World-Building
Writers Edit: https://writersedit.com/inspiration/how-is-world-building-for-a-short-story-different-from-a-novel/
World-building is essential for believable, relatable, well-rounded storytelling. It can help to create mood and atmosphere, build character, and evoke a powerful sense of place and setting.
Whether you’re creating sprawling imaginary lands in fantasy works, alternate realities in science fiction and dystopia, or the textured real worlds of historical fiction or literary narratives – it all involves world-building.
World-building in short stories vs. novels
In a short story, think of world-building like a taste test. In a novel, it’s more like picking an ice cream, then going back to ask how and where it was made, what its origins and history are, and whether you can have another one.
Writer Ian McHugh wrote
The world building needs of the [short] story are less, because you’re opening a smaller window than a novel, holding the reader and suspending their disbelief for a shorter time. And secondly, all you need to do is give the reader’s imagination something to work with, and that doesn’t actually need to take very many words.
McHugh also quotes Andrew Stanton, a screenwriter famed for such Pixar classics as Toy Story and Wall-E, who says storytelling is the well-organised absence of information – which is precisely how world-building works.
Your reader will do a lot of the work themselves in imagining a world from just a few hints. What’s more, they’ll find a sense of enjoyment and satisfaction in that process, as opposed to being spoon-fed the information.
So, we now know the main difference between world-building in a short story and a novel is that the short story world is glimpsed through a smaller window; a peephole, even.
What counts as world-building?
A fully realised world is one that appears to extend beyond the pages of the story.
In Crafting Novels and Short Stories, Donald Maass explains that the world of narrative does not just mean locations in which the action is set, but also ‘milieu, period, fashion, ideas, human outlook, historical moment, spiritual mood, and more.’
It is capturing not only place, but people in an environment; not only history, but people changing as the story unfolds. Description is the least of it. Bringing people alive in a place and time is the essence of it.
Researching and building your world
In a short story, you just need to drop the readers straight into an established world, without needing to explain everything about it. This means your world-building can’t be too complex, otherwise it will take away from the strength of the characters.
It’s common to do much more work world-building behind the scenes than appears in the finished story. Just make sure you don’t get distracted by building the world, and forget about writing your story!
Window or Peephole
If you enjoy the process of getting to know your fictional world in depth, https://www.worldanvil.com is an interactive, interesting resource for creating your own worlds. Otherwise, a pen and paper is just as handy.
How much research you put into world-building depends on how complex and far from your present experience your world is, and on whether you’re a plotter or a pantser.
Whether you’re opening a window to a whole world in a novel, or creating a peephole in a short story, world building is an essential part of the creative process. Most of all, have fun!
World Building Prompts
Choose some world-building details. Focus on those that are most relevant for your story and your protagonist. For instance, a 5-year-old would have a very different perspective than a tribal elder. A New York financier inhabit a different world than a student environmentalist. A travel writer in the 1950s would experience a very different culture than someone today.
Geography
Describe the natural world.
· Are there any locations of particular significance to your main character?
· What’s the weather like? What season is it in your story?
· People
· Are their different races/species of people (or beings) in your world? How does this impact your main character?
· What languages are spoken? Are there different dialects?
· Think about social frameworks: class systems, familial structure, healthcare, schooling, etc.
Civilisation
· What’s the history of your world? What historical elements are most pertinent to your character’s plight?
· Explore the culture(s) present in your world and the practices (food and drink, ritual, behaviour) that come along with them.
· Is religion a factor in your character’s life?
· What do people do for fun in your world?
· How educated is your character and why?
Technology
· Are there systems of magic in your world? How do they work?
· What are the recent technological advancements and how do they impact your character’s day-to-day life?
· What kind of weaponry is used? This is particularly relevant for genres like epic fantasy, historical fiction, or war stories.
Economy
· How does trade and commerce work in your world? Does this impact your character’s profession?
· What kinds of transportation are common (or uncommon)?
· What kinds of businesses would your character pass when walking down the street? (Are there even streets in your world?!)
Politics
· Think about who makes up the government, or what kind of government is in power, if any.
· Are there particular laws that have a notable impact on your main character?
· Remember that just looking at one of these aspects alone might create the basis of your entire world.
Social / Cultural
· What is the cultural hierarchy – is there a class system?
· What are the moral values of the society?
· How do your characters make and keep friends?
· How do your characters meet / marry / live together?
· How do they raise their children?
Entertainment
· What are the main amusements / hobbies
· Is music, dance, theatre, film, part of your world?
My World
Outline:
Protagonist:
Time:
Place:
Geography
Civilisation
Technology
Economy
Politics
Social / Cultural
Entertainment
Outline Using my World Building Notes