There are few works as enduring as J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Even now, decades after the books were written, movies and shows are still being made. Books on Middle Earth are still being published. In fact, there’s even a Lord of the Rings concert coming to my city soon, and it’s a huge deal. 

It’s no secret that Tolkien was great at storytelling. He captivated the world with his story of Frodo, an unlikely hero, and the Ring, the foremost weapon of the most evil being to ever exist. Tolkien told a masterful story across three books (four if you include The Hobbit) and it was so powerful that it still defines the entire fantasy genre to this day.

But whether you write spec fiction or mystery, romance or thriller, there’s something Tolkien uses that you can apply to your book, too. It’s one of the powerful forces behind Lord of the Rings’ success: worldbuilding.

Despite what you may think, this doesn’t just apply to sci-fi and fantasy writers. Every story needs worldbuilding to be successful, even if it takes place in the real world. Worldbuilding is what will make your story believable, giving your plot and characters a solid foundation to stand on. Without it, your readers won’t be fully immersed in your story. Do it wrong, and it might cause readers to stop reading. But do it right, and worldbuilding can take your story to the next level. Let’s dive in to find out how! 

A Solid Foundation 

When you open up The Fellowship of the Ring, you flip past the foreword, go beyond the table of contents, and there, what do you see? A map. And a very detailed one, at that. For Tolkien’s world to be believable to readers, it first had to be believable for him, which is why he created a map with so much history contained in it. 

You might not have such a detailed world in your stories, especially if you’re not writing sci-fi or fantasy, but the point still stands: you need to know what your world looks like. You need to know where things are and how your main character’s personal world and the world at large have been shaped by history. 

If you’re writing fantasy or sci-fi, this means creating a map. Do some research on how rivers flow, why mountain ranges exist, where forests tend to crop up. You can use this map generator to lend a hand as well. It doesn’t have to be as huge or detailed as Tolkien’s, but a map is important to keep your world consistent, create vivid settings, and immerse your readers in your new world. 

If you’re writing something that takes place in the real world, it means intimately knowing the area of your story. Research it thoroughly and take a trip there if at all possible. Seeing a picture of a place is one thing, and being there is another. 

Populating Your World

Now, your world exists, but it needs people. Even if your world is the real one, you have to populate it as if it were your own. What kinds of people will your main character interact with? What sorts of different cultures will they come across? 

Think of hobbits, the first race we’re introduced to in Lord of the Rings. They’re immediately distinct in appearance and in culture, and characters like Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam captivate us right from the start. They’re the perfect people to start the story with because they’re so similar to humans. 

As the story goes on, we’re introduced to all kinds of beings: elves, dwarves, wizards, orcs, trolls, Ents, and all the others in between. The way these characters and their backgrounds either mesh or conflict makes the fictional people and cultures come to life. As a result, the story is made more vibrant and exciting. 

Every good story world must be populated with a host of different characters and cultures. As inspiration, you can use real-world cultures, or entirely make up your own. Consider things like: 

• Location
• Religion 
• Customs and rules
• Holidays 
• Physical appearance

Think out of the box, too, and be detailed! For example, the subtle animosity between elves and dwarves is an important and interesting part of Lord of the Rings. Build these races from the ground up and study your characters so that you can then make them real to your readers.

Add Depth 

Once you have your world and its characters, it’s time to dig deeper. Notice that Tolkien’s world doesn’t just live in the words on the page; it comes alive in your imagination! That’s because Tolkien fleshed out every detail of his world, from language to history to geography. Middle Earth is even steeped in legends and mythology, just like the real world. 

This final step is crucial in making your world as real as possible. Think history, politics, economy, myths and legends, animals, nature, and all the things that make up our world, things you interact with on a daily basis. You don’t have to make it all up from scratch; Tolkien didn’t! He drew from myths, legends, and history (and maybe even an opera) to create Middle Earth and its story. 

You can do the same! Delve into some research and discover different cultures and history around the planet that you can draw from. Not all of us can create an entire fictional language, but you can at least fill in the other details! 

Time to Make Your World 

When you look at Lord of the Rings, it might seem impossible to write anything close to what Tolkien achieved. But writing a great, memorable story is possible for any writer—you just have to put in the effort, and worldbuilding is one of the main keys to focus on. It’s this extra layer that will draw readers into your story and keep them reading chapter after chapter and book after book. 

Worldbuilding like Tolkien is a big task, but one that’s well worth it to achieve the full potential of your story. Now, I think it’s time for you to start on your worldbuilding journey! As Bilbo Baggins says, “The Road goes ever on and on. . .”

Happy writing!
—E.J.

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Photo by Henry Xu on Unsplash