Questions to ask when worldbuilding
As part of my occasional series of guest posts on worldbuilding (you can find the first instalment here), I'm excited to share this post by Christina 'DZA' Marie, host of the blog Dragons, Zombies & Aliens
Before we get started, I want to give a big thank-you to Ms. Bedard for inviting me to write this guest post. It’s really an honor!
Worldbuilding is a juggernaut of a topic, one that cannot be adequately covered in a single blog post. In addition, there’s a lot of external research that goes into it. How can you build a futuristic sci-fi economy without studying basic economics? How can you write about epic fantasy battles without researching previous wars and battle tactics?
Basically, worldbuilding is research. It’s learning to identify key parts of what makes a culture work, and finding new, creative ways to replace those parts. But there has to be some grounding in reality, and that’s where this post comes in.
So this isn’t a “here’s how to worldbuild” post. It’s more of a “here are the questions that I, Christina ‘DZA’ Marie, ask whenever I am worldbuilding.” Obviously, every author is different in their process, and chances are mine will be different in a few years. But hopefully this list will give other authors some inspiration in their creative worlds.
Core Values
I typically start with a culture’s core values. What are the things this culture deems most important? It’s usually two or three things. Money and beauty. Honor and self-restraint. They can be conflicting or parallel. And obviously, just because a society values (or claims to value) certain things doesn’t mean it’s actually obtainable for the entire population. Like how America has always valued freedom, but we’ve also had slaves for most of our history—because our other value is personal wealth.
People & Social Structure
Who holds the power in this society? How easy is it to gain or lose it?
Are there different ethnic groups within this culture and do they get along? Why or why not?
What about gender? Is it a patriarchy, a matriarchy, or something else? What about trans or non-binary people? On a related note, how is love and sex viewed? What about people who are gay and bi? Etc.
Religion
If a culture is large enough, there will be more than one religion. And if human history is any indication, there’s probably some friction between them.
Religion is extremely complicated. Just using Christianity as an example, which has only one God and one holy book, we find two thousand years of bloody history, splinter groups, expansion, persecution, and clashing beliefs. If a faith is polytheist, then it’s even more so. And if it’s a fantasy book you’re writing, and the gods are real physical people who regularly interact with your characters, then it gets even more complicated. And fun!
Government and Legal System
This one ties in with the social structure, and sometimes religion, too. Basically, who’s in charge and why? How are the laws passed and enforced?
Crime rate also falls into this category. What are a character’s chances of getting robbed or hurt in this society, and what are their chances of getting justice? What is this society’s version of justice? Are they lax and merciful, or strict and harsh?
On a related note: commerce. What’s the currency? How’s the economy? How rich or poor is the government and its people?
Technology and Magic
Assuming you’re writing fantasy, how does magic work? What’s its effect on everyday life?
With or without magic, you also need to acknowledge technology. Is it Stone Age? Renaissance? Futuristic?
The Fun Stuff
This stuff is affected by all the others, and is also the most visible. It tends to be the first thing characters and your readers come in contact with. The icing of the cake.
Clothing and accessories (be sure to take climate and weather into account)
Language and expressions
Food
Art and architecture
Sports, Games and Recreation
Climate and weather—and therefore, geology and natural resources—are usually last-minute for me. I tend to be more focused on the people. But you can’t just ignore it. It has a major impact on culture.
Finally...
Relationship with Other Places
Assuming there are other cultures around, what’s this culture’s relationship with them? How do other cultures view and stereotype them, and vice versa?
So that’s it! A very, very, very brief outline of worldbuilding. Or rather, culture-building. If you want more in-depth blog posts on writing tips, check out my resource page for writers here.
Christina 'DZA' Marie runs the blog Dragons, Zombies & Aliens for book reviews and writing tips, as well as a YouTube channel. She writes fantasy and sci-fi, publishing several short stories and novellas. When she’s not writing, she’s working two jobs, getting tangled in knitting, and protecting her furniture from her roommate’s evil cat. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.