1️⃣Step 1: Set your north star

Write one line that sums up the world. Example: “Storms power the guilds.” This guides tone, story elements, and stakes.

2️⃣Step 2: Define the magic systems (with limits)

List three things your magic can’t do, two costs, and one flaw. Now your system has tension. This locks plot and character arcs to real choices.

3️⃣Step 3: Map culture through a historic event

Pick one event that still shapes life today. A lost queen. A plague ship. A sky mine collapsed. Show how food, law, or trade changed. This makes the place feel real.

4️⃣Step 4: Build your core cast

Give each lead a want, a fear, and a bond to the place. Use AI Character Chat to test voice. Ask how they argue. Ask what they hide. Edit the replies so they sound like people you’d write.

5️⃣Step 5: Sketch characters, plot, and character arcs

Note one inner change and one outer quest for each lead. Keep the steps small. Tie each beat to a rule of the world. If magic costs blood, a healer’s arc is about guilt and need.

6️⃣Step 6: Create immersive visuals

Use art tools to build faces, relics, shops, and roads. Use style presets to keep a steady look. Add sci-fi touches if your setting bends toward Starcraft or clockwork. Keep it light. Your text still leads.

7️⃣Step 7: Test scenes in chat

Run a scene in the tavern or the court. Ask for three scene beats. Pick the best. Rewrite lines so they match your voice. This cuts AI-generated noise and keeps your hand on the wheel. Research shows creators who keep control of key steps protect their voice and values.

8️⃣Step 8: Lock rules with short notes

Create a one-page guide: money, travel time, taboos, and spell limits. Add three sample sayings or proverbs. This anchors world-building with quick checks.

9️⃣Step 9: Keep a light canon

Use collections and tags. Store maps, laws, and NPC ties. Add a “truths” note for each region. Your prep stays ready for the table or the page.