World building — Vira Riddle

World building is easily one of the most difficult things you will encounter when writing Fantasy. There's an entire universe trapped inside your mind and it's only way out is through your fingertips. There are wars, broken hearts, tragic deaths, and unsolvable crimes. Some of the adventures you yourself are a part of, others you simply sit back and watch as the characters forge their own destinies.

But like everything else, world building gets very, very, complicated.

First you have to deal with the system of government.

Monarchy or Constitutional Government?
Democracy or Dictatorship?
Unitary states or confederations?
Is there a government?

This, besides the name of your world, is one of the largest factors in shaping your universe. The next is species:

Only Human?
No Humans?
Fae?
Elven?
Orc?
Centaur?
Alien?
Other?
Some of the above?
None of the above?
Or all of the above?

And last but not least, there's the cultural climate.

War or Prosperity?
Famine or Explorative?
Plagues or Oppression?
Rich society or massive Coups?
Instability or years of Tradition?

These three categories are essential to building the base of your universe. And while most times it's not hard to move with the flow of your story, if you don't have a groundwork for your world you will find that you will often contradict yourself during your writing.

Next we move on to the second tier of world building: culture, history, and commerce. I'll admit, these may seem like a bit of a bore, who cares what kind of currency they use or why they have this parade on that day? But in the end you will thank yourself because readers will ask these questions over and over again.

Take the Sordian chronicles for example. In those particular novels Thane and I's universe has a ceremony called the Celebration of the Classes. For five weeks representatives of all sixteen classes gather in the capital of Zion to participate in a grand festival and battle for the affection of the people. There are feasts, singing, dancing, parades, and more tournaments then you could imagine. Now in that world hierarchy is everything, so having the awe and affection of the people is critical. If the Sordians didn't have this ceremony there is no possible way the average populous would put up with the oppression they receive from the more powerful classes. It's essential to their cultural state.

Now that's that out of the way we'll start with history. Your world's history is critical to their commerce and culture.

What wars have been waged?
Who founded your government or world?
What social injustices have been/are being committed?
What great victories have been won?
How are heroes honored and who are they?
What holidays do they have that celebrate historical events?
Who are the heroes everyone knows about?
Who are the villains everyone knows about?
What are historical events that your world is ashamed of?
What are historical events they glorify?
What are common misconceptions about your world's past?

Now don't panic, I know I'm overloading you with a lot of questions that you may not have the answers to. You don't have to answer all of these right this moment. Many times these questions will be answered by your characters as you continue writing. However, it is very important that you write your ideas down. If you don't, it is very likely that you will create a massive plot hole that will be extremely hard to fix.

Next is your commerce.

What is the financial state of your world?
If their are multiple countries/kingdoms/etc... what is their financial state?
What currency do they use?
How is trade normally accomplished?
What are the trade polices that exist between kingdoms/cities/etc...
Who provides for agculturul needs of your world?
Who cares for the livestock?
What is used for transportation?
How advanced is their technology?

All the above categories decide your world's culture, and this culture decides a great majority of your underlying plot.

What are popular nursery rhymes?
What are popular songs?
Are mercenaries and bounty hunters looked down upon or are they a crucial part of society?
What are the capital punishments?
What Racism, Sexism, or hierarchy exists?
What holidays and festivals are celebrated?
What religion is the most prominent?
Are their multiple religions?
Are bars, taverns, saloons, or other like establishments looked down upon?
What schools are provided?
What is the average education of any given individual?
What is the average education of the upper class (If there is one)?
How do those with power perceive those without?
How large a part of your culture is war?
How large a part of your culture is trading?
How does the economic state of your world affect the common people?
What are typical pastimes?
What are typical customs?
What clothing is 'in style'
How are the impoverished taken care of?
What are common Myths?
How are stories told?

These are only a few of the questions you will run into as you create your universe. Next is the general questions:

What is the climate?
What is the landscape?
What areas are forbidden?
What landmarks are known?
What ruins are known?
What animals are domestic?
What animals are wild?
What are the largest towns?
How is news distributed?
How is water supplied?
How is food supplied?

Even after all of these questions there will still be potholes in your story, some big, some small, some you don't even realize are there until a fan asks you a seemingly meaningless question. However, I encourage you to keep building, keep writing, and keep dreaming. Your story will one day be written among the stars, and it will touch the lives of people you will never meet.