Worldbuilding

In this video, you'll learn about world building for your novel, including the six steps to an immersive world, two different types of realities you can create, and some helpful examples.
This video discusses:
[01:00] What is World Building?
[01:53] Real-World vs. Second-World Fantasy
[03:01] Your Six Step Guide to World Building
[03:09] Step 1: Plan (But Don’t Over-Plan)
[03:43] Step 2: Describe Your World
[04:49] Step 3: Populate Your World
[05:27] Step 4: Establish the History of Your World
[06:15] Step 5: Determine the Culture of Your World
[06:56] Step 6: Power Your World
[07:52] Wrap Up
Jumpstart your writing journey with this complete (and free) novel-writing guide. leveragecreative.lpages.co/ho...
Click here to access related resources:
Blog: A Step-by-Step Guide to Immersive Worldbuilding:
jerryjenkins.com/worldbuilding/
How to Describe the Setting of a Story:
jerryjenkins.com/setting-of-a...
7 Story Elements:
• 7 Story Elements
How to Write a Novel:
My Proven 12-Step Process: • How to Write a Novel: ...
Jerry Jenkins is the author of over 200 books, including 21 New York Times bestsellers. He’s passionate about helping writers grow to their full potential and have the best chance to see their writing published. Browse his archive of advice pulled from his nearly 50 years as a writer, editor, and publisher at www.jerryjenkins.com.
Become part of a community of writers like you on Jerry’s Facebook page: / jerry.b.jenkins

[@exceptionalhistory1955]

I love how his lessons aren't just generic explanations. It's specific instructions that are doable.

[@Vikingr4Jesus5919]

I am actually building my own course, and you may not know this but your comment serves as a very valuable tip for me. To not make generic explanations but provide specific instructions that are easy to apply. Thank you for writing this out, and I do also agree with ya. Jenkins is a fantastic writer as well as an good mentor.

[@clintoreilly]

It's always an honor learning from the best. Thanks, Mr Jenkins.

[@grimm_comics]

This is one of very few writers whose advice is actionable.

[@codenamedarkling]

Thank you for identifying the differences between pantsers and outliners. For years, I thought I was an outliner, and I make great outlines, but get overwhelmed when it comes to layering it into the stories. I got bored. With the help of your videos, I recognize my style, has always been at the seat of my pants, kind of backwards and nonlinear but it gets words on the page and development is much more fun once I see how the stories coming together, because I feel the excitement of not knowing my whole story yet and being surprised when it's all said and done.

[@neptunedarling]

Great lesson yet again!

[@delusionaldreamer8332]

I'm writing a war story for NaNoWriMo, it's set in a fantasy world, and the culture of this world is very important to why the war is going on, so this is actually very helpful.

[@yazmina2031]

Your videos are very helpful. I published two books this year because of you! Thank you for all of your work!

[@sophiethelk9557]

Congrats, this is amazing! If you don't mind me asking, what are your books called? :)

[@InfCreatora]

Congrats 🎉

[@muhammadalim.z.8332]

Congratulations!! I hope your published and unpublished books do great!! Bless you!

[@Emma-jm8tz]

I thought your voice was so familiar and then realised you're Dallas Jenkin's dad!! I love the chosen 😍

[@theivesguild]

It’s like a targeted missile of useful information. Thank you for another helpful lesson!

[@Mr.Mitopia]

Always take advice from you, Mr. Jenkins.

[@beverleyyoung55]

As always, so helpful. A whisker away from finishing my first novel, and have gained much from reading your material and watching your videos...THANK YOU - Cheers- Bev

[@melanieclarkauthor960]

I am glad that you are posting videos again, Mr. Jenkins! Wow! He called it when he said, world building can take over the story for a pantser! I have been wrestling between my story and the world building for these past years!!

[@braveheart9236]

Great packaging - the topic, the tips, the timing. Sold!

[@waltzingbird7934]

Perfect timing! Was having trouble with worldbuilding!

[@grahamcracker8319]

You are a godsend Mr. Jenkins

[@melodyhighman4390]

Love how concise and helpful Jerry's videos are - thank you!

[@tomaria100]

Thank you, Jerry!

[@judyutman4489]

great information in a concise format!

[@akioasakura3624]

perfect timing omggg🙏🙏🙏 i love ur vids thank youuu

[@1rishpotat0]

Really helpful! I'm trying to really get into worldbuilding, and this is definitely something I'll watch over and over!

[@BeansInTheSink]

Thank you Jerry! I'm an aspiring writer that's been egged on by friends, family, and peers alike to sit down and churn out a book. I want to start soft with short stories first and your videos are helping me to fine tune my writing.

[@seanmcnally6658]

I just discovered your channel Jerry. These are great, well scripted, videos. Love to know how theses topics are used in your work.

[@landonpraught9170]

Thank you, Jerry, This was a great help I am getting ready to start my next novel. God bless you

[@christinesneeringer4371]

Thanks for making it so easy to follow and practical! I appreciate the tailored advice to us “pantsers”!!! You’re a legend, Jerry!!

[@risingkl3222]

This was really helpful and not overwhelming, Love your Videos!

[@wewatchmovies4446]

Jenkins knows Final Fantasy! Im just flat impressed

[@wewatchmovies4446]

And he just referenced PKD! Sweet lord. I already liked Jenkins but now he's just earning extra credit.

[@samanthamahmoodtv]

Thank you Mr Jenkins for your impact!

[@cubertuber1048]

Thank you so much for these videos. God bless and Jesus loves you!

[@zislashiff5834]

Jerry you are the Crown Prince on novel writing. WHY...You jjust Tell but not only show. I am impressed by your unique intellligence and tbe way you deliver the information which is invaluable and inspirational with a humane touch in our world of fast food and artificial intelligence God bless you and all you love. You make our world a better place to live in. Zisla

[@nguyenvubui1258]

Thank you mr. Jenkins

[@jackiekennedy653]

I wanna say thanks for this video, I'm 13 and I'm making a sequal to a little book I made and this really helps me, love your books by the way

[@karriestefflen2621]

Thank you so much for sharing your expertise!

[@paapafahodzi5731]

Just what I needed. You're the best!

[@kacirigney]

Great video, Jerry! Thanks!

[@limitsky22]

Thank you for this video!

[@tondemonaiyatsuu]

You are a treasure Mr. Jenkins. Thank you so much!

[@aaronrajanikanth8298]

You are more of a mentor..than just a teacher..Sir..Regards.

[@DJ-tq1ht]

Omg. Jery Jenkins knows of Final Fantasy. Mind-blowing!

[@ecowyatt]

Jerry, thank you for always getting right into the meat and potatoes of the videos. So many KZbinrs spend 2-3 whole minutes trying to promote their product or talk about their channel. You get right into the topic, and your descriptions are detailed and informative.

[@Elsiewrite]

This is very valuable information and easy to use. Thank you as always Jerry

[@SiDucky1708]

Lots of great questions to get your world flushed out, surprisingly I wasn't doing too bad it seems! Thanks!

[@underpollwhatnow584]

Thank you so much Great video

[@user-qw6fv6rw8x]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@lindasmith3806]

Thank you for your wisdom----very helpful.

[@9neometa]

Love your videos Jerry! They have been hugely helpful towards my writing and imagination.

[@Thisplaceisaprison3912]

I love your channel. You have such a way of explaining what most of us know in a way that makes sense.

[@lillydevil2486]

LOVED the video!

[@ascensionwalkies]

Always a pleasure to learn from you, Jerry Jenkins🙏God bless your generous spirit💎💙 gratitude, respect and appreciation 🙏

[@MrZkoki]

Very methodical approach. Covers everything along with real world examples from all sorts of media. Providing a compass for even the ones among us that don't know how to create and navigate through a fictional world in the least.

[@rafaelagonzales498]

Wonderful information thank you!

[@belgiumcomics2537]

This video will be very helpfull when writting a story I am planning of writting that is set in a dystopian future.

[@WolfIronside]

I'm a huge fan of your videos, Jerry. I like to watch them as a warmup for my writing sessions. I call it "Jerry and chill". Cheers!

[@pankhurikhanna-tl9zl]

Thank you sir 🙏🏻

[@33shin33]

Thank you so much professor, thank you so much professor.

[@gregario888]

Awesome!

[@lexussapp5501]

This is my first time coming across your page, and Im just so thankful that I did. I love your style of teaching, and it makes it seem truly possible to get started, tonight even. Thanks so much and I cant wait to see more. If you have a Patreon I cant wait to find out.

[@LaurelMcHargue]

Helpful advice and a voice I could listen to forever. Just subscribed. Thank you.

[@Cpost2010]

Thank you Jerry, always helpful!

[@StudentTransformentor]

Jerry ... universe is connecting me to you...for the right reason...this video is very much useful to my fantacy character

[@DwightClough]

Nicely done, Jerry

[@osw330904]

Great advice

[@tiksten2707]

Thank you very much

[@humbertolivingstonjr.4327]

I'll like to finish my science fiction stories, some day

[@Thinksso-ej8so]

Thanks. Useful.

[@nicholasmoore8115]

Thanks, Jerry! Now off to create. 💯

[@ratarakishika854]

You helped guiding through my writing. Thank you!

[@maria-gr2cz]

thank you.

[@sir_lancelot_swd]

i'm a new young writer and im trying to write a fantasy novel and i really needed to learn the basics so thank you.

[@Tirlex]

Great video 👍

[@vinceclarke1482]

Thanks for another great insight into writing. I'm on my first novel Yr experience is valued thank you so much Vince in New Zealand

[@overthinkingchristian8732]

Thanks for your work!

[@DavidLee-fy7rd]

Extent video as always Jerry.

[@jackdixon2063]

Legend

[@eacesyednollej3562]

Thank you

[@elyinanrishoma3928]

Brilliant

[@SpartanCodeTBAG]

Thumbs up.

[@lynntoytrainmuseum8973]

Thanks! Looking forward to creating a world where group home Staff are truly engaged in their work. 🚂

[@Unknownhumans45]

Using this for making music. Thanks.

[@farrukhsinfo]

You made the task of writing doable for me

[@warpath4821]

Just this shirt video was eye opening thanks

[@estebanterrazas5324]

Get job. Very helpful

[@ProjectMathesar]

I've been hoping for a video on this topic. I always get stuck here.

[@lindaabraham8715]

I am an "outliner" and a playwright. In my writing, I want to accomplish an overall theme, as well as many lesser themes, within a compelling plot, all mapped out before beginning. The outline keeps me focused so that each scene must contribute to my objectives. Then, writing simply becomes adhering to the recipe of the outline, and dialogue is the spice. I suppose having an audience is what attracts me to the play format--I anticipate the audience's reaction, and imagining this reaction is the motivator to get finished. My problem is that I like to talk, talk, talk about the current play until my friends are bored with me. In my current work, I begin with an ordinary situation in which neither of my protagonists (a married couple) is honest with themselves or each other. An intelligent viewer should understand the situation immediately, and some will be very uncomfortable with it. Then, the fun begins... What I would appreciate very much is someone knowledgeable who can follow my progress, someone who might just comment on whether it is interesting or not. Is that possible?

[@HardKillaz]

Subbed

[@crosscutofficial]

I love your videos. They’ve helped me so much. I’m currently writing a Christian Science Fiction book. I’m concerned though about controversy among many Christians that may result with a certain topic within the book, I wish I could afford to get your full classes. Sadly, I’m on a fixed income.

[@sodapopcowboy8620]

Sweet! You have fun with it! Ask others of their thoughts on it along the way should help you out. You cannot let yourself be trapped in a tight box.

[@engleharddinglefester4285]

Thanks! I'd been wondering what the term "worldbuilding" was about and was having difficulty understanding it.

[@thermalrain_yt9725]

My wife says i can write pretty good. Ive always been interested in it and toyed with the idea. I dont read much though. Im a pretty good beginner. Most things ive done i feel like i have a headstart. I had this idea that i want to do and its causing me to look up things like this. I heard about jqck and the beanstalk and the story aeemed like it could be done in a slightly futuristic world. Instead of a real beanstalk its a digital one heading into the cloud. I brainstormed quite a bit of the details and it feels good. I just need to figure out how to go about the whole process.

[@yayawood8609]

Here is my comment. Thank you.

[@BenjaminBiruta-mu3by]

Thanks a lot, JJ

[@al2642]

Did he say "final fintasy"?

[@YumEspressoYum]

I had the same reaction! Hahaha impressive. Cool guy

[@yvesgomes]

Regarding soft and hard magic, are there successful examples where the magic is soft in the first book of a series, then becomes harder in the sequels, as the main character learns about it?

[@sodapopcowboy8620]

"He Who Fights With Monsters" by Shirtaloon is an example of this (You should try out the audiobooks on audible it is fantastic!). It still comes with a punch but increases more so overtime in the plot. I am currently working on my own book series that will do the same except it will not be revealed to be partly magic later about mid way in the series. So things can start small to large or medium to large. I find some sort of gradual influx of information to the reader helps them understand what the world is and how it works.

[@yvesgomes]

@@sodapopcowboy8620 Thanks!

[@saltanataskerova8757]

HAAAAA NİCE CARACTERE NO HAS ANY MORE AGES MAKİNGS

[@cjsamtab7]

Sir, how do I deal with brand names? Should I use brand names and are there by-laws governing their use in stories? By the way, Im doing this in Singapore, a very touchy place.

[@peterloader974]

You need to check your website. I can't download any of your guides?

[@MikhaelAhava]

Ok.

[@Crown_mermaid]

My pen name ~Nirah mermaid 📌 The book i wrote will be made into a film one day and create a great impact in writing and cinemic world 😊🎉

[@ftk-forthekingdomministrie7439]

It needs to be said that Left Behind is a fantasy novel

[@humbertolivingstonjr.4327]

Perfect I need some help. Please!!!

[@BenjaminBiruta-mu3by]

I got a question, I have no financial aid to publish my novel....How is it done ? What is the whole process ?

[@bruhbroseph]

Bruh, 1st.

[@mushreemman]

bruh, second

[@vulkanofnocturne]

@@mushreemman Bruh, third