What Is World-Building in a Novel?

World building is pretty easy to define because the definition is in the phrase itself, world building.

You’re building your world.

The world building that you do is going to look very different if you’re writing fantasy or if you’re writing historical fiction, contemporary fiction, or magical realism.

Obviously, if you’re creating a fantasy or dystopian world, you’re going to need to spend more time in the crafting of your world.

World-building is a very important aspect of writing fiction.

What Is World Building in a Novel?

World-building in a novel refers to the process of creating a fictional or fantastical setting, often an entire world or universe, in which the story takes place. It involves constructing the environment, history, culture, society, technology, magic system (if applicable), and any other elements that contribute to the overall context and atmosphere of the story.

But regardless of what genre your work of fiction is, the main thing to keep in mind with your world building is that you need to set your rules for that world and you need to keep them.

You can’t just arbitrarily decide one day that your characters can float in the air and not have a reason for that in the world that you have built.

Just like this world has its own rules that are the basis of our physics and physical world, you can create all kinds of interesting things, magic and mystery and wonder, but it has to fit the world that you are creating.

There have to be guidelines, otherwise you will confuse your readers and they won’t know why things are happening.

About 15 years ago, I edited a novel for a writer who had quotes from another book in the novel.

These characters were from another world so there was no way they should have had access to this book; it didn’t make sense.

I told him that if this book he wanted to quote was very important to him, he would have to find a way to weave the concepts of those quotes in without using the quotes themselves because it did not fit into the world that he was building.

World-building is not limited to speculative fiction genres like fantasy and science fiction; it can also be an essential component of other genres, such as historical fiction or dystopian novels.

Some stories do require more time and attention devoted to the worldbuilding process in order to get it right.

In some ways, this is the most fun part of writing a novel because you get to make all the decisions.

In some ways, this is the most difficult part of writing a novel because you need to do world building right or it can be very confusing to a reader.

The Main Rule for World Building

In short, just as this world in which we live has rules, the world you build needs to have rules. Even if it’s a fantasy world or a world where people have magical powers, there have to be rules or guidelines that make sense to the world.

Think about the Harry Potter series, for instance. There were specific rules to the wizardry and magical powers.

Not everybody could wield magic. A person could try all they wanted but that doesn’t mean they would develop powers.

Just because a person was born into a family with wizards didn’t mean that that person was always going to have powers (although it made it more likely)

And there were also rules for the magic itself, and the villains were trying to break those rules or find a way around them, which created the conflict and tension.

Key aspects of world-building in a novel include:

Setting: Establishing the physical and geographical aspects of the world, such as landscapes, cities, and regions. The Road by Cormac McCarthy is a terrific example of setting done well (amazingly!). It is a dark and graphic dystopian novel, but the road on which the boy and his father walk, the setting in which they live, is so real it is basically a character in itself.  

History: Creating a backstory for the world, including past events that have shaped its current state. JRR Tolkien had a rich history for Middle Earth, which was not apparent in his Lord of the Rings series, but if you have ever read The Silmarillion you will see just how complex the history of the world is that Tolkien built.

Society and Culture: Defining the norms, traditions, beliefs, and social structures that govern the characters’ lives. N.D. Wilson leaves no stone (or possible story) unturned when he does world building. In his epic Ashtown Burials series, Wilson creates a remarkable social structure via “an order of explorers who have long served as caretakers of the world’s secrets, keepers of powerful relics from lost civilizations, and jailers to unkillable criminals who have terrorized the world for millennia.” A must read!

Magic and Technology: For speculative fiction genres, outlining the rules of magic or technological advancements that exist in the world. The Percy Jackson books are another example of a story series where “magic” or abilities has particular rules set in place. This is world building done well.

Politics and Power Structures: Describing how the world is governed, who holds power, and the relationships between different factions or groups. Suzanne Collins creates very realistic power structures and complex politics in The Hunger Games books. It is all the more masterfully written seeing as how the story is deeply in Katniss Everdeen’s point of view, yet still we as readers are able to grasp the complex political workings and evil power structures at play throughout the series.

Flora and Fauna: Designing the plant and animal life that inhabits the world. Andrew Peterson delves so deeply into the animal kingdom throughout the Wingfeather Saga that he had to create a standalone book, Pendrick’s Creaturepedia, just to focus on the animals of Aerwiar, the rich and complex world he built to the delight of thousands of readers, young and old.

Languages: If relevant, constructing unique languages or dialects for certain societies or races. I’m going to mention Tolkien again here. You know he authored the Lord of the Rings, but did you know he was also a philologist? He was a scholar of languages and spoke 35 different languages! No wonder he was able to create languages such as Elvish in his books.

Economy and Trade: Explaining how the characters interact with the world economically. Lindsay Franklin’s award winning Weaver Trilogy shows the intricacies of trade between nations, while also bringing in magic, evil, and of course, romance. She is a contemporary author who does world building very well.

Religion and Beliefs: Establishing the various religions or belief systems present in the world. I absolutely love the portrayal of religion in Helena Sorenson’s book The Door on Half-Bald Hill, in which druids and crones vie for power anda mysterious blight is taking over the land.

Conflicts and Challenges: Identifying the conflicts or obstacles characters will face within the world. Naturally, every book has conflict and challenges, whether you are also actively world building or not. But again, the challenges and conflicts should fit the world. The Ravenwood Saga by Morgan L. Busse incorporates conflict that fits the world—a world in which the secret power of dreamwalking is used to make rulers rise and fall, and a young woman must decide if she will continue to uphold her family’s dark legacy or create one of her own.

The Reason for World Building

The purpose of world-building is to immerse readers in a rich and believable fictional world, making them feel as if they are experiencing the story firsthand.

It’s important for you as an author to strike the right balance in world-building.

A well-developed and thought-out world can enhance the storytelling, provide context for character actions, and enable you as the author to explore unique themes and conflicts.

While a richly detailed world can captivate readers, too much information can overwhelm them and slow down the plot. It’s often best to reveal world-building details organically throughout the story, rather than presenting lengthy info-dumps at the beginning.

Ultimately, effective world-building can transport readers to new and exciting realms, adding depth and authenticity to your novel’s narrative.

So have fun, be imaginative, but make sure that the world-building that you do, and the things you create in the story fit the story and the world you are creating.

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This is the third post in a series I’m writing on the primary elements of writing novels and other works of fiction, including short stories. This series is aimed at helping aspiring authors improve in the important elements of writing fiction.

If your novel or memoir is ready for editing, feel free to get in touch. I am a writer and editor with over 15 years of experience. I’ve successfully completed over 300 projects for clients, including first-time authors.