6 Worldbuilding Mistakes Every New Writer Makes

Introduction

This tutorial aims to highlight common worldbuilding mistakes that new writers often make in fantasy writing. By addressing these pitfalls, you can refine your worldbuilding techniques and create a more immersive and engaging narrative.

Step 1: Avoid Detached Worldbuilding

• Definition: Detached worldbuilding occurs when writers create elaborate worlds that lack connection to their characters and story.
• Practical Advice:
  • Focus on how the world affects your characters.
  • Integrate world details through character experiences, emotions, and motivations.
  • Example: Instead of describing a city’s architecture in isolation, show how a character navigates its streets and interacts with its inhabitants.

Step 2: Start Small and Build

• Importance: New writers often try to create vast worlds right from the beginning, which can be overwhelming and unfocused.
• Practical Advice:
  • Begin with a single location or a small community.
  • Gradually expand your world as the story progresses.
  • Use the initial setting to ground your narrative and develop themes.

Step 3: Go Deep Instead of Shallow

• Concept: Shallow worldbuilding results in a lack of depth and realism.
• Practical Advice:
  • Invest time in developing cultural, historical, and social aspects of your world.
  • Create rich backstories for important locations and characters.
  • Example: Instead of merely stating that a kingdom has a king, explore the king’s history, his relationship with his subjects, and the political climate.

Step 4: Consider Consequences

• Understanding: Ignoring the consequences of world events can lead to plot holes and inconsistencies.
• Practical Advice:
  • Think about how significant events (wars, disasters, etc.) shape the world and its inhabitants.
  • Make sure these consequences influence character decisions and the storyline.
  • Example: If a war has devastated a region, show how this affects the daily lives of characters and their interactions.

Step 5: Ensure Authentic Dialogue

• Common Pitfall: Anachronistic dialogue occurs when characters speak in a way that doesn’t fit the world’s time period or culture.
• Practical Advice:
  • Pay attention to language, slang, and speech patterns appropriate to your setting.
  • Read historical texts or literature to capture the essence of the dialogue style.
  • Revise dialogue to ensure it reflects character backgrounds and the world’s context.

Step 6: Strive for Originality

• Challenge: Many new writers fall into the trap of using clichés or familiar tropes without adding personal flair.
• Practical Advice:
  • Research common fantasy tropes and think about how you can twist or subvert them.
  • Draw inspiration from diverse sources—mythology, history, or personal experiences.
  • Aim to infuse your unique voice and ideas into the world you create.

Conclusion

By being mindful of these common worldbuilding mistakes, you can enhance the depth and authenticity of your fantasy writing. Start small, focus on character connections, and ensure your world feels alive and integrated into the narrative. As you refine your approach, consider continuing to develop your writing skills through workshops or writing courses to further hone your craft.