shortworldbuilding
Shortworldbuilding is a practice in speculative fiction and game design that emphasizes concise, efficient creation of a setting. It aims to convey a convincing world through a small amount of text or a single scene, rather than through comprehensive lore. The focus is on establishing core rules, conflicts, or atmospheres that trigger imagination and drive a plot or prompt.
Key characteristics include economy of words, specificity, and emphasis on a few elements—such as a location,
Techniques and approaches involve showing rather than telling, using distinctive sensory cues, naming concrete technologies or
Applications include writing prompts for authors, tabletop role-playing game ideas, collaborative worldbuilding exercises, and classroom or
Limitations involve the risk of vagueness or inconsistency if the core premise is underdeveloped. Effective shortworldbuilding