Creating Believable Fantasy Worlds
Creating believable fantasy worlds is not for the faint of heart.
It takes a certain level of skill and dedication to make a fantasy world that is both believable and engaging.
In this article, I'll be giving you the tools you need to make it happen.
I will go deep on:
World building
Tropes
So, let’s get to it.
World-Building:
First off, let's talk about world-building.
This is the foundation of any fantasy world, and it's where the magic happens. It's the process of creating the rules, history, and geography of your fantasy world, and it's where you get to let your imagination run wild. But remember, it's not just about creating something unique, it's about making sure all the different elements work together seamlessly to create a believable world.
What I like to do is to begin with drawing a map. Doing this gives me an idea of major cities, regions, terrain and weather, and major roads between places of large populations.
Magic Systems:
Next, we have magic systems.
A good magic system is essential for any fantasy world. It's what sets it apart from our own world and makes it truly fantastical. But, it's important to remember that magic should have rules and consequences. Characters shouldn't be able to wave their wand and solve all their problems. That’s just boring.
Instead, give them limitations and make them work for their magic, that's when things start to get interesting.
I’ve always tried to make my magic as ‘believable’ as possible, creating a law surrounding the concepts and nut it out right down to exercises that can be done to improve one’s magical capabilities.
Characters:
Characters are the heart and soul of any fantasy world.
Without them, your fantasy world would be nothing more than a lifeless wasteland. To make believable fantasy characters, give them depth and complexity. They should have their own motivations, desires, and flaws. And, most importantly, they should be relatable.
Even if they're an elf or a dragon, they should have emotions and thoughts that readers can connect with.
Creating good characters is probably the hardest part of writing, and I was constantly battling with this part. Sometimes I try and base my characters on real people, other times drawing from already existing characters from other stories.
Writing out detailed personality traits and motivations can be a good way to develop your characters and avoid falling into stale archetypes.
Speaking of which …
Tropes:
Lastly, let's talk about tropes.
Sure, you want to create something original and unique, but there are certain tropes in fantasy that are tried and true. The key is to put your own spin on them. Take the "chosen one" trope for example. Instead of having a character who is suddenly thrust into greatness without any prior training or experience, give them a backstory of how they've been preparing for this moment their whole life.
That can make the trope feel fresh and new.
Many times tropes are unavoidable for the simple fact that virtually everything is already been done. The best you can do is try and put a unique twist on the archetype.
I know I have tropes in my books, I like some of them and they work for the character I wanted to have. Other times when I noticed a character was falling into a common trope I erased them completely and started again.
Pro tip: don’t be attached to your characters so much that you are unwilling to change them for the better.
In Conclusion
Creating believable fantasy worlds is not easy, but it's doable.
By building a solid foundation with:
creating a magic system with rules and consequences,
putting a spin on familiar tropes,
you'll be well on your way to creating a fantasy world that readers will want to get lost in.
So, get to work, and make it happen.
Till next time
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