Just as there are a million character building templates out on the world wide web, so are there world building templates. Here's the one I've complied from my favorites. You can fill out as many or as few of the question prompts as needed, I personally tend to use these forms as a way to combat 'white room' syndrome when a new setting is too blank.
Below, I'll go over the aspects of this setting sketch and provide an empty template for your use!
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SETTING SKETCH ANALYSIS
NAME (the name of your city, country, setting)
Location
HISTORY (Get creative or bypass this question to come back to later—adding history creates a layer of depth and understanding that makes writing in any given setting so much richer, more fun, and exciting. This is how you truly get the 'iceberg' affect, as well as great information for backstory and conflict)
GEOGRAPHY (Understanding your setting's place on your world map, it's climate, cities, inner workings, and even common flora and fauna are an immense help against 'white room disease'. Spending time delving into the natural (or unnatural!) aspects of your setting easily add a depth of senses to your scene.
CITIES (Developing a few cities (or using this template for one in particular) is a great way to gain understanding of your novel's culture and, more importantly, how it shapes your character's wants, needs, and fears.)
LIFE (This section is optional depending on how much time and intention you are giving to a particular setting. If multiple chapters of your story take place in a setting, these prompts are a great resource for adding a sense of life and realism.)
What do people eat?
Occupations/ways to earn a living:
Magic:
Medicine
Languages:
Amusement:
Typical Dress:
Typical Architecture:
Population:
CULTURE (Again, this section is optional depending on how much time is spent in this setting. I find a lot of interesting conflict arises when I spend time on these prompts, especially in regard to how my main characters would either agree or disagree with the setting's culture. If you find yourself stuck on 'what happens next', Brandon Sanderson advices to 'expand before adding'. Answering these prompts is a great way to go deeper what you've already created before following some appealing plot bunnies!)
Laws and Customs:
What defines criminal behavior & how criminals are charged/punished:
What is considered sinful? How are sinners treated by religious leaders and socially?
What resources are valued/present:
Does society value the individual or the collective:
How gender roles are defined:
Education:
What is culturally valued? (moral and ethical standards):
Traditions/Holidays:
Beliefs/Worship:
Improper/immoral behaviors:
Valued/proper/moral behaviors:
Death (how it is handled, afterlife, etc):
Symbols:
LEVEL OF TECH (Exploring the level of tech within your story, whether it be in the middle-ages or a thousand years in the future, will greatly affect your conflict and your character's daily lives.)
RULING POWER(S) (This section can be useful in certain stories or needless information for others. Take care not to drench your brain with too much information that has no real implication on your plot and characters. If you're writing anything that has to do with intrigue, politicking, or general court machinations, this is a great section to explore! I tend to leave this one blank until I come up to scenes set within this type of setting. Filling it out just before writing applicable scenes is a great way to get yourself in the right mindset and fill your creative well!)
Type of Government:
How is ruling power passed down?
LIFE AT COURT:
Location of Court:
Reason for Court’s Existence:
Size of Court:
Order of Power/Positions/TitlesResponsibilities that accompany:
Level of Sneakiness
Aristocrats or Civil Servants:
Level of Decadence:
Level of Ritual/Important Rituals:
Appearance:
Proper Behavior:
Major Players:
GENERAL AESTHETIC (All vibes, 100% fun! Fill this section with the general mood of your world/realm/city/setting. Pinterest boards land here!)
Notes (I keep a notes section in my setting files on Scrivener to keep track of any specific details / happenings and also remember who lives where.)
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TEMPLATES FOR YOUR USE (copy and paste!)
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NAME
Location
HISTORY
GEOGRAPHY
CITIES
LIFE
What do people eat?
Occupations/ways to earn a living:
Magic:
Medicine
Languages:
Amusement:
Typical Dress:
Typical Architecture:
Population:
CULTURE
Laws and Customs:
What defines criminal behavior & how criminals are charged/punished:
What is considered sinful? How are sinners treated by religious leaders and socially?
What resources are valued/present:
Does society value the individual or the collective:
How gender roles are defined:
Education:
What is culturally valued? (moral and ethical standards):
Traditions/Holidays:
Beliefs/Worship:
Improper/immoral behaviors:
Valued/proper/moral behaviors:
Death (how it is handled, afterlife, etc):
Symbols:
LEVEL OF TECH
RULING POWER(S)
Type of Government:
How is ruling power passed down?
LIFE AT COURT:
Location of Court:
Reason for Court’s Existence:
Size of Court:
Order of Power/Positions/TitlesResponsibilities that accompany:
Level of Sneakiness
Aristocrats or Civil Servants:
Level of Decadence:
Level of Ritual/Important Rituals:
Appearance:
Proper Behavior:
Major Players:
GENERAL AESTHETIC
Notes
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