Worldbuilding Tips and Tricks: Making Your Setting Feel Real
By Jacqueline Goldman, written March 2025
Worldbuilding is an essential part of storytelling, shaping the way readers experience a fictional world. A strong setting enhances immersion, deepens character interactions, and adds layers of meaning to the narrative. Whether you’re creating a world for a novel, a screenplay, or a creative project, thoughtful worldbuilding makes the difference between a forgettable backdrop and a vibrant, living world that captivates audiences.
Worldbuilding is one of the most exciting yet daunting aspects of storytelling, whether you’re writing a novel, designing a Dungeons & Dragons campaign, or developing a setting for a creative project. A well-built world immerses readers, players, or audiences in a setting that feels lived-in, consistent, and full of possibilities. But how do you craft a world that feels real? Here are some key tips and tricks to bring your setting to life.
1. Start with the Big Picture
Before diving into the fine details, establish the broader framework of your world. Ask yourself fundamental questions:
What is the genre and tone of your world? High fantasy, grimdark, post-apocalyptic, steampunk?
What is the level of technology and magic?
Is it a single continent, a massive archipelago, or an entire universe?
How do people in this world survive? What are their sources of food, water, and shelter?
What are the major conflicts or struggles that shape the world’s current state?
Answering these macrolevel questions will help set the foundation for everything else.
2. History Shapes the Present
A world without history is a flat world. Consider major events that have shaped its present state:
Wars, revolutions, and conflicts
Natural disasters and their impact
The rise and fall of civilizations
The evolution of magic, technology, or religion
You don’t need to write a full history textbook, but having a rough timeline of key events will add depth to your world.
3. Culture is More Than Aesthetic
Culture isn’t just about architecture and clothing—it influences everything, from language and customs to politics and religion. Consider:
How do different regions or races interact?
What are their traditions, celebrations, and taboos?
What are the major religions and belief systems?
How do people express themselves through art, music, or literature?
Try to think beyond stereotypes—cultures should feel nuanced, with internal conflicts and unique customs.
4. Economy and Trade Matter
A setting feels more real when it has a functioning economy. Consider:
What is the primary currency?
What are the major exports and imports?
How do people make a living?
Are there economic disparities between regions?
Economic factors shape the interactions between different regions and influence political relationships, creating opportunities for conflict or cooperation. Whether it’s bustling trade cities, agricultural hubs, or isolated villages, these economic structures determine the wealth and power dynamics within a society.
5. Geography Influences Everything
Where people live affect their culture, economy, and daily life. Think about:
Climate and weather patterns
Major landmarks (rivers, mountains, deserts, forests)
Natural resources and their scarcity
How geography affects warfare, trade, and expansion
A world with vast deserts will have different survival tactics and trade routes than one dominated by ice and tundra.
6. Language and Naming Conventions
Names carry weight, and consistent linguistic rules make a world feel organic. Think about:
Naming conventions for cities, regions, and people
How different cultures speak and communicate
Slang, idioms, or dialects
Multiple languages (do they evolve over time?)
Avoid using real-world names unless you have a reason; unique, internally consistent names strengthen immersion.
7. Magic and Technology Need Rules
If your world has magic or advanced technology, establish clear rules:
Who can use magic or access technology?
Are there limits? What are the costs?
How does it impact daily life?
Are there laws or organizations that regulate it?
A well-thought-out system prevents plot holes and keeps the world believable.
8. Politics and Power Structures
Governments, factions, and leaders shape your world’s conflicts and alliances:
What type of governance exists? Monarchies, republics, theocracies?
Who holds power and how is it maintained?
Are there secret societies, rebel groups, or criminal organizations?
How do different factions interact?
Political intrigue can add rich storytelling elements and logical motivations for characters.
9. Daily Life and Small Details
Big picture worldbuilding is important, but the small details make it feel lived-in:
What do people eat?
How do they celebrate milestones like birth, marriage, and death?
What are common superstitions?
What games do children play?
A bustling marketplace, a folk song sung at a tavern, or a regional dish can make your world feel authentic and tangible in a way that grand landscapes or epic quests cannot. These everyday moments ground the setting in a reality that feels familiar, even if it's entirely fantastical.
10. Balance Planning and Organic Growth
While it’s important to establish key details of your world, leave room for discovery and flexibility. A rigidly planned setting can feel artificial, while one that evolves naturally can surprise both the creator and the audience. Consider:
Which aspects of your world must remain fixed?
Where can you allow room for development as the story unfolds?
How can you incorporate new ideas without breaking established lore?
Are you allowing characters and events to shape the world naturally?
Sometimes, the most interesting elements emerge during storytelling itself, allowing your world to grow in unexpected but logical ways.
Final Thoughts
Worldbuilding can be a long and sometimes overwhelming process, but it’s also one of the most rewarding aspects of creative storytelling. Remember that not every detail needs to be planned from the start—sometimes, the best elements of a world develop as the story unfolds. Keep notes, stay flexible, and allow your world to breathe and evolve over time.
Worldbuilding is an art, and no world is ever truly finished. The best settings feel like they existed long before the story started and will continue to evolve after it ends. Whether you’re designing for a novel, a game, or just for fun, these tips will help you craft a setting that feels deep, immersive, and full of possibilities.
So go forth and build—but don’t forget to leave a little magic behind the curtain!
Jacqueline Goldman (she/her) is an aspiring publishing professional and junior at Loyola University Maryland pursuing a degree in communication and media with a specialization in journalism and a minor in writing and business journalism. With experience as managing editor-in-chief for The Greyhound, nonfiction editor at Corridors Literary Magazine, and acquisitions editor at Apprentice House Press, she enjoys shaping compelling narratives and pushing the envelope.
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