Originally an exercise for a blog challenge, the author has developed this into a really useful workbook to guide, inform and stimulate writers as they settle down to create their own unique worlds. Consistency, believability, and logic are essential when designing a world, and there are many aspects to consider, from moons and gravity, to geography and weather, through societies, economics, fashion, food, flora and fauna, to name but a few, and this excellent work book, while by no means exhaustive, covers a huge range of topics every writer should know about their world, even if the information never comes to the fore of their narrative.

I hope many writers will use this excellent resource to help guide their creativity. ~ Goodreads review

“As a writer, I found this book to be super helpful for thinking through all the elements that go into creating a fantastical or science fiction world. Honestly, even if you’re writing about a time in the historical past or a place of the world that you’ve never lived, this book would be useful. It encourages you to consider everything from wild life and plants to religions and family… and so much more that can potentially use to help create plot complications and inform the motives of different characters. It includes exercises to help you work through these different world elements, if you’re so inclined. It’s probably the most accessible and practical book on this topic that I’ve personally come across.” ~ Goodreads review

Covering everything from Architecture to Zoology, The A-Zs of Worldbuildingis a comprehensive workbook on how to build a fictional world from scratch. Evidently.

Each chapter provides some background on the chosen topic, giving examples of how that specific aspect may affect people or culture, both individually and as a whole. This is followed by exercises: questions about the topic, plus guidance on things to think about in answering those questions, which I found useful. A lot of times, I give up on workbooks because the questions are either too vague or too difficult to answer–and then everything goes all over the place. However, with the guided questions, Loper provides a structure that is both general (if you’re experienced and just need a checklist) and focused (if you still need help figuring out what’s going on). ~ Goodreads review