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In J.R.R.'s world,

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Gandalf is one of five wizards sent by the Valar

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to guide the inhabitants of Middle Earth

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in their struggles against the dark force of Sauron.

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Gandalf's body was mortal,

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subject to the physical rules of Middle Earth,

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but his spirit was immortal,

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as seen when he died as Gandalf the Grey

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and resurrected as Gandalf the White.

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According to the Wachowski's script,

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an awakened human only has to link up

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and hack the neon binary code of the Matrix

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to learn how to fly a helicopter

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in a matter of seconds.

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Or if you are the One,

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or one of the Ones,

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you don't even need a helicopter,

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you just need a cool pair of shades.

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Cheshire cats can juggle their own heads.

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iPads are rudimentary.

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No Quidditch match ends

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until the Golden Snitch is caught.

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And the answer to the ultimate question of life,

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the universe,

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and everything

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is most certainly 42.

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Just like real life,

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fictional worlds operate consistently

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within a spectrum of physical and societal rules.

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That's what makes these intricate worlds

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believable,

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comprehensible,

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and worth exploring.

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In real life, the Law of Gravity

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holds seven book sets of "Harry Potter"

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to millions of bookshelves around the world.

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We know this to be true,

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but we also know

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that ever since J.K. typed the words

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wizard,

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wand,

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and "Wingardium Leviosa,"

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that Law of Gravity has ceased to exist

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on the trillions of pages

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resting between those bookends.

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Authors of science fiction and fantasy

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literally build worlds.

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They make rules,

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maps,

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lineages,

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languages,

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cultures,

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universes,

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alternate universes within universes,

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and from those worlds sprout

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story, after story, after story.

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When it's done well,

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readers can understand

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fictional worlds and their rules

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just as well as the characters

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that live in them do

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and sometimes,

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just as well or even better

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than the reader understands

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the world outside of the book.

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But how?

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How can human-made squiggles on a page

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reflect lights into our eyes

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that send signals to our brains

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that we logically and emotionally decode

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as complex narratives

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that move us to fight,

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cry,

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sing,

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and think,

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that are strong enough

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not only to hold up a world

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that is completely invented by the author,

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but also to change the reader's perspective

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on the real world that resumes

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only when the final squiggle is reached?

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I'm not sure anyone knows

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the answer to that question,

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yet fantastical, fictional worlds are created everyday

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in our minds,

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on computers,

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even on napkins at the restaurant down the street.

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The truth is your imagination

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and a willingness to, figuratively,

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live in your own world

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are all you need to get started writing a novel.

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I didn't dream up Hogwarts

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or the Star Wars' Cantina,

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but I have written some science thrillers

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for kids and young adults.

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Here are some questions and methods I've used

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to help build the worlds

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in which those books take place.

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I start with a basic place and time.

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Whether that's a fantasy world

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or a futuristic setting in the real world,

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it's important to know where you are

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and whether you're working in the past,

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present,

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or future.

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I like to create a timeline

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showing how the world came to be.

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What past events have shaped the way it is now?

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Then I brainstorm answers to questions

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that draw out the details of my fictional world.

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What rules are in place here?

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This covers everything from laws of gravity

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(or not)

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to the rules of society

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and the punishments for individuals who break them.

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What kind of government does this world have?

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Who has power,

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and who doesn't?

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What do people believe in here?

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And what does this society value most?

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Then it's time to think about day-to-day life.

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What's the weather like in this world?

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Where do the inhabitants live

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and work

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and go to school?

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What do they eat

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and how do they play?

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How do they treat their young

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and their old?

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What relationships do they have

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with the animals and plants of the world?

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And what do those animals and plants look like?

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What kind of technology exists?

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Transportation?

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Communication?

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Access to information?

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There's so much to think about!

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So, spend some time living in those tasks

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and the answers to those questions,

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and you're well on your way

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to building your own fictional world.

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Once you know your world

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as well as you hope your reader will,

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set your characters free in it

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and see what happens.

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And ask yourself,

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"How does this world you created

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shape the individuals who live in it?

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And what kind of conflict is likely to emerge?"

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Answer those questions,

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and you have your story.

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Good luck future world-builder!