A Creator's Guide to Crafting the Unknown

The desk isn't anything fancy. A simple wooden surface, scratched by years of use, a mug of tea just barely within reach, and my notebook—open, blank, daring me to start something new.

My name is Jackie, and I'm a fanfic writer. I've only been writing fanfiction for about a year or so, but in that short time, I've discovered how much I love storytelling. I've borrowed worlds, slipped into the skins of beloved characters, and tried my hand at shaping what-ifs and alternate timelines. It's been fun, freeing, and a little bit addictive.

But lately, I've been feeling the itch to build something from the ground up. To stop borrowing and start creating—to craft my own world where everything, from the sky to the soil, answers to me.

Maybe you're feeling the same way. Maybe you've written stories set in sprawling fantasy kingdoms, gritty cyberpunk cities, or soft contemporary towns that almost mirror our own. Or maybe you're just curious—how do people create these vivid, living, breathing worlds from scratch?

Let me show you. It all starts with the biggest question of them all:

Step One: Choose Your Cosmic Neighborhood

Before you name a mountain or imagine your first dragon, you have to decide where your world exists in the grand scheme of space and time. There are three general paths you can take here, and each offers its own flavor:

1. Familiar Universe, Familiar Galaxy

You're staying right here, in our universe, in the Milky Way, possibly even our own solar system. Maybe your world is a hidden planet orbiting beyond Pluto. Maybe it's Earth, but after a cataclysm or in a far-flung future. This path gives you a lot of grounding—science, history, and real-life physics can all be adapted and stretched to fit your narrative.

Pros: Built-in realism, easier to research, great for sci-fi and speculative fiction
Cons: Less room for the surreal or mythic, bound somewhat by known rules

2. Familiar Universe, New Galaxy or Solar System

You're still in the same universe, but now you're venturing beyond the known. Your world might orbit a bright-blue star in a distant galaxy no telescope has seen. It opens the door to unique ecosystems, new physics, and a sense of total discovery.

Pros: Freedom with logic, can blend science with magic or new natural laws
Cons: Requires more internal consistency, as you'll be inventing almost everything

3. Completely New Universe

This is where the true gods of worldbuilding live. Your world isn't just a place—it's part of a universe with its own laws of motion, its own elemental structure, even its own dimensions of time. You are starting from the void and breathing life into it. This is the realm of high fantasy, interdimensional science fiction, and cosmic surrealism.

Pros: Pure creative freedom, you define reality itself
Cons: Requires deep planning to feel coherent and immersive

So—where do you want to be? Take a moment. Sit with that blank page. Don't rush. The answer doesn't need to be final. Your world will shift and grow as you shape it, like clay in your hands.

Step Two: Watch the World Appear

Once you've picked the cosmic stage, it's time to imagine the first breath of your world.

Is it born in fire? A volcanic, chaotic world still settling?

Is it cold and ancient? A place formed before stars even knew how to burn?

Was it created by a deity, or by accident, or by intelligent design?

From here, you begin shaping its physical laws. Consider these:

Atmosphere: What do people (or creatures) breathe? Is there air? Is it dense or thin?

Gravity: Are we floating, grounded, or somewhere in between? Gravity affects movement, architecture, even biology.

Time: Does it pass like ours? Do your characters live in a day that lasts 48 hours? Is there even a sun?

Magic or Technology: Does the world rely on arcane forces or hyper-advanced science? Or both? What powers the world?

These questions aren't just for aesthetics—they define how characters live, think, build, and dream.

You're not just building a place.
You're creating a reality.

And all of it starts right here—with you, at a desk, holding a pen.