Source¹¹1 “Lecture #6: Worldbuilding Part Two,” 2020 Creative Writing Lectures at BYU: Brandon Sanderson on Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy, YouTube video (Brandon Sanderson, 2020). 

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Worldbuilding is in service of the story and the characters. In order of priority:

1. Learn how to create engaging and interesting characters.
2. Learn how to tell a really good plot.
3. Learn how to create a great setting.

The most important thing to learn is to convey information about the setting in a way that is interesting and not boring.

Avoid encyclopedia entries.

Get setting into the dialogue, but avoid maid-and-butler dialogue.

Pyramid of abstraction: Ground the reader so that later on, abstract conversations (e.g. about the nature of art) can be had without pulling the reader out of the story. The more abstract something gets, the less likely readers will have a same/similar understanding of the concept.

Show, don’t tell: Showing is more concrete. Concrete (as opposed to abstract) is not “better.” Showing requires more words. But if you can use fewer words (irate vs very mad), do so.

“Tell-then-show”: Not needed; just show. Delete the tell-then-shows.

Start with a character in a situation where they want something. Throw in an obstacle that prevents them from having it, and see the character proactively working towards having it. Only do the minimum necessary worldbuilding to ground the scene, before doing any more worldbuilding.

Apprentice plot: Person unfamiliar with setting gets stuff explained to them (bit by bit, something just what is necessary). A little repetitive.

Make the setting become a character of itself (relatable).

Two parts to worldbuilding: physical and cultural.

Physical is all the stuff that would still be around if there were no sentient beings around. Weather, tectonic activity, the map, wildlife, magic, visual, cosmology, climate, terrain, …

Cultural: government, religion, economics, gender roles, borders, fashion, food, lore, history (big), rites, hierarchy, languages, dialects, accents, taboos/mores, military tradition, greetings, swear words.

Only pick a few of these! Do worldbuilding efficiently.

Interconnect all the bits!

Exercise

• Action adventure
• Mystery
• Romance
• Horror

Climate + action adventure story: dangerous biome enriches adventure. Sudden climate change. Dense fog hides enemies around you.

Fashion + mystery: Many pockets. Masks. In a society everyone looks the same or is dressed the same. Everyone has custom-made clothes and that yields clues for a detective.

Romance + military structure: Breaking military hierarchy, opposites of war (a bit cliché), Jedi can’t date ambassadors.

Horror + economics: Coronavirus destroys China and the economy is in chaos. Monster is chasing you and you can pay off people to put more names on the list before you. Alien invasion via stock market first. Adam Smith’s invisible hand is a real hand. Monkey’s Paw + economic pressure leading to terrible decisions.

So many possibilities! (And only with restricted worldbuilding.)