Q&A for How to Create a Fictional World from Scratch

You could start by coming up with a name for this galactic federation and dictatorship and explain the origin of how the galaxy came to be this way. Then, you could come up with the rules or laws of the federation and dictatorship. It would be beneficial to tell what races inhabit these sides and their relationship with each other.

No, the exact dates are not at all necessary, unless there's an event you want to bring up.

Yes, that sounds like a great idea. Another good tip is to decide where your characters differ from the species to be unique, or forms of entertainment in the world.

Try the methods in Find Unique Names for Your Characters .

This depends on where your interests lie and which you feel you could do a better job creating. Both have their merits. If you'd like, you could create a world where elements of both coexist.

Yes, a fictional world set in an afterlife or populated with ghosts (etc.) would be very interesting.

Decide what the apocalyptic event was (even if it is never revealed to the readers or characters), and research how this would affect the world. A pandemic wiping out most of mankind, for example, would leave cities whole but crumbling. The natural world of plants and animals would flourish, and reclaim manmade landscapes. Farms and orchards would be places of abundance for survivors. A nuclear holocaust, on the other hand, would destroy many places, kill off most wildlife, and make most of the world dangerously irradiated.

You can write something like that. A good example would be The Land Of Stories by Chris Colfer. And it was a huge success! I would love to read a fantasy novel that takes place in a shared universe. Remember to make the plot interesting too.

Yes, you can develop your world as much or as little as you want. If what you are using the world for does not require a broader universe, you don't have to include that. However, once you have been working on the world for some time, it might be helpful to place it into a broader universe.

Go about making one by having characters who can do unrealistic things, but have a realistic story and attitude. If you don't plan on making a book or movie based on the fictional world, you can use already popular fictional characters for something like a roleplay. You also should have a semi-realistic surrounding. Not everything has to take place in something in a cliche, such as a ''mystical forest''.

If you don't want to base your story off any ideas, use your imagination. You could also look at tutorials so you can at least understand how to go about making a reasonable world for it. For example, it wouldn't make sense if a unicorn could tap dance but not be able to stand or walk. You can also add many things for the setting, and the world or universe you want to make. Though it seems like you don't want any ideas, you can look at other worlds that you like and take inspiration if wanted!

No, that idea is not cliched at all. In fact, with an intriguing plot and some of your own original ideas, you'll be able to make an amazing story out of that. Try not to stick to tropes that other authors have written about regarding life in Earth's core. Add your own system to it, add your own interpretation to it and maybe ask a professional, like your English teacher for further ideas. You can ask yourself what inspired you to write about it and circulate your ideas around that.