{EP. 10} How to Make Your Fantasy World More Believable

In today’s episode, Katrina and Genny give you a blueprint (or questionnaire) to help you in the worldbuilding stage of your fantasy writing. Let these questions act as your worldbuilding guide:

1. Ask yourself what kind of society your character lives in
   1. What are the different forms of governance?
   2. Is there a well-established class system? (low, middle, upper-class)
   3. Is there a strong proletariat? Do they feel exploited?
   4. How are labourers perceived by others? Are merchants respected by the upper-class?
   5. How does your character’s society treat the poor, sick, elderly, and marginalized?
   6. Do mythological creatures mix with humans? How are these creatures (or humans) treated? Who’s at the top of that food chain?
   7. Do people own pets? How are animals treated?
   8. What role do children play?
2. Rule of law
   1. Who’s in charge?
   2. Who enforces these laws?
   3. Are they fair? tyrannical? peaceful?
   4. How would you compare your world’s justice system to your own country’s?
3. Relationships, sex, and gender
   1. How are men and women treated differently by law and society?
   2. How are non-heteronormative people treated?
   3. Is sex taboo? What is the acceptable age to have sex and get married?
   4. Do people marry for love, money, or alliances?
   5. How is infidelity treated?
4. Economy and politics
   1. What currency does your world use?
   2. Is bartering a thing?
   3. Is there peace amongst nations? Who are the allies of your character’s country, and why?
   4. Is the world divided by kingdoms, empires, or countries?
5. Religion
   1. How many belief systems are there?
   2. What is the dominant religion? 
   3. Is there bias or prejudice towards any?
6. Magic and the Supernatural
   1. Who possesses magical abilities? All citizens or certain races?
   2. What are the rules around its uses?
   3. Are there limitations? 
   4. Is it teachable? Is it innate?
7. Geography
   1. This is the fun part...what are the different regions?
   2. Is the land separated by realms, kingdoms, countries…?
   3. Where does your character live? What does the landscape look like? How does this influence the character’s journey?
8. Science
   1. Is there any?
   2. Is there a kind of logic or science to the magic systems?
   3. How advanced is scientific study?
   4. Does it look more like alchemy?
9. Entertainment, Art & Music
   1. What do the people of your world do for fun?
   2. What sort of instruments exist?
   3. Is there any importance placed on art or music?
   4. What do teenagers do for fun on a Friday night?
10. Eating and Cooking
    1. Signature dishes? Drinks? Butterbeer comes to mind…
    2. What are the customs around the dinner table?
    3. What is your character’s favourite dish? Who makes it? Is it easy to get? Where do the ingredients come from?

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Let us know what you thought of our episode! You can reach us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or email writingthebroomstick@gmail.com.

Hey! Do you like Celtic folklore, YA urban fantasy, AND free stuff? Read the first three chapters of Katrina’s debut novel, “The Wise One”.

And, if you want to see what Genny’s reading lately, check out her Goodreads review page.