☀️ fantasy worldbuilding 101 - pt. 1: the absolute basics

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✨ watch the rest of the fantasy worldbuilding series:
PART ONE: you are here!

welcome to the start of a new writing craft advice series that I'm really excited to share with you guys! today, I wanted to cover the absolute basics of building a fantasy world from scratch. worldbuilding is an aspect of fantasy writing I used to really underestimate, but it's both super fun and a great way to enrich your spec fic.

we're going to go a lot more in-depth in future videos, so please let me know what worldbuilding topics intrigue you the most.

thank you for watching :)

✨ timestamps
0:00 - title card
0:44 - THAT awful Harry Potter map
5:16 - pt. 1: why is worldbuilding important?
8:28 - pt. 2: types of fantasy worldbuilding
10:26 - pt. 3: how to pick a world
14:09 - pt. 4: how to build a world
15:59 - pt. 5: how to write a world
18:49 - outro

✨ music
take flight // louie zong
mushroom's life // chillpeach
land of dreams // chillpeach

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✨ tags:
authortube, booktube, writing, writing tips, writing vlog, how to write fantasy, science fiction, writers, creative writing, short stories, speculative fiction, fantasy writer, fantasy books

[Evybooks]

I love matching descriptions to my characters. for example, my protagonist is a seamstress's son. he describes the world a lot with fabrics. for example ''The clouds were stitched against the night sky.'' (hope this makes sense.)

[kjdee]

1. It doesn't have to be realistic, just consistent.
2. Reveal new aspects of your world as your MC discovers them.

[AnExtraDoseofFran]

My pirate adventure fantasy novel will thank you for this

[JaySmith.]

Yeah I drew my own world map after spending time doing research on the elements to consider and the different types of world maps. I initially felt bad about the amount of detail and depth I went into just doing world building but honestly I figured if I invested the time now organizing my world, magic system, map layout, etc, then I wouldn’t have to bother with it later when I started writing. I’ve spent enough time on and off for the last 6months developing the world, character profiles, story plot and subplots that I’ve now began writing and it definitely helps me because I can reference that material and not have to spend hours doing research while I’m trying to write. My problem now is trying to not be so perfect with my writing for draft 1 and just get it on paper. Spring break is coming up so I plan to spend that entire week finishing book 1.

[KrisMF]

omg WHAT is that harry potter map pleaseee 💀 this video dropped at the perfect time bc I’ve been feeling so insecure about my fantasy world building in particular. ive never taken the time to think seriously about my secondary world geography, like i’ll sketch things out but i won’t get into the nitty gritty/cultural nuances that im realizing would enhance the world sooo much more!

[atheistapostate]

I have had my idea for a book in my head for 23 years now and never got it started until I discovered a map making app that is very cheap.

I spent a week creating the world I saw in my head and tweaking it, and that helped me envision my story unfolding.

Now that I’ve started to write I am filling in gaps to my world like city and town names, and name of natural features. I just keep adding as I see the story unfold

[amirah]

this is so helpful ! i've had ideas for fantasy books since i was 13 but structuring a functional world was always where i hit a slump. if i ever manage to complete my first draft, i truly owe it entirely to this series <3 thank you so much

[Doodlydoodl]

I think it’s fine to take inspiration of of a culture that isn’t yours. As long as you don’t mess up. I mean look at avatar : entirely based of Asian culture and made by two non Asian guys . no cultural appropriation, no scandal, no disrespect . Because it was done well. I m not white but I can write about a world inspired by a European country, if I want to

[lizsun]

my story’s about raging spirits and how young mages learn/restore the peace for their world.
i have spent the last few hours coming up with mythology of the 9 main deities… its fun lol

[patrycjamonforton]

Off topic— but how you relay the information is so amazing. You’re so eloquent and organized

[citizen-xl]

I’m not very far into the video but the moment you said Korea and Japan have the same wizarding school I was reminded of my two Korean roommate during my year in Australia going on a rant about the Japanese sea.

[child.of_Hadesssss]

Some of my fav worlds in books, animes, and tv shows.

1. Hunter x hunter (anime)
2. Percy Jackson and the olympians (book)
3.Amphibia(Tv show)

[taijavmarie]

i am so excited for this! this is exactly what I need right now! ☺

[AnExtraDoseofFran]

I am here for the She Who Will Not Be Named slander and calling out the lack of thought from her. Worldbuilding, as you said, has LOADS of factors in need of consideration when building a story

Heck, I wrote a contemporary Tarzan novel and had to think about the worldbuilding in terms of how to write a wolf-based society

[nyx]

I have been writing stories and developing worlds for the stories to be in since I was a child, but only now do I consider how they interact. With how much writing content is out here on YouTube, I am surprised that not many videos are able to comprehensively bring across the essence of worldbuilding - and I am delighted to have found the best on the topic. You've earned a sub, and I'll check out the rest of this series! Thank you!

[pixelgitzby]

I owe you one. I've been thinking of story ideas ever since second grade, and thinking of how my world works is always a roadblock. I'm not really writing a story, but I am making an animated series based off of fantasy. Thanks!

[justanothercommenter]

Thankyou so much for this! I often get overwhelmed with the amount of information there is to world building, but breaking it down like this is incredibly helpful!

[haileymaurer]

I think that map is fan made only. I'm pretty sure there were only a few wizarding schools revealed in the HP universe, but there may be more unmentioned. Also, we can't assume "muggle" politics correspond to wizarding politics since they live separately, or how muggle politics might affect their schooling experiences. However, these issues would certainly need to be heavily addressed as a part of the worldbuilding process in a fanfic or spin off series. But I digress!

There are a lot of great tips and things to consider. Thank you for the wonderful video.

[jordanpoole]

Whilst I disagree with the notion that you 'must' be biologically related to a culture to be able to write about it well (research would just need to be strong and effective, which admittedly may be off putting to people which is where things go wrong), I really enjoyed this video. Thank you

[NiveaK.]

Omg I'm so glad you made this series. Really needed this right now lol this will be my homework for the next week