worldmaking

Worldmaking is the act or process of creating a self-contained world or worldview through narrative, visual media, or social practice. It encompasses the fictional worlds of literature, film, and games, as well as the real-world processes by which communities imagine and organize their social and moral environments.

In fiction, worldmaking involves establishing a setting with consistent geography, history, cultures, institutions, technology, and rules governing magic or science; this supports immersion and thematic exploration. Authors and creators in speculative genres build layered ecologies and languages to make the world feel plausible. In games and transmedia, worldbuilding is entwined with mechanics, ecosystems, and economies, shaping how players interact with the imagined setting.

Beyond fiction, worldmaking refers to how people construct shared realities through language, rituals, and institutions; a culture's cosmology and norms shape perception of what is possible. Philosophers and theorists discuss worldmaking as a form of social ontology and as a creative act that reveals values and power relations. The concept often emphasizes the ongoing, contingent character of worlds rather than their fixed nature.

Process and tools commonly used in worldmaking include creating maps, timelines, histories, cultures, languages, myths, technologies, and political structures. Writers and designers typically outline internal logic to prevent contradictions, while remaining attentive to audience reception and the need for iterative revision.

Ethical and cultural considerations in worldmaking include representation and the avoidance of harmful stereotypes, as well as efforts to acknowledge diverse perspectives and avoid privileging a single viewpoint. Worldmaking thus serves as a bridge between imagination and social critique, illustrating how imagined environments influence real-world thought and action.