Beginner's Guide to Worldbuilding

Hard vs. Soft Approaches and Key Questions to Start Creating Your World

Whether you're following Dorothy and her friends through Oz or learning alongside Harry at Hogwarts, chances are you have seen the benefits of some good worldbuilding. Worldbuilding is not just a task, it's an opportunity to unleash your creativity and build a world of your own. Whether it's the creation of a science fiction story or bending reality for historical fiction, all storytellers utilize worldbuilding. 

Worldbuilding aims to establish a consistent set of rules, norms, and expectations for the characters. Consistency helps the author avoid plot holes, which can be distracting as the audience tries to understand how your world is set up. There is no singular correct method, so it is up to you to decide which type of worldbuilding is right for your story. 

Hard vs Soft World Building: What is the Difference?

The three main types of worldbuilding are hard, medium, and soft. This generally refers to how much background and exposition the creator shares with their audience. Every kind of worldbuilding can be applied to any genre, but the pros and cons of each one lend themselves to some stories better than others. If you want to strike a balance between control and freedom in your story, a medium approach might be for you. It allows you to set the stage while leaving room for your characters to explore.

What is Hard Worldbuilding?

Hard worldbuilding shares everything with the audience, creating complex and plausible fictional worlds. Creators who utilize this method often spend years developing a thorough history, geography, culture, and even unique language before they begin writing their plots. This method's most significant benefit is its intricate framework on which to build your story. However, it also restricts the possible directions for your plot, as there are strict rules to follow.

One of the most iconic examples is Tolkien's work in The Lord of the Rings saga, with Middle Earth's complex backstory setting the stage for the ensuing adventures. Tolkien did extensive worldbuilding before writing to ensure a believable fantasy world. Each species inhabited Middle Earth had its own language, which Tolkien spent years crafting to suit each creature.

In Riordan's Percy Jackson series, magic and ancient mythologies are woven into the modern world. While Riordan didn't invent these mythologies are utilized in for his story, the blend of the ancient and contemporary world created a sense of realism that enticed the audience.

What is Soft Worldbuilding?

The other end of the spectrum is soft worldbuilding, which only shares the details the creator deems vital for the audience. Stories that utilize this method focus more on the characters and their journey, which can leave some audiences with questions about the mechanics of their fictional world. 

Tolkien often chastised Lewis Carroll for his use of soft worldbuilding, thinking it was a lazy method of storytelling. However, Carroll's work, Alice in Wonderland, has captivated audiences for generations with its fantastical elements. The Grimm fairy tales—which inspired Disney classics such as Cinderella, Tangled, and Sleeping Beauty–also utilize soft worldbuilding. 

The magical elements that transform Cinderella's carriage or send Sleeping Beauty into slumber have no real rhyme or reason. In many cases, the audiences have the same amount of information as the main characters do, which fosters empathy and a sense of relatability to the characters. This also offers a more significant opportunity for dramatic twists, as the lack of information makes every reveal more significant.  Soft worldbuilders are willing to exchange plausibility for greater control over their creation's aesthetic and feel. This allows for more freedom as the writing process begins, as you have fewer rules to follow.

What is Medium Worldbuilding?

Between these two extremes, there is the middle ground. These creators want to gain the trust of their audience and offer them a closer look into their world while also leaving key details out to retain control of the plot. This is often the most challenging method to successfully execute because answering some questions for your audience can leave them wanting to know more. 

Fantasy writers such as Sarah J. Maas, in her A Court of Thorns and Roses series, provide more history and mythology to Prythian as the story progresses, but at its core, it tells the stories of Feyre and her friends. Devout fans can tell you about the political systems in place across the courts and the battles faced by Rhys in his youth, but the average reader will just be swept away by the romance and magic. 

Video games like Stardew Valley also utilize extensive worldbuilding that falls in the middle of the spectrum. This role-playing game is initially set on a farm, aiming to harvest natural resources and sell them to other townsfolk. However, as the game progresses, players interact with mythical creatures that disrupt the norms established at the beginning and leave players excited about developing a world they thought to have understood.

Need help determining which type of worldbuilding is for you? Answer some worldbuilding questions below, or take the quiz on our Instagram.

3 Key Questions to Answer As You Build Your World

You don't need detailed worldbuilding to begin the creative writing process, but a few worldbuilding guidelines can go a long way to avoiding plot holes. Consider the following questions and how they apply to your story.

#1: Does Your Story Take Place in a World Beyond Our Own? 

If you are building a fictional world, it is essential to let the audience know that your story will have some key differences from the reality they are used to. If you are creating a story based on the real world, then why are you reading this? Get to writing and trust your audience's knowledge of the world around them!

What laws of reality apply to this new setting? 

Establishing a consistent set of natural laws will show your audience what is normal in this world. As the creator, you are responsible for introducing these differences and proving their importance to the plot.

Are there fantasy elements? People or creatures with supernatural powers? 

Having a set of rules will allow for consistency within your magic system and help set the audience's expectations for your story. If we saw a dragon while walking to the supermarket, that would be a major event. However, for the characters in Game of Thrones, this is a less shocking occurrence because that is a part of the magic system within their world.

Are these beings revered or ostracized? 

Difference is a driving theme in most stories, so it's up to you to determine how difference is handled within your world. Is magic used to solve problems, or does it tend to create disaster?

Check out or Instagram for more information on the significance of scale while storytelling

#2: Where and when does your story take place? 

Establishing a setting is about describing your story's place in space and time. This may seem intuitive, but every decision you make about your setting has implications for your plot and characters. Remember what resources or technology would have been available in your setting. If that doesn't fit your story, how will your worldbuilding accommodate the necessary changes?

What is the scale of the setting?

Some stories utilize entire universes to shape their plot, whereas others occur within a town or even a single house. Whatever environment you choose, be sure to include enough detail for the audience to get a sense of where the characters are, but not so much that they lose focus on the plot. 

How does your character interact with their space, and why? 

This can also be referred to as the scale of population, which determines how much relevance and influence your character has in their environment. 

Does the time period affect the norms or values of the setting?

A modern city will have different values and morals than a medieval village. Making your inspiration clear will help your audience understand why something considered right or wrong in the 21st century may have had different implications a few decades or centuries ago.

#3: How do your characters interact with their society?

Showing your character's role within their society will set the audience's expectations for their actions throughout your plot. It will also determine what actions are significant and what details to consider. The outsider not being included is less of a shock than the famous socialite being ostracized. This is where character archetypes often come into play.

What is the historical, economic, and political landscape? 

Any world will have some sort of government or economy. Even the lack of one is a distinct choice for your story. In ANOMIE, these are called the Pillars of your society, and establishing these pillars can help propel your plot. 

What social class or caste are they a part of?

This will not only determine their social standing but also what people or resources they have access to and how much their actions influence other characters. It can also give your audience some guesses about their life experience without you going into too much backstory. A princess, for example, is likely to have a relatively sheltered and privileged childhood compared to someone who grew up fighting for all they have.

What character traits define or are relevant to the society?

Is faith a driving factor? Or the color of one's eyes? Showing what traits are significant to your society will provide crucial context for your character's actions throughout the story.

Final Thoughts

However much or little worldbuilding you decide to do is entirely up to you! Whether it's your favorite part of the writing process or a bothersome chore, creating the backdrop for your story is essential for its success. As long as you, the creator, know the rules of your world, then you're sure to create a consistent and clear narrative. 

If you need help answering these questions, ANOMIE is the game for you. Our comprehensive toolkit serves to inspire and guide aspiring and seasoned storytellers alike. ANOMIE is the perfect way to start building your world, write fantasy, or spend time creatively engaging with friends. For more information on worldbuilding, check out our social media pages @anomierpg, and tag us in your work.