World Anvil Worldbuilding Academy

Dungeon Master Tips

Encounter Ideas for your DnD or RPG One-Shot

Advice and ideas for creating one-shot encounters to challenge your players and keep them engaged for the whole session.

Worldbuilding Guides

Worldbuilding an Apocalypse, Cataclysm or Disaster

From epic disasters to mysterious collapses, cataclysms can layer your fantasy or sci-fi setting with legendary ruins, lost history, and compelling secrets.

Novel Writing Tips

Writing with themes to achieve your goals!

Novel Writing Tips

How long should your story be? | Word count for novels, novellas and short fiction

How long should your story be? This resource includes the most standard word counts for each type of story length, from microfiction to novels!

Worldbuilding Guides

Worldbuilders Guide to Science Fantasy

Science fantasy blends futuristic technology with ancient magic, blurring the lines between these two popular speculative genres.

Worldbuilding Guides

Worldbuilding Guide to Portal Fantasy

Sick of the real world? Want to escape to a place of wonder and danger? Then climb into this wardrobe as we explore PORTAL FANTASY!

Dungeon Master Tips

Brainstorm Better D&D Campaign Ideas

A process for generating, tailoring, and selecting the best DnD campaign ideas to ensure an exciting and immersive experience for your group.

Worldbuilding Guides

Laying the Groundwork: Worldbuilding Terrain, Climate & Maps

Let’s take a look at the concrete foundations of your setting: worldbuilding terrain, climate and maps!

Novel Writing Tips

Story Hooks: Adding Drama, Conflict & Antagonist Characters

When it’s time to set the story hooks for your next campaign or novel, it's time to add conflict, drama and antagonists to your worldbuilding!

Novel Writing Tips

Immediacy in Worldbuilding: Removing Filter words from your prose

Filter words are a hidden saboteur of your writing. How to find and cut them to transform your writing, worldbuilding, and RPG games!

Worldbuilding Theory

What is Worldbuilder's Disease?

Worldbuilder's disease is the tendency to become so consumed by the details of worldbuilding that it derails the actual story or gameplay. Here's how to avoid it.

Worldbuilding Guides

How to Choose a Genre in Worldbuilding

What is genre, and how does it aid in worldbuilding? Dive into this important foundational decision.

Worldbuilding Theory

Power in Worldbuilding: Need, Agency, and Action

Worldbuilding power dynamics creates authentic, interesting settings for novels & campaigns, plus creates story hooks from current affairs.

Worldbuilding Theory

Why Worldbuild? The Secret to Staying Inspired

Maintaining your motivation is a major worldbuilding stumbling block. Here's a powerful weapon to help you hold on to your inspiration.

Dungeon Master Tips

How Do I Design A Good Monster Lair?

Design a well-crafted lair that challenges players and enhances the storytelling and immersion of your campaign.

Novel Writing Tips

How to end a story or novel!

Making sure that the end of your book is worthy of your reader’s journey can be a real challenge! This article will help.

Worldbuilding Theory

Spotlighting to Avoid Shallow Worldbuilding

Creating a sense of deep worldbuilding isn't fleshing out every detail. Spotlighting is a method that helps you focus on what matters most.

Novel Writing Tips

3rd Person POV: The Fantasy Writer's Complete Guide

If you're writing in the SFF genre, there's a good chance your story will live in 3rd person POV. This guide is for SFF writers who want to move beyond the basics.

Worldbuilding Guides

Worldbuilding an Alternate Earth Setting

Alternate earth is one of the 4 basic blueprints of worldbuilding. Here are the key questions you need to answer up front—and what can wait.

Dungeon Master Tips

30 DnD Side Quest Ideas to Expand Your Campaign

Side quests offer variety without derailing your carefully-crafted campaign. Here are some ideas to transform an ordinary session into an unforgettable one.

Novel Writing Tips

What is LitRPG? A Storyteller's Guide

LitRPG is a growing genre that combines exciting fantasy and scifi settings, satisfying character growth, and interesting game mechanics. Here's what you need to know.

Worldbuilding Guides

Magic Systems: A Worldbuilder’s Guide

Magic systems are a major aspect of fantasy worldbuilding. This guide explains different types of magic systems, the mechanics of how they work in your stories and games, and other creative considerations.

Dungeon Master Tips

Plot Twist Ideas for One-Shots

A well-placed plot twist can add a little shock and awe to your one-shot, and it can also keep your players engaged.

Worldbuilding Guides

Sensory Details in Writing: How to Make Your World Feel Real

Most worldbuilders describe what their world looks like. The best ones make you feel like you're already there. Here's how to use all five senses — and beyond — to create more vivid settings.