5 Worst Worldbuilding Mistakes & How to Fix Them (Writing Advice)

TL;DR

World building is crucial for all genres, not just sci-fi and fantasy. This post discusses five common world building mistakes: half-baked worlds, info dumping, sensory deprivation, static worlds, and irrelevant details. We also explore practical solutions to enhance your story’s setting, lore, and society, ensuring they engage your audience while supporting your narrative.

Introduction

Hello, everyone! My name is Brandon McNalty, and I’m the author of The Half Murders. Welcome to my writing channel. Today, we’re diving into a crucial aspect of storytelling: world building. Many people mistakenly believe that world building is solely for sci-fi and fantasy genres. However, it is a vital element for any type of story you wish to tell.

The Three Key Components of World Building

Before we discuss the mistakes, let’s clarify the three key components of world building:

• Setting: This refers to when and where your story takes place. Whether it’s the fictional land of Westeros during King Joffrey’s reign, a galaxy far, far away, or the bustling streets of 1990s Manhattan, the setting is crucial. A good setting not only provides a backdrop but also actively influences the story.
• Lore: Lore encompasses the history, traditions, and knowledge within your story world. It includes significant past events that have shaped the current state of affairs. A well-crafted lore can make your world feel expansive and rich, intriguing your audience to imagine the events and characters that existed before the current narrative.
• Society: This involves everything related to the world’s population, power structures, cultural expectations, and economy. Society organizes the world and its inhabitants, often serving as a challenge or adversary for your characters.

The Five Worst World Building Mistakes

Now that we have the basics covered, let’s explore the five worst world building mistakes that writers commonly make, along with practical solutions to fix them.

1. Half-Baked Worlds

Half-baked worlds are those that feel carelessly or lazily designed. Often, this is due to a lack of connection or development of ideas. Such worlds may have surface appeal but ultimately lack substance and logic, which can hurt the overall believability of your story.

How to Fix It:

To make your world believable, take the time to develop its intricacies. Here are some questions to consider:

• Who holds power in this world, and how is that power distributed?
• How does this power affect your main character?
• What rules govern the society? What happens when those rules are broken?
• How do people sustain themselves economically? What jobs are available?
• What unique aspects does the setting have, such as extreme weather or harsh terrain?
• What are the primary goals of the people in this world—survival, comfort, change?

2. Info Dumping

Info dumping occurs when writers introduce their world through long passages filled with background information rather than through engaging drama. This often disrupts the story’s pacing and can make it challenging for readers to connect with the characters.

How to Fix It:

Invite your audience into the world gradually. Introduce characters and plot events alongside world details to create engagement. When readers care about the characters, they’re more likely to be interested in the world they inhabit. Only share extensive lore when the audience has a reason to want to know more.

3. Sensory Deprivation

A world lacking sensory details can feel bland and one-dimensional. Writers often focus on visual descriptions while neglecting other senses, which diminishes the immersive quality of the setting.

How to Fix It:

Make a conscious effort to engage all five senses in your writing. Here are some tips:

• Describe the temperature or physical sensations characters experience.
• Include smells and tastes to enhance scenes. For example, describe the aroma of food or the scent of rain.
• Challenge yourself to incorporate sensory details regularly, such as mentioning a smell every third page and a taste every fifth.

4. Static Worlds

Static worlds feel lifeless and boring, lacking interaction and influence on the characters or plot. These worlds can result from underdeveloped societies that do not impact the narrative.

How to Fix It:

Make your world building dynamic. Consider the desires and operations of your society. Here are some ideas:

• Introduce natural elements like weather changes that affect the plot.
• Allow societal rules to create unique challenges for your characters.
• Make history an active element of your world by letting past events motivate current actions.

5. Irrelevant Details

Writers may develop extensive details about their world but struggle with knowing when to stop sharing that information. This often leads to bloated narratives that distract from the main plot and characters.

How to Fix It:

Focus on your protagonist and main plot to determine which world building details are essential. Here are some strategies:

• Limit the focus on details that do not significantly impact the story.
• Introduce necessary lore through dialogue or brief mentions rather than lengthy expositions.
• Use curiosity to your advantage; drop hints and clues instead of overwhelming your audience with information.

Conclusion

World building is an essential part of storytelling, and avoiding these common mistakes can help you create a more engaging and believable narrative. Remember to develop a rich setting, intricate lore, and dynamic societies that not only support but enhance your characters’ journeys. I hope these insights help you in your writing endeavors!

Question of the Day

What world building issue do you struggle with the most? Let us know in the comments section below!

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