4: The Worldbuilding Mistake That Nearly Ruined my Book

Remember how you felt reading Harry Potter for the first time?

Elated. In awe. Desperate to enter the world.

A magical Ministry that forbids spell work in front of Muggles. A schooling system that invites children via handwritten letters when their powers spark to life at eleven. A society obsessed with Quidditch. Owls that deliver the post. Knuts, Sickles, and Galleons. The dream of becoming an Auror.

And it all takes place right here on Earth—hidden beneath our clueless Muggle noses?

Your fantasy world can have that same pull—if you build it right.

I Got Lost in the World Before I Wrote the Story

When I first started working on my fantasy novel, I loved building the world. Honestly? I probably spent way too much time doing it.

I mapped out seasons. Invented cultural traditions for every country. Decided how people greeted each other, how laws were passed, what trees grew where, how trading worked, what currency each region used, what animals were sacred, how their calendars worked…

You get the picture.

And while I was endlessly fascinated by all these details, the downside?

I wasn’t actually writing the book.

I told myself I was being productive—and sure, in a way I was—but deep down, I was using worldbuilding as a procrastination tool. It felt like progress, but there was no story on the page yet.

And here’s what I learned: You can’t build the entire world before you begin.

Because the moment you start writing, it all changes.

Characters take unexpected turns. Plotlines evolve. You suddenly realise, “Wait—this place actually needs to be here, not over there.”

So all that meticulous planning? You either toss it, tweak it, or twist it to fit what the story really needs.

When Should You Worldbuild?

So when is the “right” time to build your world?

Before drafting? During? After?

Honestly, I think there’s a balance. If I were doing this again, I’d go one of two ways:

A) Start drafting first. Get to know your characters, get a feel for the story, and then begin building the world around them. That way, the research doesn’t box you in—it supports the vision that’s already forming.

OR—

B) Give myself a clear time limit. One month max. Build just enough of the world to give me structure and direction, then get writing. Any longer than that and I know I’ll slip right back into the research rabbit hole.

Worldbuilding is essential, yes—but don’t let it delay the actual story.

The Iceberg Theory (Thanks, N.K. Jemisin)

N.K. Jemisin, in her MasterClass on fantasy and sci-fi writing, says:

Roughly 90% of your worldbuilding happens under the surface. It’s the part the reader never sees—but they feel it in every scene. And that hidden 90% is what supports the 10% you do show them.

It’s tempting to info-dump. To show off all the cool things you’ve built because you are attached to what you have created. But the magic happens when you weave it in so naturally that readers believe it, without even knowing why.

So yes—build the whole damn iceberg. Even the parts they’ll never read. Because readers will undoubtedly pick up on the parts you haven’t taken the time to flesh out.

The Three Tiers of Great Worldbuilding

Over the months (okay, many months) I spent building and researching, I started to notice a pattern. The strongest worlds I studied—and the most useful templates I used—could all be broken down into three key layers:

• The Foundational Tier

• The Spiritual Tier

• The Cultural Tier

The Foundational Tier

This is the physical structure of your world. Think geography, terrain, climate.

• Are there mountains, deserts, forests, rivers?

• How many continents or countries?

• What’s the weather like—and how does it change across regions?

This layer shapes everything else. A coastal fishing village lives very differently than a tribe in a desert or a city built high in the mountains. Geography affects food, shelter, clothing, travel, and trade.

The Spiritual Tier

This is the belief system of your world.

• Do they worship gods or goddesses? Spirit guides? Ancestral forces?

• Is there a dominant religion—or a complete absence of it?

• Where does power come from? Is magic spiritual, scientific, gifted, or forbidden?

Spirituality influences how people see the world, how they make decisions, and what they believe is possible.

The Cultural Tier

This is the human layer. The everyday world your characters move through.

• Politics and power structures

• Hierarchies and class systems

• Legal frameworks, punishments, traditions

• Gender roles, occupations, education, money

• Language, holidays, fashion, history

This is where the story comes alive—because this is where people live.

Make It Make Sense

The golden rule of worldbuilding? Make it feel real—and make it make sense.

Here’s an example: You wouldn’t create a country that’s stuck in winter 90% of the year and make it the global supplier of fresh fruit and vegetables. That doesn’t track.

But maybe they have a close alliance with a warmer region that does grow crops. In return, they provide soldiers or rare resources. That’s more plausible. And now you’ve just added diplomacy, trade, and military dynamics to your world—all because you followed the internal logic.

That’s how a world becomes rich and layered. When the rules it follows are the ones it made for itself.

Where to Start

There is nothing—nothing—more fun to me than building a world from scratch. (Writing a story in that world is a very close second.)

So where do you begin?

Start by googling some worldbuilding templates. There are heaps out there. Find one that sparks your imagination. Throw on a killer playlist. Light a candle if you’re that kind of writer (I am). And go wild.

Push boundaries. Explore weird ideas. Ask “what if?” over and over again.

Just don’t forget: The world has to feel real. Let it stretch wide—but keep it grounded in internal truth.

And if you’re like me and tend to get carried away building the world for 9 months before writing a single chapter? Set a timer. Set some boundaries. And remember: Done is better than perfect.

Something Exciting Is Coming...

If worldbuilding is your favourite part too—or if you’re struggling to structure your ideas and bring your fantasy world to life—then stay tuned!

I’m working on something very exciting behind the scenes that’s going to help you do exactly that. It’ll be launching at the beginning of September!

To be the first to know when my secret side project is announced, be sure to subscribe to my email list at the bottom of the page!

Until then, happy writing!

Renee Ella