Worldbuilding for Every Story

Part 1 of 4

Your regularly scheduled programming for the Marginalia Book Club has been delayed until this Friday, May 30. For one thing, I was at Balticon all weekend and got behind in my reading.

There’s also a ton of life happening, so I’m giving myself some grace and have reshuffled the schedule to bring you the first in a 4 part series on one of my favorite topics: worldbuilding.

If you’re interested in more on creating fictional worlds, head over to the Spark to Story Summit, where I’m giving my workshop “Worldbuilding for Any Genre.” The FREE summit lasts May 27-29, 2025.

What Is Worldbuilding?

Many writers hear "worldbuilding" and immediately think of epic fantasy with sprawling maps, complex magic systems, and invented languages. While these elements can be part of worldbuilding, the concept extends far beyond fantastical realms.

Let's start by distinguishing between setting and world:

Setting is the physical location where your scenes take place. It's what would appear in a screenplay's scene heading: "INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY." Setting encompasses the tangible elements you can perceive through your senses — what you can see, hear, smell, touch.

World, however, is much broader. Your world encompasses all aspects of human life in your story. It's the "why" behind the "where."

It includes:

• Government and politics

• Languages and communication

• Arts and cultural expressions

• Economic systems

• Social structures and hierarchies

• History and how it shapes the present

• Beliefs, religions, and value systems

• Technology and its impact

Most importantly, worldbuilding isn't reserved solely for those creating fantastical realms. Every writer needs to build their world. It's a vital aspect not just of setting, but of character development and conflict generation as well.

Why All Fiction Requires Worldbuilding

Some writers believe their worlds are "already built." If you're creating a story set in present-day Manhattan, you might think the worldbuilding is done for you. But this isn't entirely true.

Your version of any world—even our real world—must be created on the page. Consider these examples:

• Two novels set in contemporary New York might present radically different versions of the city based on the author's vision, the characters' experiences, and the story's needs.

• A romance set in Regency England requires the author to establish social norms, class distinctions, and legal constraints that modern readers may not understand.

• Even a story set in your hometown requires you to decide which aspects of that place to highlight, which neighborhoods your characters frequent, and what version of that place you're presenting to readers.

In my own work across different genres—from epic fantasy to historical fantasy to contemporary settings—I've found that intentional worldbuilding strengthens every story I tell.

World Is Character, World Is Conflict, World Is Story

One of my core philosophies is that worldbuilding isn't separate from other elements of storytelling—it's intrinsically connected to them:

World is character: The environment we grow up in shapes who we become. Your characters' worldviews, values, fears, and dreams are profoundly influenced by the world around them. A character raised in a religious commune will navigate life differently than one raised in a cosmopolitan city, even if they have similar personality traits.

World is conflict: The most compelling conflicts often arise directly from the world you've created. Social expectations, limited resources, opposing belief systems, physical obstacles, or clashing cultures can all generate authentic tension that drives your story forward. These conflicts feel organic because they're woven into the fabric of your world.

World is story: When worldbuilding is done well, it becomes impossible to separate the story from the world. Could The Hunger Games take place anywhere but Panem? Could Pride and Prejudice take place in a society without strict marriage expectations and inheritance laws? The world doesn't just contain your story—it enables and shapes it.

Structuring Your World

My worldbuilding approach stems from my natural inclination toward structure and boundaries. My personality thrives on establishing clear rules and systems—even in my fantasy stories. This doesn't restrict my creativity; instead, it's about creating a framework that makes my world feel consistent and believable.

Whether I'm creating an epic fantasy land, a magical version of 1920s Washington D.C., or a contemporary setting with supernatural elements, I apply the same core principles:

• Build with intention and purpose

• Establish clear rules and boundaries

• Create consistency within those boundaries

• Connect worldbuilding directly to character and conflict

• Reveal your world organically through story

This structured approach doesn't just satisfy my own creative process—it resonates with readers.

One reader message that particularly touched me said: "Your worldbuilding, storytelling, and characters feel like a part of my life now." This is ultimately the goal for many of us as writers: to create worlds so immersive that readers feel they've lived in them.

The Five Essential Worldbuilding Questions

In the upcoming posts in this series, I'll explore five essential questions that will help you build rich, compelling worlds for any genre:

1. Where do we start? Establish the foundations of your world.

2. Why is the story taking place here? Make your setting irreplaceable.

3. What do people value and cherish? Define cultural touchstones.

4. How do characters come into conflict? Create tension from the world.

5. Who is telling the story? Reveal your world through character perspective.

These questions work whether you're writing high fantasy or contemporary romance, historical fiction or futuristic dystopia. By answering them thoughtfully, you'll create worlds that feel authentic, lived-in, and vital to your story.

Want a head start on your worldbuilding journey? Download my free worldbuilding checklist from the subscriber library. You'll also get access to my creative toolkit, which includes a story development workbook, character development templates, and more resources to support your writing.