Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Determining the physical aspects of the planet
• Part 2 of 3: Designing the creatures on the planet
• Part 3 of 3: Creating the rules of the planet

Are you writing a science fiction book and do you need a fictional planet as the setting for your story? Or do you plan on designing a planet first and then thinking about how your characters will live on it later? You have to think about the physical aspects of the planet as well as the beings that live there. You can also come up with rules for the planet and determine how the planet will function in your story.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Determining the physical aspects of the planet

1. Describe the atmosphere of the planet. Start by thinking about whether the planet is made up of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen, or of other substances that cannot be found on Earth. Humans need oxygen to survive, but if your planet is not going to be inhabited by humans, it may not need oxygen at all. Your planet can be made up of a single gas, which requires special equipment to breathe in, or multiple gases that resemble Earth's atmosphere.
   • You may want to think about whether you are trying to create a credible, realistic planet that humans can survive on, or go for the fictional effect and not think about realism. You may create an atmosphere similar to ours so that your readers can more easily believe that human life can survive on the planet.
   • You also need to think about what the atmosphere is like on the planet. Is the environment hazy with thick, white gases, or are there spots where there are toxic green or blue gases? Perhaps parts of your planet contain different atmospheres, causing a variety of gases and elements to exist on your planet.
2. Think about the planet's climate. You also need to have an idea of ​​the climate or the different climates on your fictional planet. Think about whether the planet has different climates per area, or one climate overall.
   • Maybe your planet is mostly ice and it is always winter time, with constant freezing temperatures. Or maybe your planet is partly tropical, with hot, humid temperatures and areas that are dry and arid.
3. Determine if there will be seasons on your planet. You have to think about whether there will be seasons on your planet and, if there will be, how many there will be. The seasons on the planet can resemble those on Earth, with a spring, summer, autumn, and winter time. Maybe there are only two seasons, summer and winter, or there is only one constant season on the planet.
   • You may want to match the seasons to your planet's climate and atmosphere. Perhaps a planet made mostly of ice has only one season: winter. Or maybe it is always summer when the climate is tropical.
   • Keep in mind that the season names on your planet can also be different from those we have on Earth. You create a fictional planet, so you have the freedom to come up with new names for the seasons and use them in your story.
4. Describe the landscapes on the planet. Think about what the planet looks like in terms of landscape and terrain. Try to be specific about the landscapes on the planet and tie the terrain to the climate and atmosphere. This will make the planet appear more credible and cohesive to the reader.
   • Perhaps the planet consists of different landscapes, such as icy mountains, grasslands, deserts, and tropical rainforests. Or maybe there is only one kind of terrain on the planet, for example a planet made of ice with glaciers, ice walls, and frozen forests.
   • You also have to think about whether there will be bodies of water on the planet, such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. Maybe there is only one long river that runs all over the planet, or there are several lakes that are considered sacred by the inhabitants of the planet.
5. Determine if there are specific monuments or landmarks on the planet. Most planets inhabited by some species will contain monuments built or created, such as a gigantic central tower or a statue of a historical figure. There may also be natural landmarks, such as a sacred mountain or a thick, preserved forest.
   • You can make a specific monument or landmark an important element in your story, so that the landscape is important in the story. Your protagonist may have to travel to a central tower to get important information from the planet's government. Or maybe your main character is looking for a key hidden in a sacred mountain.
6. Describe natural resources on the planet. Think about whether there will be natural resources, such as minerals or gas, on the planet. These natural resources can then have an important purpose in your story, as your characters can try to extract these resources or use them for their own purposes.
   • There can be mineral sources such as gold, iron, or coal. There may also be expensive stones such as diamonds or pearls on the planet.
   • You can determine that there are natural sources such as fossil fuels or natural gases. Or perhaps there are many forests on the planet for wood to be extracted from, and fertile lands for crops to grow.
7. Determine if there will be cities or towns on the planet. You must determine whether your planet will be divided into areas such as cities or towns. Perhaps there are only a few major cities on your planet, and many small villages in remote areas. Or maybe your planet is full of cities and urban areas, with only a few rural villages or areas.
   • Think about how your planet's cities and towns will appear in your story and how they will affect the story. Maybe your antagonist lives in a remote village. Think about how you are going to use the layout of your planet in your story, and work from that perspective.
8. Create a map of the planet. Sit down and sketch a map of your planet to get a better feel for its general geography. This does not necessarily have to be very well drawn. Focus on recording the general details of the planet, such as place names and places of interest.
   • For example, you might create a planet that is split into two sides: an ice side and a sand side. You can then label one side "freezing," and write down details about the atmosphere, climate, and terrain in this area. You can write: "blue atmosphere, freezing temperatures, glaciers, ice walls, snowy mountains, sparse forests."

Part 2 of 3: Designing the creatures on the planet

1. Think about the different life forms on the planet. You have to think about who inhabits your fictional planet. Perhaps human-like beings or alien-like creatures have colonized the planet. Perhaps there is a mixture of the two living there, trying to live together in harmony on the planet.
   • Determine roughly what the population size of each life species on your planet is. Maybe there are more aliens than humans, or maybe both humans and aliens are in the minority compared to a species of animal living on the planet.
   • Think about the different races that inhabit the planet. Maybe there are different human races that live in specific places or areas, and maybe there are different alien races that live only in specific places on the planet.
2. Create unique biodiversity for the planet. Think about the flora and fauna that exist on your planet; from mammals to insects and plant species. Try to be detailed about biodiversity as it can tell your reader a lot about the physical aspects of the world. It can also push the story forward or advance your characters as your characters come into contact with the planet's biodiversity.
   • You may want to use parts of the earth's unique biodiversity as a starting point. Do some research on strange terrestrial biodiversity and use this as part of the biodiversity on your planet.
   • Another option is to start with an existing plant or animal and make it more unique or strange. For example, your planet may be inhabited by vines that secrete blood, or wildebeests that are only 5 cm long. Be creative and turn familiar elements of our world into unique elements for your planet.
3. Describe the history of the life forms on the planet. Also think about how the beings on your planet were touched and the events that led to the creation of the planet. Sketch a history of the planet, before and after it has been settled by a life form. You can then include plot points and characters from your story in the history of the planet.
   • Also consider the origin of the planet and the life form. Is the planet a distant star inhabited by aliens that crashed on it? Or did the species grow and evolve on it over a long time?
   • Also consider important events in the history of the planet. Perhaps the aliens that crashed on the planet had to defeat another species that already lived there. Or perhaps the species that evolved on the planet had to endure dark times in order to live prosperously.
4. Determine if technology will be used on the planet. You also need to determine how technologically advanced the species will be on the planet. Do they have access to advanced technology using signaling stations around the planet? Or do you use kind of technology that is similar to the technology on Earth, with Wi-Fi and internet at high speed?
   • Keep in mind that you are creating a fictional planet and you don't have to stick to realistic ideas about technology. You have the freedom to create your own versions of existing technology, such as cell phones called "ray hands" or a version of the internet simply called "the Net". Be creative and don't be afraid to come up with your own technologies for the species (s) on your planet.

Part 3 of 3: Creating the rules of the planet

1. Determine how magic works on the planet. You may decide to use magical elements on your planet, especially if you are writing a sci-fi fantasy story. By determining how magic works on your planet, you can then use magical elements from your planet in your story.
   • For example, perhaps there is a specific area on the planet known for its magical forest, which anyone who steps into it swallows. Or maybe there are places with green gas where everyone without proper breathing equipment suffocates.
   • There may also be magical beings that exist as a species on the planet. You can limit the magic to these magical beings, which bring magic with them, instead of the magic being part of the planet itself.
   EXPERT TIP

   Determine if the planet will be hospitable. You also need to consider whether the planet is friendly, dangerous, or both. Perhaps the planet is only host to a certain species, such as aliens or magical creatures, and is threatening to humans. Or maybe there are areas on the planet that are dangerous to all beings.

   • You can decide to treat the planet as one more character in your story, with your own thoughts and behaviors. Perhaps the planet creates conflict for your characters, requiring them to escape the dangerous planet in order to survive.
2. Think about how the planet functions within a larger system. Also try to get an enlarged idea of ​​the planet, thinking about how and if the planet functions within a larger system of planets. The planet may be light years from the nearest planet, or it may be under the domain of a larger planet in the solar system.
   • Think about where exactly the planet is within a larger galaxy.
   • The rules of the planet can also be based on the position of the planet in a solar system, where it is limited by a larger planet, or in charge of smaller planets. Consider the planet's positioning in relation to other planets and celestial objects, such as stars, meteorites, and black holes.