Whether you're a seasoned writer, a budding novelist or an avid reader, you'll most likely have heard the term 'worldbuilding'.
What is worldbuilding?
Quite obviously, (this word really is what it says on the tin) worldbuilding is building a world aside from our own. We see it everywhere, from the Butterbeer in Harry Potter to speaking Elvish in The Lord of the Rings; worldbuilding is essential for movies, novels, video games and more. Worldbuilding allows writers to explore different themes and characters in different realities and is pretty cool.
However, as a dystopian reader and author, there are some specific 'must haves' I've learnt for effective worldbuilding in dystopian books. For writers, this may help you on your way and for readers, this may enhance your reading of dystopian fiction to spot where authors have made specific decisions to add extra nuance to their worlds.
Dystopian worldbuilding essentials
Creating the concept
It's a well-known fact that many dystopian books exist to either make a critique on society or humanity. Whether it's about the development of technology in 1984, the American education system in Q or the oppression of women in The Handmaid's Tale, dystopian worlds often convey a message that will strike home with readers. In fact, those messages is one of the reasons readers love dystopian fiction. So, this is often a good place to begin.
For example, with Sun of Endless Days, the worldbuilding came from the concept that the modern, digital age puts an inordinate amount of pressure on young people, especially around their career and success. Or it could be an element of the human condition such as in Veronica Roth's Divergent. In this series, Roth wanted to communicate that to be different and diverse was not a weakness - her society, its history, its rules and the plot ultimately came from this. Hence, dystopian worldbuilding starts with a concept.
Filling in the details
Next, like with any worldbuilding, it's time to fill in the details of a dystopian world. This starts with the history - ask yourself these sorts of questions: how did they get here? Why do they have the belief systems they do? What's the geography and setting like? Was there a revolution or war (a classic dystopian trope) and what effects has it had?
Once you know the answer to the society's history, its rules, regulations and value systems, the details will be easier. Oh, but don't forget the smallest details - they are ever bit as important as the wider history when it comes to dystopian worldbuilding, and is my favourite part.
One detail might be around food. For example, in Sun of Endless Days, because of Tulo's belief system around productivity being the number one priority, merit points are deducted for the consumption of highly saturated foods. Because of course, if you find yourself fatigued from a lack of nutritious food, you'll be less productive and won't contribute as much towards society. Such a belief system has developed from Tulo's past, where a previous government was greedy with resource and didn't do their bit, leading to many deaths across their working population. You see how that all flows through? So even the smallest details matter - isn't that what so many of us love about many fantasy worlds? Harry Potter would be nothing close to the phenomena it is without all of its world's small quirks.
The dystopian population
Another essential for building a dystopian world, in keeping with filling in the details, is thinking about the population of your world. What's the majority of the population like and how do they view the society they live in? For example, in Zamyatin's dystopian classic, We, the majority of people are conforming to the system. Through the narrative, this is shown to us through certain details and interactions. As this article on 15 worldbuilding tips for writers suggests, you should decide which occupations are the most highly valued by society. For example, in Rebecca Yarro's The Fourth Wing, Riders are seen as another class above the other quadrants.
Crafting the main characters
First and foremost, though, when writing and presenting readers with your dystopian society, it has to come through the characters.
Characters are how we relate to and resonate with a story, and it is through their eyes that we see a world. Therefore, you should try to limit the worldbuilding details to what influences them and the plot.
Who is your character in the face of the society in which they operate? Which parts of the world affect them the most and why? Are they catering to the system, or do they see the cracks in an ideal world from the start? What are their greatest desires, and what does that mean against the majority belief system in their world?
Establishing the stakes
With the above in mind, it's also imperative that the stakes are obvious to the reader. Have you, through your character's set up and interactions, increased the tension and established why your character's main quest, trial or goal is dangerous? It might not have to be something life-threatening at the start.
For example, in Sun of Endless Days, the stakes are clearly established as the future of Ajay and Genni's relationship as it struggles through the intensity of Tulo's merit system (worldbuilding according to the character's interactions with it).
Overall, it's important to show the reader why if a certain thing were to happen, what the stakes would be and this is ultimately established through strong dystopian worldbuilding. This increases the drama and keeps them turning the page.
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