Why Realism Matters in Fantasy

How to Build Believable Worlds

There is nothing better than opening up a book and being transported to a faraway land, experiencing a world you could have never imagined existed. And there’s nothing worse than reading a line in that book and saying ‘What? Why? That makes no sense.’ and immediately being pulled out of the experience, realizing it was just a poorly crafted illusion.

Suspension of disbelief is everything when it comes to fantasy writing, and here are 5 things I like to consider when crafting fantasy worlds that feel real and believable:

1. Cultural Grounding

Whenever I introduce a new culture or region, I first ask myself: What culture or region is this similar to in the real world?

Sometimes, it’s as simple as crafting an Arabian- or Scandinavian-inspired culture. Other times, it’s more challenging—like inventing a society of desert creatures or mountain trolls. But regardless of whether I’m trying to create something inspired by the real world or something completely distinct, I always compare my ideas to existing cultures. That way I am making all of my decisions about my culture with intention.

In my book Journey to Khaldor, I have a group of people living in a fortified city at the base of a mountain. I wanted to make this culture unique, so I made them a strong, warrior-like people, drawing inspiration from the Zulu in South Africa. The race I was creating wasn’t Zulu, mind you, but by grounding them in real-world elements, I was able to give them a sense of authenticity within my fantasy world.

If you want to make a culture believable, tie some part of it back to reality.

2. Physical References

Once I have a cultural foundation, I move on to the physical world. How does this place look and feel? Is it a natural landscape? A city? Are there buildings, or a distinct architectural style?

Wherever I take my readers, I need to be able to visualize it clearly myself, so I can describe it in my writing.

Again, drawing from reality helps me create worlds that are more believable. By comparing my fictional settings to real places, I can highlight both their similarities and their unique differences.

I recently wrote a chapter set on a Mediterranean-style island, home to an ancient city lying in ruins. My knowledge of Greek and Roman architecture helped me add rich detail—columns worn by time, a circular temple in the heart of the city, and cobblestone streets. Because I understood how my city compared to real-world locations like Athens, Crete, and Santorini, I could describe it with greater specificity and authenticity.

If you’re going to write about a location, think about the physical references that bring it to life.

3. Consistency

Nothing pulls a reader out of a story faster than realizing the author has forgotten what they wrote a few chapters ago. Whatever rules your world follows, make sure they stay consistent. Rivers should always flow downstream. History should be shared across cultures. And if a character has a defining trait, don’t let it disappear halfway through the book.

The easiest way I find I can keep things consistent is by adding all major points to my breakdown, so they definitely get added into the story. That way I’m maintaining consistency throughout the story without having to constantly worry about whether a particular character trait or iconography is being forgotten.

While writing my book, I realized that my main character would have a much more interesting arc if he were struggling with anxiety and self-doubt throughout the story, learning to manage these challenges instead of being consumed by them. So I went back to my breakdown and added these character traits into every chapter. Then I went back and rewrote every chapter keeping these changes in mind. The story became fuller, more fleshed out and more interesting. But the key was consistency.

Another way I keep things consistent is by keeping everything simple. I avoid throwaway lines or unnecessary exposition. If you keep your writing simple, you won’t forget any extraneous information, because you’ll never write it in to begin with.

And lastly, re-reading your work is essential to crafting consistent character arcs, long-running jokes & callbacks throughout your story.

Consistency isn’t just about avoiding mistakes—it’s about making your world feel tactile, lived in, and real.

4. Authentic Reactions

In my real life, I’m surrounded by skeptics and cynics, so I make sure to have enough skepticism and cynicism in my fantasy worlds to keep them feeling believable.

There’s nothing wrong with optimism and hope, but honestly a hard-won optimism is more believable and satisfying than a simple, easily achieved hope.

If one of your characters sees something unbelievable, let them express doubt. Allow them to question their own perceptions, and when they recount their experience to others, let those characters dismiss them. That will help create tension and drama within your story, sparking curiosity within your reader.

I’m fairly sparing when it comes to magical acts and miracles in my fantasy worlds. This not only allows such events to feel special, but it also allows characters to have authentic reactions when they encounter magic.

What would you feel like if you witnessed something miraculous? How would you honestly react? Put yourself in that moment, so you can take your reader there.

The more authentically your characters react, the more believable your world will become.

5. Be Bold

We are creating fantasy worlds here, and by definition we are coming up with something brand new.

Of course you want your world to be believable. But you also want it to be incredible. You want to transport your reader to a realm of dreams and imagination.

Be bold. Paint with vivid colours. Plant your flag in the ground. Point to the highest mountain and declare, “I’m going to take you there!”

It’s through your words, through your imagination, and through your perspective that you are able to take us there. Don’t hold back.

I know that building believable worlds takes more time and effort than disposable ones. But I also know that in the end, it’s worth it. You have the creativity within you to imagine something that we all want to share in. You have the power to create a world that everybody wants to visit, and exist in. And maybe, just maybe, someone might want to bring a part of your fantasy world back into their real life.

And what greater compliment is there than that?

So go forth with confidence and bold determination, build believable worlds of pure imagination, and create a universe that can inspire us all.

I believe in you!