World Builder's Workshop

In this immersive, project-based course, students will become architects of entire worlds. From shaping geography and cultures to building systems of magic, technology, and belief, teens will explore the deep foundations of fictional storytelling across genres like fantasy, sci-fi, dystopia, and alternate history.

Students will choose their final creative format—such as a novel concept, tabletop roleplaying game, video game pitch, or visual world portfolio—and develop it throughout the semester using a guided Worldbuilder’s Notebook. Along the way, they’ll engage with literary excerpts, explore philosophical and mythological roots, and design the unseen forces that drive conflict and meaning.

The class blends creativity with structure: worldbuilding is creative writing, art and logic. Each session invites reflection, discussion, and critical thinking as students bring their imagined realms to life—one decision at a time.

Course Features:

• Weekly creative challenges and design prompts

• Excerpts from literature, mythology, and media for analysis

• Final showcase of a fully developed world in the student’s chosen medium

Ideal for: Writers, gamers, visual storytellers, and curious minds who want to go beyond telling stories—and start building them.

Course Objectives

• Develop a richly detailed, original fictional world

• Explore geography, history, government, technology, culture, and daily life

• Apply their world to storytelling, game design, or visual presentations

• Complete a Worldbuilder’s Notebook to guide development

• Present a final project that showcases their world in a format they choose

Materials Needed

• Worldbuilder’s Notebook Packet(provided)

• Ring Binder Notebook

• sketchpad (optional)

• Divider Tabs

• Drawing and writing supplies

• Access to Google Docs, Canva, Inkarnate, or other creative tools (students choice)

• device (laptop/tablet) for digital design work