World-building isn’t just limited to complex fantasy and sci-fi stories; all fiction must create a world for the reader to dive into, one that has a specific set of rules, sensations, heroes, villains… the list goes on. Here are three important do’s and don’ts for writers as they tackle the world-building in their works-in-progress.
Don’t spam readers with details
Don’t give readers too many unfamiliar details in the first few pages, they might feel lost and stop reading
- Instead of taking the time to fully immerse your reader in the unique details of your world, you chunk it up in just a few pages
Do flesh out your world enough for it to feel real
You want to make sure that your reader has just enough detail to be able to follow your plot-if they have too many questions about the how and why of your world, they may get frustrated with your plot
- Find the right balance: give them what they need to understand the world without being thrown out of it
Don’t neglect mundane details
Don’t neglect “mundane” or “trivial” details.
- You want your readers to be able to connect with the characters and their world. The more of themselves they can see in your story, the more you’ll hook them in.
Allow the reader to experience the world through your character’s POV
To avoid info-dumping, keep your focus on the scene, and anything that needs to be explained for your reader to understand the plot do so as pointedly as possible.
- The goal is to make sure that your reader knows exactly what they need to know to keep up with the plot.
Do engage your reader at the human level with objects that are familiar and character-centered
An easy way to draw your readers into your world is to take something familiar to them and give enough detail to understand how it functions in your setting and why it’s purposeful to the reader.
- This can be done with everything from weapons to food to transportation!
Don’t build in details not relevant to the plot
You want to be able to drive your readers to each of your plot points with as few stops as possible
- If you want them engrossed with your story, make sure you don’t pull over every few pages to look at something random on the side of the road
