How to Write about a Fiction City: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

Writing about a fictional city can be a fun challenge. We all know a real city is a part of the land that contains the population. But to create a fictional city and use it in your story, you need to reach out to your imagination and focus on the details of the city to get it right.

Step

Part 1 of 3: Looking at Examples of Fictional Cities

Step 1. Read some examples of fictional cities

To better understand how to write about fictional cities, you'll need to read some well-known examples of fictional cities. Fictional cities are often important to the fictional world in novels or books and often complement or strengthen the characters and events that occur in the world in the book. Examples include:

The fictional city of Basin City or Sin City in Frank Miller's Sin City.
The fictional city of King's Landing in George R. R. Martin's Game of Thrones.
The fictional city of Oz (Emerald City) in L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz.
The fictional city of the Shire in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit.

Step 2. Analyze the examples

After reading some examples of fictional cities, you should spend a little time thinking about what makes them so effective. This will help you to better imagine how to write about a fictional city.

Most fictional cities are described with maps drawn by the author or illustrator who worked with the author. Study the attached fictional city maps and note the level of detail poured into the map. For example, the map attached to the book The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien includes place names in the language of the novel as well as major landmarks and structures in fictional areas.
Look at naming regions or streets within a fictional city. Names in fictional cities can be of great importance, as they were created to represent aspects of the world in books. For example, the naming “Sin City” in Frank Miller's graphic novel Sin City indicates that the area is known for its sinful people. The name above tells the reader something about the area and what one can imagine about the characters living in the area.
Pay attention to the way the author describes the city. Did he use any particular explanation to characterize the city? In Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin, for example, King's Landing is described as a dirty and smelly place, but also a throne seat. This explanation creates an interesting contrast for the reader.

Step 3. Consider the pros and cons of using a fictional city versus a real city

While it may seem easier to place your story in a real city, building a fictional city will allow you to use your imagination and really explore fictional possibilities. Your characters need a place to work and interact, and creating your own city will give you the freedom to add elements from a number of different areas and parts of the real world.

Creating a fictional city will also allow you to use elements from a real city that you know well, such as your hometown, and then give it a twist to make it fictional. If you're very familiar and comfortable with a certain area of the real world, you can use what you know and tweak it a bit to create a fictional world.
Creating a fictional city will also develop your overall writing skills, because the more convincing the city in your book is, the more convincing the world in your book will be according to the reader. Creating a compelling fictional city will also strengthen your character, as you can customize your city to look like it fits your character's actions and point of view.

Step 4. Consider making a real city the basis for your fictional city

Another option is to use a real city that you know well, such as your hometown, and then add some elements to the city to make it less real. The advantage of this is that you probably know your hometown well and can use it as a template for the fictional elements you want to explore for the city. You can also take landmarks or areas in your hometown and change them according to your imagination. This way, the fictional city will feel as if it were real to you.

Part 2 of 3: Creating the Foundation of a Fictional City

Step 1. Specify a city name

The name of the city is one of the most important elements of a fictional city. The mention of the name can be repeated frequently in the story by the main character, other characters, and in your explanations. You need to think of a name that has a connection and feels purposeful.

You can choose a name that feels generic and feels like a “typical small town” if you want the story to have a universal feel to it. Names like Milton or Abbsortford, for example, don't tell the reader much about a city unless it sounds like a small, North American town. Avoid using a name like Springfield, as this will immediately make the reader think of The Simpsons, which may not fit your story.
Think of names that match the area or area your fictional city is located. For example, if your city is located in Germany, you can choose a German name or term that can also function as a name. If your city is located in Canada, you can choose a Canadian city that does exist and change the name slightly to create a fictional name.
Avoid names that seem obvious, such as Vengeance or Hell, as readers will quickly find out the meaning behind the names. The use of a clear name can be effective if the city contrasts with the name. For example, a city called Hell has the most kind and friendly people.

Step 2. Make a historical record of the city

Now that you have a city name, you need to think about the history behind the city. Creating a historical record of the city will help the city feel more convincing to your characters and readers. You should have answers to a number of core questions about your city, including:

Who founded the city? This could be an explorer discovering land or local people building cities bit by bit using basic tools. Think about the person or group of people who were responsible for the founding of the city.
When was the city founded? This can help you get a better idea of urban development, because a city that was founded 100 years ago will have a denser history than a city that was founded 15 years ago.
Why was the city founded? Knowing the answers to these questions can help you better explain the city's past. Perhaps cities were founded through colonization, when foreign explorers claimed land, then colonized it. Or maybe cities were discovered by people who found vacant land and built it themselves. The reason cities exist will help you to better imagine your characters, as they can have a personal connection and bond with the city based on how the city was founded and why it was founded.
How old is the city? The age of the city is another important element. Older cities may have planning details preserved, while newer cities may have very few old buildings and have a more or less dabbled approach to urban planning.

Step 3. Describe the landscape and climate of the city

Is the city located in the mountains and surrounded by forests? Or is the city located in the desert and surrounded by sand dunes? Your city may be more urban, with a large population and skyline of buildings and office towers, or your city may be a small town, with a moderate to low population and few main streets. Focus on how a foreigner might view the city, including the plants, fields, and landscapes.

You also need to think about the climate of the city. Is it hot and humid or cold and dry? The climate can also depend on the time of year your story takes place. For example, if your story takes place during winter in a fictional city located in Northern California, the climate may be warm during the day and cooler at night

Step 4. Pay attention to the demographics of the city

Urban demographics means the type of people who are residents of a city in terms of race, gender, and class. Even if your city is fictional, there may be variations within the city's demographics. You will need to include demographic details, as this will make the city feel more convincing.

Think of the racial and ethnic groups in the city. Are there more African Americans than Latinos or Caucasoids? Does an ethnic group live in a particular area of the city? Are there areas that certain ethnic groups should not enter or make them feel uncomfortable being there?
Think about the class dynamics in your city. This can mean a character who is in the middle class lives in a certain area of the city and a character in the upper class lives in a more luxurious or expensive area of the city. Your fictional city may be divided by class, with certain areas that all classes except one should not enter.

Step 5. Draw a city map

Having a physical representation of a city can be beneficial, even if you don't have the best drawing skills. Make a rough sketch of the city, including major landmarks and the houses where your characters live and where they work.

You can also note details of the landscape, such as the mountains bordering the city or the dunes that protect the city from the outside world. Try to add as much detail as possible, as this will help you build a more convincing fictional world.
If you have a friend who has a talent for illustration, you can ask them to help you draw a more detailed map of the city. You can also use online resources to help you create a map. For example, use a program like retrieving and overwriting images from the internet to create a map or physical representation of your city.

Part 3 of 3: Adding Fiction City Specs

Step 1. Determine what makes the fictional city unique

Once you have the basics for the city, you can start adding a local feel. Think of a unique or interesting element in the city that makes it worth reading. This could be a haunted area within the city or a famous ghost story that looms over the city. Or it could be a city legend told and circulated among the characters.

You also need to think about what makes the city known, according to the outside world. Perhaps the city is known as a commercial center or has one of the most famous sports teams.
Think about what the locals like or enjoy about the city, as this will make it feel more unique. What are the famous places and the most popular hangout areas in the city? What are local residents proud of about their city and what makes them feel ashamed or afraid in that city?

Step 2. Highlight the city details that are important to your story

While it can be tempting to write in great depth and detail about your fictional world, it's also important to focus on specific details that are an important part of the overall story. Cities should be the setting for your characters and stories, not the other way around. Enter certain areas within the city that are used by your character and spend some time developing these to their fullest.

For example, maybe your character spends a lot of time at a private school located downtown. Take the time to think about the small details of the school, from how the building looks in its surroundings to the colors and the school mascot. Focus on the area around the school and the layout of the school, including classrooms and areas where your character often spends time

Step 3. Use all five senses

A big part of creating a compelling world is making readers feel like they are actually experiencing the city, from the smell of garbage to the noise of the streets. Create descriptions that catch sight, taste, smell, touch, and sound to help bring your city to life.

For example, there may be a polluted river flowing through an area of your city. Think about how it smells as you pass the river. Have your character comment on the smell of the river and how it looks or sounds.
Your story will likely involve multiple locations or settings that are used repeatedly. Focus on using all five senses to properly portray this repetitive setting, as this will help make the world of your story feel more convincing.

Step 4. Add real-life details to your city

Your reader will realize he or she is reading fiction and will probably accept that there are many whimsical and whimsical elements to the city. But incorporating real-world elements within the city might also be helpful. This will help make your readers feel more grounded in the city as the story progresses.

For example, your character might spend time in a dense urban area within a city. The area may be filled with strange creatures and monsters but it may also have elements that you can find in urban areas in real life, such as buildings, streets, and alleys. Having real-life details and imaginary details together can make it easier for you to build compelling worlds

Step 5. Place the characters on the setting and have them trace it

After having a more detailed understanding of your fictional city. It can be useful to write your characters in the setting to see how they interact and move. The fictional city must support the overall story and your character must be able to reach the elements of the city that are important for the story to work.

For example, if your character needs to reach a magical portal in the middle of a city in order to time travel, you need to make sure the magic portal is well depicted in a fictional city. Magic portals should have enough detail to feel convincing and your character should interact with them in an interesting way. This will ensure that your fictional city supports your character's needs and goals

Step 6. Describe the city from your character's point of view

A big challenge when writing about a fictional city in a story is avoiding those moments of obvious description, which is when you explain the city in the character's voice to tell the reader about the setting. It can feel as if the writer is trying to "talk" through the character in a way that seems obvious and forced. You can rule this problem out by using your characters' voices to tell your story about the fictional city.

Put your character in situations where he has to walk around the city or interact in certain areas of the city. Or have your character use a city facility that allows him to explain what it's like to use a facility. This will give you the opportunity to describe the fictional city from the character's point of view, which will feel more believable and convincing to the reader than simply telling the reader about the facility.
You'll also need to get your characters to handle the more fanciful or whimsical elements of the fictional city in a direct and relaxed way. For example, if a fictional city is located underwater, a character who has lived in the city for a long time might not be surprised when they have to enter a submarine to visit their neighbors. You can explain that the character enters the submarine and programs its destination in a casual, everyday way. This will indicate to the reader that submarines are common in this fictional city and are used as a form of transportation without having to tell the reader directly about it.