Setting & World Building

Questions to Ask About Your Setting

What is the date and time of the first chapter? Last chapter?

What length of time is the story going to cover? (a few days, months, years, etc.)

Where does the story take place (urban, rural, fantasy, reality, space)?

What genre is the story in?

What is an acceptable setting for this story?

What type of government is there?

How much research will need to go into setting up the World Building?

Are there any landmarks/natural formations that are necessary to the plot?

Is it going to be alternate history?

What level of technology is available?

Is it a small world (limited to say a town) or a larger world (think adventure/journey story)?

What 'races' are living there/creatures?

What kind of elements are going to be used: Magic vs non, realistic, semi-realistic, pure fantasy?

What is the culture like?

What (if any) religion do they follow?

How does religion affect the population?

What is the society like? Are there "levels" to society? (Think Regency period with the aristocracy, the working class, and the poor)

How will the characters be traveling across this terrain?

What is transportation like?

Are there any wars/rebellions going on?

Is there a single language or multiple languages?

What are the relations of neighboring countries?

What resources are available? (Farming, mining, etc.)

What stage is technology at?

How is gender used?

What are the laws/ordinances/governing rules like?

How do the characters interact with the setting?

What is the history of the world?

What is the history of the culture?

What do the characters feel about the setting? (Laws, available resources, ease of travel, etc.)

What is the layout of the land? What would a map look like?

Is there a primary setting? (A character's home, for example.) How would the main character describe the primary setting?

Was there something huge that happened in the world that has everyone viewing it in different ways?

What diseases are prevalent? Which are rare? What is deadly and what isn't?

Is there magic? How do the rules of magic work? Can anyone access it or only a select few?

What are key historical events that shaped your world?

Are there any royalty or is the area a democracy?

What animals are there? (Which are deadly? Which are poisonous? Which are beneficial? What do they all do/don't do?)

What sort of plants are there? (Which are deadly? Which are poisonous? Which are beneficial? What do they all do/don't do?)

What is the weather/temperature/seasons like?

Are there any taboos existing?

What are the medical/health care systems like? Is there one in place? How are the sick treated?

Are folks reliant on folklore for every day tasks or is the general populace more scientific (or magically) oriented?

What is the view on aging? on children? on marriage? parenting?

Can new people visit the area or is it cut off from others? If its not cut off from other areas, but they don't travel between them, why?

How does the magic system (If there is one) work?

What are the seasons like? Do they change? How do they change? How long do they last?

Is there a group to enforce the laws of the land? Who are they? How do they enforce the laws (brutally, peacefully, etc.)?

What major holidays were there?

Is there corruption? If so, who, what, and how?

What are the times of day like? Is it like it is for us - sunrise, dawn, daytime, dusk, nighttime, etc. - or does it differ?

Are there anomalies in the sky? extra moons? no moons? extra suns?

How is death handled? Is it openly discussed? Is it covered up and not spoken of?

How are funerals handled? What are some funerary customs?

How long are the days? Nights?

What is the currency like? Is everything a monetary system or is it bartering?

What sort of education system is there and who is it available to?

What kind of colors/color families dominate?

Is it a colorful world or kind of dull?

Is there a military force? How are they trained? Are folks forced to serve or is it voluntary?

What are the people like (genetically) colors of skin, hair eyes...general appearance?

What are some cultural insults?

What sort of races/species are there? Do species cross breed? If not, why? If so, what could possibly result from such a union?

Are there any curses in place?

What are the fashions like? Clothing? Jewelry?

What are the characters likely to be wearing? What would they not be caught dead wearing?

Are there any uniforms (clergy, soldiers, etc.)? What do they look like?

What alliances are in place?

What are the cultural norms and expectations for men vs. women? Is it an equal society or is one gender more dominant?

What is available for entertainment? Music, performances, literature... etc.

What foods are consumed? Does it differ among classes? Common foods? Special foods? Forbidden foods?



This list was generated by the chat room for your use. Feel free to post more questions if you have some that could benefit everyone!