For many writers, choosing the setting for a story is as simple as selecting one that already exists, such as Paris, a ranch in Texas, or a Tibetan monastery. Because the rules for these locations are already established, writers can create realistic and believable settings for readers by familiarizing themselves with the details and writing them consistently. (The Real-World City, Town, And Village Survey in our Worldbuilding Tool can help you keep those details organized.)

But what if your story calls for a different kind of setting—a world, realm, or city that only exists within your imagination? Then you’ve got some WORLDBUILDING to do. Which is both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. But don’t worry: every big project needs a plan to make it manageable, and that’s the purpose of this tutorial—to answer the questions you’re probably asking and provide you with a game plan.

WHAT EXACTLY IS INVOLVED IN BUILDING A NEW WORLD?