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101 Worldbuilding Prompts
Enhance Your Fantasy Worldbuilding.
Ready to build your fantasy world but don't know where to start? This definitive collection of fantasy writing tips and prompts jumpstarts the process with:
Over 100 questions from Geology, Biology, Physics (Magic!), Metaphysics, Technology, and Culture.
Strategies for top-down planners and bottom-up pantsers.
An introduction into fantasy conceits and analogue cultures.
How to find your subgenre based on your worldbuilding.
Links to an additional 15+ free and inexpensive worldbuilding resources.
For new authors and experienced world builders looking to sharpen their skills.
Ready to build your fantasy world but don't know where to start? This definitive collection of fantasy writing tips and prompts jumpstarts the process with:
Over 100 questions from Geology, Biology, Physics (Magic!), Metaphysics, Technology, and Culture.
Strategies for top-down planners and bottom-up pantsers.
An introduction into fantasy conceits and analogue cultures.
How to find your subgenre based on your worldbuilding.
Links to an additional 15+ free and inexpensive worldbuilding resources.
For new authors and experienced world builders looking to sharpen their skills.
- GenresWritingNonfiction
44 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2020
119 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
M.D. Presley
8 books83 followersNever passing up the opportunity to speak about himself in the third person, M.D. Presley is not nearly as clever as he thinks he is. Born and raised in Texas, he spent several years on the East Coast and now waits for the West Coast to shake him loose. His favorite words include defenestrate, callipygian, and Algonquin. The fact that monosyllabic is such a long word keeps him up at night.
And no, he's not related to Elvis. Thanks for asking though.
And no, he's not related to Elvis. Thanks for asking though.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 12, 2022
Im.working on a fantasy book
There are a great number of prompts her that makes me think of my world. This will be very helpful.
There are a great number of prompts her that makes me think of my world. This will be very helpful.
February 23, 2022
This was exactly what I was looking for. I’ve gone through it, created a doc with all the questions I can reuse. I went through the book, reading the elaborations that go with each question, and answered them in the doc. I mark those not applicable, and put a TBD for those I need to work on, so I get an iterative way of doing my world building. Highly recommended. It really makes you think of the possibilities, which is what I want, not a massively detailed list of items.
April 28, 2022
I really wish I was good enough.
This book breaks everything down into manageable sections. It is well thought out and really shows you how talented writers can be. To create their own world is nowhere near as easy as you think.
I have been designing a fantasy scheme of work for my students. I will definitely be recommending this to them as an aside.
Loved it.
This book breaks everything down into manageable sections. It is well thought out and really shows you how talented writers can be. To create their own world is nowhere near as easy as you think.
I have been designing a fantasy scheme of work for my students. I will definitely be recommending this to them as an aside.
Loved it.
December 1, 2021
Great resource
Not what I expected, but will be a brilliant resource to refer to when developing a fantasy plot. An essential aspect being the social laws and elements in any world, most if not all are discussed here and provide a fabulous starting point for writers.
Not what I expected, but will be a brilliant resource to refer to when developing a fantasy plot. An essential aspect being the social laws and elements in any world, most if not all are discussed here and provide a fabulous starting point for writers.
November 16, 2021
Loved the glossary and all the questions. This will be a huge help in so many aspects of my creative life.
December 28, 2024
Not all inclusive but a lot of good questions to Jumpstart or restart world building. Also very clear and concise definitions of terminology.
November 27, 2023
This is extremely helpful for all genres. I also found that some of the divisions and alignments made several of the less explored genres more logical in terms of how they're built.
January 23, 2024
"101 Worldbuilding Prompts" by M.D. Presley offers a refreshing oasis for creatives thirsty for inspiration. It feels like unearthing a cartographer's secret manual to crafting realms that pulse with life and authenticity. This book is not just a collection of prompts; it is an invitation to a grand adventure, where each prompt nudges the creator toward the meticulous craft of worldbuilding.
The book shines with its diversity of thought-provoking suggestions, which are ingeniously designed to cater to both budding and seasoned worldbuilders alike. The prompts are formulated with enough specificity to ignite the imagination, yet they retain a generous breadth, allowing the mind to wander through the untamed wilderness of creativity.
What sets this compilation apart is Presley's keen understanding of the multifaceted nature of worlds – the political, the cultural, the supernatural, and the mundane. Presley does not simply offer questions; he presents scenarios that demand the creator consider the ripple effects of each decision on a world's tapestry.
One could argue that the book functions almost like a guide through the subconscious of a story, asking you to delve deep into aspects that might otherwise remain shrouded in the mist of an overlooked backstory or underdeveloped plot point. Whether it's the economy of a dwarven city or the religious texts of a long-forgotten civilization, the prompts entreat you to venture further and deeper.
A remarkable benefit of this book is how it can both challenge and compliment any writer or game designer's existing process. For the lost, it's a compass; for the overburdened creator with more ideas than focus, it's a lighthouse guiding their narrative ship safely to shore.
While some might wish for more elaboration or context for each prompt, the brevity of the book is a strength, not a shortcoming. It is a testament to Presley's skill that he can ignite such vast creative fires with but a few well-placed sparks.
In summary, "101 Worldbuilding Prompts" serves as a crucial ally in the arsenal of anyone who crafts stories with depth and various fictional realities. It helps to stretch the imagination, foster consistency, and maintain complexity in the realms of the unreal. It is, simply put, a treasure trove that can transform worldbuilding from daunting to delightful. Whether you're stitching together the map of a new fantasy epic or breathing life into the society of a distant planet, this book is the wind at your back, pushing you toward creations limited only by the extent of your own imagination.
The book shines with its diversity of thought-provoking suggestions, which are ingeniously designed to cater to both budding and seasoned worldbuilders alike. The prompts are formulated with enough specificity to ignite the imagination, yet they retain a generous breadth, allowing the mind to wander through the untamed wilderness of creativity.
What sets this compilation apart is Presley's keen understanding of the multifaceted nature of worlds – the political, the cultural, the supernatural, and the mundane. Presley does not simply offer questions; he presents scenarios that demand the creator consider the ripple effects of each decision on a world's tapestry.
One could argue that the book functions almost like a guide through the subconscious of a story, asking you to delve deep into aspects that might otherwise remain shrouded in the mist of an overlooked backstory or underdeveloped plot point. Whether it's the economy of a dwarven city or the religious texts of a long-forgotten civilization, the prompts entreat you to venture further and deeper.
A remarkable benefit of this book is how it can both challenge and compliment any writer or game designer's existing process. For the lost, it's a compass; for the overburdened creator with more ideas than focus, it's a lighthouse guiding their narrative ship safely to shore.
While some might wish for more elaboration or context for each prompt, the brevity of the book is a strength, not a shortcoming. It is a testament to Presley's skill that he can ignite such vast creative fires with but a few well-placed sparks.
In summary, "101 Worldbuilding Prompts" serves as a crucial ally in the arsenal of anyone who crafts stories with depth and various fictional realities. It helps to stretch the imagination, foster consistency, and maintain complexity in the realms of the unreal. It is, simply put, a treasure trove that can transform worldbuilding from daunting to delightful. Whether you're stitching together the map of a new fantasy epic or breathing life into the society of a distant planet, this book is the wind at your back, pushing you toward creations limited only by the extent of your own imagination.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews