From Cool Idea to Coherent Concept: How to Develop a Story World
We often start writing fantasy with one really cool idea for a story world. But a novel isn’t built on a single idea. So, how do you go from that one cool idea to having a coherent concept for an entire world?
You think about the implications of your cool idea and use that to build up a framework for the rest of the novel. To help, here are some questions that you can use to go from one worldbuilding idea to a coherent story concept.
Note: For the purposes of these questions, we’re going to use earth as a starting point. So when I ask how something would change, think about that question in terms of how things might be different compared to what is normal in your daily life.
Eight Questions to Take You From Cool Idea to Coherent Story World Concept
#1 – How will your idea change the geography or physical world?
Think about multiple aspects of the physical world: the shapes of continents, the different types of landscapes, the flora, fauna, the presence of magic—nothing is out of bounds. You can also think about human created infrastructure—technologies, building materials, human settlements. If you’re creating non-human species, you can also think about their physicality at this point.
#2 – How will your idea affect people’s daily lives? What do they have to do to survive or adapt?
This questions is particularly important if your world involves magic or highly advanced technologies—especially if they will intrude on people’s daily lives. For example, in a world with teleportation technology, we’ll see even more globalization than we do now. Depending on the ease of transportation, borders might become meaningless. Travel commonplace. Commutes non-existent. Air travel would be as obsolete as travel agents are now. Think about the far-reaching effects and imagine how things we take for granted might be rendered obsolete or how things we couldn’t even imagine might become mundane.
#3 – How will your idea affect people’s beliefs or views on morality? What stories or myths might have developed as a result?
A world in which the gods walk around and interact with humans is likely to have a different view of morality or religion than one in which the gods are distant, unseen entities who may or may not have a hand in people’s daily experiences. Consider also the stories that exist around those beliefs. Which stories have the weight of religion behind them? Which are considered to be fairytales? Why the distinction?
#4 – How will your idea change people’s cultural practices? Their relationship to the natural or supernatural world?
A world that experiences clear, varied seasons might have celebrations to mark the passing from one season to the next. One without seasons won’t. A world in which technology has distanced people from nature is unlikely to celebrate a harvest festival, but a people group still tied in to nature and agriculture might.
#5 – What laws or government structures might develop as a result?
Think about the problems that might arise as a result of the changes in your world. For example, a world with magic might have regulations about its use. A world with long, harsh winters might have strict rules about preserving and rationing food.
#6 – What expectations about life or the future will develop?
What opportunities do people have? What is the average life expectancy? Is life glamorous and wonderful for the average person or cruel and hard? The answers to these questions will determine people’s attitudes and their desires for future (or their ability to want anything for themselves at all).
#7 – What conflicts are inherent in your story idea? In other words, what problems might it create?
This one is the crucial question for turning a cool world idea into an actual story. Once you have the basic ideas of your world figured out, start thinking about the types of problems that could occur. Conflicts can stem from your answers to any of the previous six questions. And once you start creating them, see if you can get them to overlap and escalate each other.
#8 – How might individuals respond to those challenges? Which of these individuals might be interesting for readers to follow?
Question number eight is where your character and plot come from. Think about ways that individuals from your world could address the challenges you came up with in response to the previous question. Think about the type of person who would rise up and take action, or the person even less likely to do so, and the circumstances that might push them to engage.
Once you’ve answered these eight questions, go back and think about any changes that your previous answers might have created. Then, do it again, adding in new details and layering in complications as you go. Pay particular attention to questions 7 & 8. Those are the big two when it comes to developing an actual story for your world.
I hope this short & sweet blog post helps you out the next time you’re stuck with a cool idea and no idea what to do with it.
Happy Writing!
P.S. Stuck trying to figure out what to focus on in your story world? Check out my Worldbuilding Priorities Audit and narrow your focus today!
