- You often daydream about how imaginary places operate.
- You're happy spending hours inventing rules for a fictional culture.
- You love building entire new worlds inside your head.
- You get bored quickly by long, solo projects.
- You expect quick results from your creative work.
- You struggle creating things without a clear, immediate purpose.
Your first moves.
Don't start from scratch. Start from here.
Start with a Core Concept
Begin by defining the central theme or premise of your world. For example, is it a world recovering from a magical apocalypse, a space-faring civilization with unique alien races, or a medieval society on the brink of industrial revolution?
Develop Your Geography and Environment
Sketch out your world's continents, oceans, climate zones, and major geographical features. Consider how these elements influence the cultures and inhabitants.
Outline Key Societies and Cultures
Define the major sentient species, their societies, governments, religions, and customs. Think about their history, conflicts, and relationships with each other.
Flesh Out History and Major Events
Create a timeline of significant historical events, wars, discoveries, and societal shifts that have shaped your world. This adds depth and context to the present state of your world.
Master Worldbuilding with online courses
Find the highest-rated beginner courses on Udemy before you invest in gear.
Worldbuilding Notebook
This is the standard choice for serious worldbuilders, offering durability and a professional feel for your creative work.
Drawing Pencils
These offer a superior range of graphite hardness for nuanced line work, essential for detailed map-making.
Index Card System
These offer the best practical organization, allowing for quick visual categorization of different worldbuilding elements.
World Map Making Tools
Precision Drafting Template Set — This set provides the best value for consistent geometric shapes and scale lines, crucial for professional-looking maps.
Color Pencils
Artist Quality Color Pencils — Offers a wider pigment range and smoother application, making them the ideal choice for vibrant, detailed world maps.
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