Five Unique Settings You NEED to Write About

I will go out on a limb here and say that most of us agree that world-building is one of the most exciting parts of the writing process. Grabbing an abstract idea from your mind and cultivating it into its own universe can be an exciting creative warm-up. Most of the time, environments and societal structures in fantasy pieces can really make or break a story. For example, people will ask you about your Hogwarts House, not which character you like the most.

Unfortunately, I have found myself in an uninspired mood recently. I will have a vague idea of something I would like to write, but without a good atmosphere, it all falls apart. This is what spurred me into researching nature. I did some digging and found breath-taking biomes that inspired me to write again. Hopefully, it does the same for you.

A disclaimer before we start. Nature can be highly tied to cultural beliefs. For instance, rain can be seen as an ill omen before a character decides something. These ties can go deeper than seen on a surface level of understanding. I highly encourage you to take a moment to study the natives on the land. That way, you don’t appropriate or diminish cultural practices in your work by mistake. Remember, it’s one thing to be inspired by something... it’s another to steal it. With that being said, let’s dissect the list!

1. The Tundra

This environment has motivated me to do so much research. For those not aware, tundras are treeless plains that deal with heavy snowfall during winter. Tundras can be found in many parts of the world like the Arctic, Siberia, and North America. My all-time favorite thing about tundras is that (depending on the location) the sun will stay up for months. I feel like the concept of the sun being up for a long time offers lots of creative avenues that can be explored.

The drastic weather means that food supply, costume design, and nature is a lot easier for you and your reader to conceptualize. Living in constant darkness means that the night sky is visible as well. What kind of stars do your characters see? How does the absence of sunlight affect society? How is your magic system tied to nature? Those are all questions I’ve loved exploring in my WIPS and would love to see others’ take on. One of my favorite YouTubers lives in Northern Sweden. She has such a poetic take on living in a place with differing light conditions. I’ll leave it linked here:

https://youtu.be/3zTR4ayDG38

2. Coral Reefs

We all know and love colorful coral reefs with their variety of life. They also have an abundance of inspiration to them. Even if you’re not writing a setting where your characters are aquatic, coral reefs still play a vital role in nature. They have some of the world’s largest diverse populations. Coral reefs can be seen from the shore if the water is clear enough, adding a layer of mystery and suspense.

A few questions I ask myself when I write about coral reefs. What kind of creatures inhabits the reef? Do any supernatural beings play a role in the reef’s ecosystems? How is the reef viewed by society? Is it sacred? A source of superstition? Do any of the colors in this system symbolize anything related to the plot? Does this society profit off the reef?

Even if you’re not writing anything in the realm of fantasy, coral reefs are still iconic and distinctive enough for your readers to remember. I’ve found that it actually helps extend the world that you’re writing. Sure, you can mention there are sharks in the water. Writing about their ecosystem and its relevance to the story gives the world more depth (pun not intended.)

3. Prairies

These are more broadly known as temperate grasslands, shrublands, or savannas. They may look like melted tundras, but I see a lot of potential here. For one, I almost always see these biomes in montages and nothing else. The vastness of prairies translates a great distance being traveled to the audience, but I think there’s more creative opportunity. Prairies don’t have trees for your characters to climb, so how will they use their wit to escape danger? The majority of the foliage in these environments are grass and herbs, which could be a seamless chance for a healer to learn their craft. The minimal scenery shifts focus onto the characters, giving conversations and character development more weight. When I think of prairies and grasslands, I think about wind. What could wind represent in your story? Symbolic animals also have a better chance of standing out to an audience.

4. Volcanic Lands

This one is broad as well. Spanning from Italy to Hawaii, Volcanic lands have been helpful to humans for centuries. If you haven’t heard, the soil near these regions is more fertile due to volcanic activity. This means your human population has a better chance of sustaining themselves. The marketplaces could rely heavily on produce and agriculture-related business. There are tons of aspects to consider. How does society view the volcano? Do they know it’s a volcano? Does this society have a plan in case the volcano erupts? Has it even erupted before? Focusing on the land surrounding the volcano speaks volumes about the destruction it would cause should it explode. Smoke billowing from the crater adds some serious foreshadowing and drama.

5. Freshwater Springs.

This one has so much potential as well. There’s an entire geological process that explains the creation of springs. To summarize, springs are created when water flows from an aquifer to the earth’s surface. The extensive process behind it all means that your spring will likely have tons of green trees, underwater caves, and unique wildlife. Animals like manatees inhabit the cool water, as do fun creatures like nymphs and sprites. Typically, springs are seen as a relaxed environment where characters reflect, probably due to springs having a reputation for being crystal clear. The cool-colored setting is almost reminiscent of Swan Lake and can be very magical.

Characters make up the heart and soul of the story. Especially if you prefer to write in the first person. World-building is still a crucial part of the creative process and can be a challenge to overcome when you’re uninspired. Hopefully, these settings provided some insight and maybe even some inspiration for you and your writing journey. If not, at least it was nice to gush about pretty places. I want to hear your favorite settings and how you apply their organic material in your work. If you use any of these settings, let me know! I’d love to see it. Happy writing!