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Q&A How can I effectively research for a high-fantasy setting?

When you write in a modern day setting, you research the culture, climate, location and history of that setting. You can do the same for historical fiction or low-fantasy settings based on real pla...

4 answers  ·  posted 5y ago by linksassin‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-20T00:53:25Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/44852
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T11:47:17Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/44852
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T11:47:17Z (almost 5 years ago)
When you write in a modern day setting, you research the culture, climate, location and history of that setting. You can do the same for historical fiction or low-fantasy settings based on real places.

When you write for a high-fantasy setting none of this information exists. The history, culture, environment and peoples are entirely your own creation. **How can you effectively use research to help create interesting high-fantasy settings?**

Some methods I have used include:

- Read a lot of other works in the genre. Borrow the things I like.
- Base parts of the setting on real world cultures or locations.
- Do no research and make it up as I go.

The problem with the first two methods is that they often result in unoriginal/boring settings that have been done to death. The third method is a lot of work and often ends with plot holes or inconsistency in world-building. Any advice people can give on how to use research to improve my high-fantasy settings is useful.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2019-04-30T04:08:19Z (over 5 years ago)
Original score: 9