WORLD BUILDING WORK SHEET
By Lizzie Newell
Author of
Sappho's Agency
The Fisherman and the Sperm Thief
The Tristan Bay Accord
Conflict
What conflict is necessary to the plot? Conflict is caused by shortage, so consider how shortage led to the conflict that drives the plot.
This list is in order of big to small considerations. It may be best to start in the middle of the list with shortage.
Cosmology
Laws of physics/magic
Origin of the universe
Origin of the world
Origin of species
Tidal forces & gravity
Size of planet
Number of moons
Location in Universe
Location in the galaxy
Location in the solar system
Climate (for space habitats consider equivalents)
Axial tilt
Latitude
Altitude
Humidity
Prevailing winds
Geography (for space habitats consider equivalents)
Proximity to mountains: windward or to the lee?
Proximity to ocean: temperature swings.
Rivers: erosion & movement of water.
Biome: Types of plants and animals.
Shortage What is in short supply in the world of the story? Quality is as important as quantity. Conflict can play out as one group withholding one of these needs from another, or exchanging one need for another, or attacking the source of these needs.
Food
Water
Shelter
Air
Sex partners
Economics of food
Source/production of:
Protein
Carbohydrates
Vitamin C
Vitamin D
Economics of shelter
Construction methods
Financing/cooperation in of construction
Heating/cooling methods
Economics of child care
Who provided care and education for children?
How are caregivers and teachers compensated?
Where does childcare occur?
Demographics
Ratio between male and female.
Ratio between women and children. If child survival rates are high and the population is stable, women will have an average of 2 pregnancies. They on average have more than 2, the population will rise.
Marriage customs: polygamy or monogamy.
Operational sex ratio. How many men vs women are seeking partners.
What are the leading causes of death?
Survival/treatment of those with injuries and disabilities?
Violence and Warfare
Homicide levels. High or low. Why?
Warfare. High or low Why?
Standing armies. Yes or no? Why?
Infrastructure
Transportation
Communication
Sanitation
Shipping and trade
Funding and recruitment for infrastructure and military.
Taxes
Conscription
Inheritance
Patrilineal
Matrilineal
Omnilineal
Other
Political system
Democratic/distributed
Autocratic/centralized
Justice system
Common-law
Justinian/Napoleonic code
Other
Religion
Rituals
Beliefs
Doctrine
Mythology/scripture
Calendar-conception of time
What type of clocks are in used?
Sundial?
Clock tower?
Analogue watches/clocks?
Digital?
Measurement, orientation, and conception of space
Radial/Etoile: Distance from camp usually give as time.
Grid: Like the game Battleships. Commonly used in older US towns.
Riverine: Upstream, downstream, right, & left. Distance usually given as time. Use of landmarks.
Island: Ocean side & mountain side
Highway: Exits & roads. Right turn & left turn. Distance in standardized units.
Maps, GPS, street signs?
Language
Sounds of language
Grammar
Written language
Orthography(spelling)
Idiom
Aesthetics and Art
Architecture
Fashion
Dining customs
Music
Dance
Visual Arts
Theater
Storytelling and fiction. (I take care with embedding fiction within fiction, but it can be done)