Worldbuilding serves as a “container,” allowing for non-linear narratives and ‘choose your own adventure’ (CYOA) paths, creating intriguing rabbit holes for audiences to explore and transformative experiences to emerge. Its rich and captivating nature not only retains audience attention but fosters opportunities for relationship building and long-t... See more

Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin once grouped worldbuilders into two types: architects and gardeners. These days, there seem to be fewer gardeners (Martin considers himself one), creators who allow a world to organically bloom. Most franchise worlds are architected to market-researched perfection. These efforts are not exclusive to the e... See more

Worldbuilding satisfies the desire to “be a real maker,” J.R.R. Tolkien remarked in his 1947 essay “On Fairy Stories.” The creator should “hope that he is drawing on reality,” for the qualities of the world should aim to capture some truth, some essence of reality.