How much worldbuilding should you share in your storytelling? How do you balance worldbuilding description and information
Only 20% of an iceberg is visible above the ocean’s surface, leaving 80% unseen, hidden in the depths below.
Now, of course there is no “one size fits all” in terms of worldbuilding, creative expression and how to write a good book or how to create the best TTRPG campaign. That said, I’ve found some worldbuilding tips over the years that are more helpful than others.
This brings me back to icebergs.
One piece of worldbuilding advice I received that helped me gauge the balance between how much worldbuilding I share in my novels was the iceberg metaphor.
Only 20% of worldbuilding should be included in the story—revealed through character interactions, immersion in the setting/surroundings, and lightly sprinkled throughout the narrative (because nobody likes infodumps).
That leaves 80% of worldbuilding hidden and unseen.
Just because the majority of worldbuilding isn’t “visible” doesn’t mean it’s not important. Those worldbuilding notes still help dictate consistency. From the creator’s side, having those detailed elements in notes helps convey the setting to readers in a layered, believable way, and leaves room for story evolution and expansion. It can dictate how characters interact with each other and plot and relationship development which doesn’t need long, in-depth explanations or infodumps.
Worldbuilding helps establish how characters or players interact with the world and nuances of how they interact with each other or why certain story elements matter. Readers, players, and viewers learn about the world through these interactions and nuances rather than through exposition.
Through this 20/80 iceberg balance, worlds feel rich, full, and immersive without the reader/player/viewer feeling like they are in a worldbuilding encyclopedia.
The other great tip I received to help determine the balance between story telling and worldbuilding description was to remember that characters will only notice things that are out of the ordinary to them.
Think of your everyday life. When you pull into your driveway, do you notice every small detail of your house and mentally describe it to yourself? Probably not, because you see it every day. It isn’t noticeable.
On the flip side, if you go to a friend’s house for the first time, you’ll notice a lot more detail about the house than your own.
Another example would be someone who lived their whole life in a rural setting who goes to New York City for the first time. They will be very tuned in to the tall buildings, taxis, street performers, and everything in the city they’ve never seen before.
Someone who lives in New York City won’t be as impressed by riding a subway every day as the visitor who’s never ridden one.
With this mindset, you can reveal a lot more worldbuilding through how characters interact with their environment and setting, and cut down on explaining everyday things your character wouldn’t take the time to monologue about or notice.
As a fantasy and science fantasy writer, worldbuilding is a huge part of my process and how I create compelling stories and settings. If I put all my worldbuilding notes into my novels, they would be over 1000 pages long, and a lot of it would be extensive, monotonous description.
Balance is important to set the scenery and convey a unique world while also keeping the story and action going.
What’s a worldbuilding tip that helped you on your creative adventures?
Worldbuilding Spotlight
Some of my favorite worldbuilding resources include:
- Worldbuilding for Masochists – Podcast
- The Worldbuilding Leviathan + Scrivener Template (I based my Scrivener templates off this one)
- Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding – Book
- Reading/Watching/Playing SFF books, movies/shows, and games
Want more in-depth content? Join the Architects list for exclusive topics and Discussion.
For my fellow SFF nerds, don’t forget to check out my Books. You never know what you’ll find to pique your interest.
New Release:
Sylvia Conley
2709 N Hayden Island Dr
STE 116670
Portland, Oregon, 97217, USA