Fiction Writing
How to Create a Believable Fictional World
Hint: It starts with the 5 senses…
Ever read a book that left such a lasting impression on you that you felt like you’ve been living somewhere else?
I haven’t been to Scotland (yet) but after reading Diana Gabaldon’s books I felt transported. And how many of us recognized Hogwarts in the movies because it felt true to the place we experienced in the books? Even contemporary fiction must evoke a sense of time and place that feels so unique that the story couldn’t take place anywhere else.
So how do these authors do it?
World building in novels must encompass everything from the physical world the characters must navigate, the social constructs they encounter, and the food they eat.
That’s a lot to remember, but it all comes down to the right details — the five senses.
New writers tend to focus on what can be seen and heard in each scene, but we can take that to the next level to create a realistic and vivid fictional world.
1. Sight
Sight is the sense that comes most naturally to most writers. When we close our eyes, what do we see? The sun rising over the Atlantic as dawn turns to daylight? That’s a good start. What else is there? Describe the height of the dunes, the color of the sand, the state of the sea. From where the character is standing, how many buildings and structures can be seen? Describe the topography — is this a tourist-trap of a beach town, a wetland full of wildlife, or a misty stretch of beach below cliffs where rugged houses battle the elements?
Take it to the next level: Have the character react. He must shield his eyes from the sun’s blinding reflection off the ocean as it lights the boardwalk around him. She squints to see a flock of birds take flight as a lone rider gallops his horse across the empty beach. As characters interact with the elements and surroundings, readers experience it, too.
2. Sound
Ambient sound gives the reader a sense of place. The roar of a crowd and the blaring speakers of a sporting event feel entirely different from the gentle lap of water against the shore of a lake. Loud noises can give a sense of overwhelm or excitement, and a small noise in an otherwise quiet environment can be terrifying.
What sounds are unique to this place? Cars honking in a city? The sound of an elevated train? Cows lowing in the distance on a 500-acre ranch? Samba playing from a beachside bar?
Take it to the next level: How does the sound affect the character? Does the character move their shoulders to the music? Instinctively look for the disturbance among their cow herd? Or rush to the train platform to catch the last train home? A lone bird call in a dense forest might give the character (and therefore the reader) goosebumps or a peaceful sense of peace, depending on the tone of the book.
3. Smell
Use distinctive and familiar scents to pull readers into the moment. The smell of woodsmoke evokes images of crisp weather while camping, or cozy moments huddled indoors during a snowstorm. Sizzling street food with scents of spices, chilies, and sizzling shrimp can transport readers to another country.
Take it to the next level: How does the character physically react to each scent? Does the smell of woodsmoke make him relax because he’s nearly made it back to the cabin after getting lost, or does he feel a pinch of worry in his neck because there shouldn’t be anybody else in the forest? Does her mouth start watering at the smell of Thai streetfood? Does her stomach growl? Or does the smell of shrimp turn her stomach as she remembers the food poisoning she got from the hotel buffet?
4. Touch
Touch is one of the senses commonly overlooked by new writers, but this can be one of the most powerful. The comforting scratchiness of the warm woolens in Diana Gabaldon’s books was such a visceral detail that a wool scarf always reminds me of Scotland — even though I haven’t been there. The roughness of wood, the silkiness of a cat’s back, and the coolness of sand before sunrise are the vivid details that bring a story to life.
Take it to the next level: As the character interacts with the world around them, what do they touch, what touches them, and how does it feel? As the character reacts to their world, taking in sensory detail and experiencing every moment, the reader will, too.
5. Taste
Taste is a fun detail that, if chosen carefully and uniquely described, can leave readers remembering your story years later. (Every Flavor Beans, anyone? Nobody who read about earwax-flavored jelly beans will ever forget that detail.) But taste is a great way to incorporate local culture and inject a unique sense of place. Liz Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love was such a hit with readers for many reasons, one of which was the utter delight in which the protagonist (Liz) reveled in Italian food, discovering the flavors and experiences that can only be found in Rome. Readers love food, and food is one of the easiest ways to show a location’s identity.
Take it to the next level: Have characters form opinions as they eat and drink. If they’re somewhere new, what do they like, and what instantly repels them? Why? What specific ingredients or textures are they drawn to, and which ones gross them out?
Use Sensory Details as Building Blocks
Whether you’re writing a fantastical world that doesn’t exist, or diving deep into a small corner of our really world, creating a vivid environment is key.
Sensory details for every scene can be used as the building blocks to show the greater world around the character.
Readers need to know the following details:
- What traditions and rituals exist in this place?
- What societal norms create restrictions or allow for exploitation?
- What do people wear (and how do these garments feel and smell?
- What food is eaten on a daily basis? What dishes are brought out only for special occasions?
- What does the geography look like? Is it an island, a land-locked city, or a small town in remote wilderness? What types of plants are there? What time of year is it and what color is the landscape?
- What architecture makes up each locale? What building materials are used and how tall are buildings?
- What transportation is used?
- What currency is used and what economy does the character participate in (and does the money feel different in some way?)
The more details that can be incorporated into your story as the character moves through their world and interacts with it, the more the reader will feel like they are physically experiencing this world. And that’s what readers are looking for: an experience.
If you’ve received feedback that your story feels dull, the characters feel a bit flat, or your world-building needs work, start with making sure that the five senses are included in every single scene.
What do you think? Are these the elements that make reading memorable for you? Have I missed anything?
Happy writing!
Elizabeth Russo is an editor and author with a passion for helping new writers navigate their way through the process of taking a good story and turning it into a publishable manuscript. She’s a Florida Writers Association Top Ten Short Story winner and a member of the Florida Writers Association, the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, ACES: The Society for Editing, and the Editorial Freelancers Association. Have questions? Reach out!
