Last week, I talked about the core elements a fictional culture needs, and over time I’ve written posts on many different worldbuilding concepts and how to build them well. Today, I want to share with you a worldbuilding checklist that includes all of the elements (both general to a world and specific to various cultures) that I see as integral to a functioning world. And I’ll include a printable version, too, so stick around to the end for that. Continue reading “Worldbuilding Checklist – The Basics”
Elements of Culture for Worldbuilding
There are a lot of elements to consider when you’re building a fantasy world. It can be hard to know where to start. Which elements of culture are the most important? Different authors might have different answers, but here are the four elements I think operate as the pillars of a fictional culture.
Element #1: Worldview
The worldview of a culture colors everything that culture does, so Continue reading “Elements of Culture for Worldbuilding”
Fantasy School… or Not – Worldbuilding Education
Education is an often overlooked aspect of worldbuilding, even though education defines our individual worldviews and skill sets and also supports society as a whole. After all, people can’t occupy trades or other societal roles if they don’t know how. Today I want to explore how to develop the educational systems of your world… and why “fantasy school” isn’t always the answer. Continue reading “Fantasy School… or Not – Worldbuilding Education”
May 2021 Wrap-Up
A bit of an early (and brief) wrap-up this month because I’m leaving tomorrow for my summer camp job! So here’s a quick update and a rundown of what to expect over the next three months.
Writing
I’ve been hard at work over the past several weeks writing Continue reading “May 2021 Wrap-Up”
Culture and Tradition in Fantasy
Culture and tradition are crucially interwoven. Tradition is the means through which culture is preserved and reinforced, which makes it the ultimate tool for exploring fictional worldviews. I’ve talked about building festivals and holidays before, but today I want to focus on how to use both “special” traditions (like holidays) and everyday traditions (like nightly worship) to emphasize and support a cultural worldview. Continue reading “Culture and Tradition in Fantasy”