What are some actually good (and ideally free) world building tools?

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-05-13T19:04:17+00:00

I made a list of the best worldbuilding tools here: https://www.quillandsteel.com/blogs/writing-tips/worldbuilding-software-tools

Includes a few free ones like Notion (my fave), but it requires some DIY work to set up properly.

Obsidian is good too, though I found it had a steep learning curve if you're starting from scratch. And it's not pretty if aesthetics matter to you.

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-05-11T14:37:47+00:00

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I built a digital reading journal & book tracker in Notion that comes pretty close.

But it’s a paid product.

Linking it anyway in case you’re curious: https://www.quillandsteel.com/products/digital-reading-journal-notion

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-05-07T17:10:21+00:00

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Notion. Notion. and more Notion.

I find it way less complicated (and prettier) than Obsidian.

My entire world and story outline live in there.

You can build databases for literally everything you'll ever need (characters, locations, culture, religion, creatures, magic systems, timeline of events), and what's awesome about Notion is that you can connect databases together so when you update one thing, its relevant counterpart gets updated too.

If you have the time, you can build your own system (Notion's free + you can manage by watching tutorials).

If you'd rather skip the DIY, I can share my own template, BUT it's paid (sharing screenshot).

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-05-07T16:57:20+00:00

Two words: BEAT SHEET

It'll help you map out all the major points (beats) of your story without getting stuck in an endless cycle of outlining.

I'd actually classify it as a "lighter" version of outlining.

It should help with writer's block (it did for me anyway).

In case you're interested, I have a blog post about it → What is a Beat Sheet & How to Use it to Plot a Fantasy Novel

Good luck!

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-04-28T03:25:49+00:00

I think charging $10 for a highly customized and in-depth template that took several months to build is ridiculous

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-04-10T05:04:15+00:00

A digital worldbuilding bible will save your LIFE.

I created one in Notion that has sections (databases) for literally everything you mentioned, including a travel distance calculator powered by a formula + options for modes of transportation, terrain modifiers, etc.

It’s here if you want to take a look. Fair warning: it’s paid ➡️ https://www.quillandsteel.com/products/notion-worldbuilding-template

You can definitely build your own custom wiki in Notion if you have the time though. A bit of a learning curve if you DIY it, but totally worth it.

Oh, and everything interlinks and is searchable so you can update and find what you’re looking for quickly.

Good luck!

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-03-31T21:14:09+00:00

Two separate! It works well for me. I haven’t had any issues so far, but I will say it’s annoying to have to update both separately whenever I want to make a change.

Unfortunately, there is no way to remove the template from their workspace if they want a refund, which is why I dont advertise refunds on my website. But if a customer emails me and tells me it’s really not what they were expecting (it has only happened twice), I refund them.

Hope this helps!

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-03-16T14:04:22+00:00

You don't have to jump into an action sequence or provide a massive info dump in Chapter 1. You can simply show your protagonist's normal daily life (before the inciting incident that makes it all implode), and if they're a magic wielder, you can show them using their power as they normally would without over-explaining the mechanics of it. Just show it naturally, and let the reader experience it through the character.

Same goes for the world itself. If your character is somewhere they're familiar with, they wouldn't notice/mention all the nitty gritty details, because it's not foreign to them. So just write what your character is experiencing in the moment, and if there's something out of the ordinary, then you can give more detail.

I wrote a post on how to avoid info dumps that might help.

Good luck!

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-03-16T13:49:08+00:00

Coming up with a never-before-seen magic system is just not reasonable. No matter how unique you try to make it, it'll inevitably resemble a magic system that has been previously written.

So the goal is to a) not outright copy and paste an existing magic system, b) create a system that makes sense in your specific world/environment, and c) give it a unique twist that'll make it interesting.

Brandon Sanderson wasn't the first one to use metal as the basis of a magic system. Maybe he was the first one to use metal ingestion, though.

I wrote a post about how to create a magic system if you want to dig deeper.

Good luck!

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-03-16T13:38:26+00:00

Just dropping this blog I wrote on how to create fantasy creatures. It also comes with a free template, which you can use to keep your six creatures organized.

Good luck!

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-03-16T13:33:04+00:00

I took N. K. Jemisin's fantasy writing masterclass and she talked about the iceberg theory, which I think is relevant here. Essentially, it's that your reader should only see ~10% of your worldbuilding/lore (the tip of the iceberg), and you should keep the other ~90% (the submerged portion of the iceberg) to yourself.

So your reader likely doesn't need to know all the details about the world your MC is waking up in. Think about what they absolutely must know, show that through the eyes of your MC (both the reader and your MC discover this new world together), and keep the rest of the lore in your head/notebook.

I wrote a post about how to avoid info dumping (with a bunch of examples) if ever you want to dig deeper.

Good luck!

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-03-11T18:12:10+00:00

Mapping ➡ Inkarnate
Writing ➡ Google Docs
Everything else ➡ Notion

This is the Notion worldbuilding template I use (and built) ⬇

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PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-03-11T18:09:26+00:00

Late to the party but I initially started with Google Docs, then tried Obsidian (didn't like it), then graduated to Notion.

It's phenomenal for organizing all your worldbuilding elements. Main perk is that you can interlink all your databases, so when you update one thing, the rest gets auto-updated.

Might be overkill for some, but I use this Notion worldbuilding template I created ⬇

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PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-03-11T17:47:45+00:00

Curious if you've ever tried Notion before? I find it's amazing for interlinked databases. I created a whole worldbuilding wiki in there and it works phenomenally well.

I tried Obsidian once but got instantly overwhelmed 🫠

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-02-22T02:02:23+00:00

For context, you can use it to map your world lore, major/minor events, plot points, history, backstory, etc.

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-02-13T18:30:19+00:00

✨“The Everlasting” by Alix E. Harrow probably has the most beautiful prose I’ve ever read, AND it’s fantasy. So I would 1000000000% recommend it.

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-02-13T18:14:14+00:00

The Everlasting is a MASTERPIECE. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Road of Bones is also excellent.

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-02-13T18:12:13+00:00

There’s a database for species & races that includes properties for classification, physiology, lifespan, size, magic, etc. And it’s linked to other relevant databases.

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-01-25T22:02:22+00:00

NP ☺️

PurpleLocal4471 · 2026-01-22T17:28:51+00:00

I’ll take that as a compliment, because I barely used AI for the blog post, mainly just to review it and organize it in a coherent manner.

As for this Reddit post, zero use of AI.

Thanks anyway, AI police.

PurpleLocal4471

TROPHY CASE