits live cheerfully in the present without concerning themselves about future dangers. The kingdoms of men look to the future, eagerly taking new opportunities to expand their borders, or swiftly responding to potential threats.
8. Personality and Culture: What is the overall culture and personality of the country? Friendly or withdrawn? Pleasure-seeking or self-denying?
Veronica Roth’s Divergent is a dramatic example of different personalities and cultures—each of her four factions is named after its defining trait. Sarah J. Maas creates dramatic, observable differences between the four different Fae courts.
Even the most independent humans are influenced by the society and culture where they grow up. Explore how the personality of the culture influences your characters.
9. Strengths and Weaknesses: What are this country’s greatest strengths and weaknesses?
Not all countries rule by military might. Some make marriage or economic alliances to avoid conflict. Others are valuable trade routes or banking centers that no one wants to disrupt (like Switzerland).
10. Values: What is considered the highest moral value in this country?
Love, loyalty, honor, self-control, family, courage, wealth, success—every country places one value above all others. In contrast, what trait is most hated? Probably the reverse: disloyalty, cowardice, failure, etc. Does your character adopt these values or push back against them? In Red Rising, the main character Darrow rejects the values and social structure of his world, kicking off an absolutely epic series.
11. Climate and Geography: What aspects of the climate and geography have affected the culture, and how?
For example, has extreme weather created a highly collaborative culture, or has an island geography created an adventurous culture? The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen uses a stormy climate and archipelago geography as important plot devices. Dune would not be Dune without a desert (obviously).
12. Stereotypes: What stereotypes do other countries make about this country? Why did these stereotypes form, and are any of them true?
Every country has fans and haters. Both groups will make positive and negative stereotypes about the country. Explore these stereotypes, however two-dimensional. Is your country proud of these stereotypes, or maybe quite embarrassed?
Take some time to work through each of these questions. This 12-question guide is a great starting point if you just began your story. Other guides, like this 200+ question one from Character Hub, are helpful if you want to dig deeper later on. However, diving into writing your story can help you develop details and discover worldbuilding gaps as you go along.
Download and print this free template if you would like a convenient worldbuilding guide, and check out this page for other free resources.
Happy writing!
Sending love,
Anastasia xoxo