Writing Prompts for Unique Landscapes: Strange New Worlds

Explore the Power of Unique Landscapes in Fiction

When it comes to creative writing, the setting is so much more than just a backdrop—it shapes the story itself. A civilisation clinging to life on a desert planet will have vastly different customs, values, and struggles than one thriving on a floating island. Weather patterns, bizarre terrain, and environmental quirks influence culture, character behaviour, and even the direction of the plot.

In this post, we’ll dive into the exciting world of fictional landscapes. You’ll discover how geography, weather, and natural phenomena can shape societies. Plus, you’ll find a collection of creative writing prompts to spark your imagination and help you build immersive, unforgettable settings for your stories. Let’s explore these strange new worlds!

1. Geography as Destiny: How Terrain Shapes Civilisations

In the real world, geography plays a massive role in shaping cultures—why should fictional worlds be any different? The terrain your characters live on will influence their daily lives, survival strategies, and even their worldview.

Imagine a society dwelling in an expansive desert. Water would be their most precious resource, and their architecture might prioritise shade and heat resistance. Trade caravans would be essential for survival, and nomadic traditions could define their way of life. Conversely, a civilisation built into a network of underground caves might develop a culture centred on darkness, echolocation, and bioluminescent technology.

Writing Prompts:

1. “The City on the Cliffs” – Write about a civilisation that clings to the edges of massive cliffs, building their homes into the rock face. How does this precarious landscape shape their culture and daily life?
2. “The Island of Moving Shores” – Create a story about an island where the coastline constantly shifts due to underwater volcanic activity. How do the people adapt to their ever-changing borders?
3. “The Endless Dunes” – Imagine a desert so vast that no one knows what lies beyond. Write about a caravan that sets out to find the edge, despite the legends warning them not to.
4. “The Fractured Continent” – Write about a world where the land is split into massive, drifting fragments that slowly float apart. How do the people travel between them, and what happens when two continents collide?
   
5. “The Valley of Eternal Shadows” – Imagine a civilisation that lives in a deep valley where sunlight never reaches the ground. How do they adapt to perpetual darkness, and what myths do they tell about the sunlit lands above?
   
6. “The Labyrinthine Plains” – Create a society that inhabits an endless landscape of natural rock mazes. How do they navigate the ever-shifting labyrinth, and what secrets lie at its centre?
   
7. “The Mountain of Mirrors” – Write about a towering mountain covered in reflective crystals. How does the constant reflection of light influence the region’s climate, and how do the inhabitants use the crystals in their daily lives or rituals?

2. Weather as a World Builder: Natural Disasters and Cultural Shifts

Weather isn’t just background noise—it can be a major force in your world. Frequent storms, extreme cold, or unpredictable weather patterns will influence how societies function.

For example, in a land where deadly sandstorms sweep across the plains, people might build underground cities to survive. In a place where monsoon rains last for months, homes could be built on stilts, and festivals might be timed around the changing weather patterns. Weather could even shape mythology, with storms seen as the wrath of vengeful deities or blizzards viewed as omens of change.

Writing Prompts:

1. “The Tempest Hunters” – Write about a society that worships massive, roaming storm clouds and sends daring hunters into the tempest to retrieve rare storm crystals.
2. “The Frozen Kingdom” – Imagine a land where temperatures have plummeted, and the people have adapted by building vast cities of ice. How do they survive in this glacial world?
3. “The Burning Rain” – Describe a place where the rain is acidic, slowly corroding everything it touches. How do people protect their homes, crops, and themselves?

3. Unique Environmental Elements: The Strange and the Spectacular

When creating strange new worlds, let your imagination run wild. You’re not bound by Earth’s laws—why not include bioluminescent forests, rivers that flow through the sky, or mountains that drift like icebergs? The more unique the environment, the more memorable your setting becomes.

Think about how these strange features would shape daily life. A forest where the trees glow could lead to an entirely nocturnal society. A planet with floating oceans could require people to sail between islands on airborne ships. Let your world’s quirks drive its culture and conflicts.

Writing Prompts:

1. “The Sky Rivers” – Write about a world where rivers flow through the sky instead of on the ground. How do people travel, fish, or farm in this environment?
2. “The Singing Mountains” – Imagine a mountain range that emits musical tones when the wind blows through it. What myths and traditions arise from this phenomenon?
3. “The Forest of Fireflies” – Describe a glowing forest that only comes alive at night. How do its bioluminescent plants and creatures impact the lives of the people who live nearby?
4. “The Crystal Tides” – Write about an ocean where the waves turn into solid crystal during certain moon phases. How do the people use or avoid these shimmering, frozen tides?
   
5. “The Hollow Earth” – Imagine a world where the surface is uninhabitable, but the interior is filled with vast, glowing caverns. How do the underground cities function, and what unique flora or fauna thrive in the darkness?

4. The Influence of Flora and Fauna on Society

The plants and animals that inhabit your world should influence its culture, economy, and daily life. If a civilisation relies on a massive, migratory beast for transportation, they might develop nomadic traditions. In a jungle filled with deadly plants, survival skills and herbal knowledge would become sacred.

Consider how rare or dangerous creatures might shape folklore. Do people offer sacrifices to a sky whale that brings rain? Do they hold festivals when a seasonal bloom fills the air with glowing spores? The ecosystem can be an active force that drives both conflict and cooperation.

Writing Prompts:

1. “The Guardians of the Behemoth” – Write about a society that reveres a massive, whale-like creature that controls the tides. How do they protect it from harm?
2. “The Jungle of Giants” – Imagine a rainforest where the trees are so enormous that people build villages in their branches. How does this arboreal lifestyle shape their culture?
3. “The Plains of the Fire Birds” – Create a land where flocks of flame-winged birds set the grasslands ablaze during their annual migration. How do people prepare for this fiery event?

5. The Role of Water and Oceans in World-Building

Water is a powerful world-building element. Societies near vast oceans might rely heavily on seafaring, while those in dry, arid regions would treat water as a sacred treasure. Consider how water sources—or their absence—affect trade, survival, and culture.

For instance, an aquatic world with scattered islands might have a deeply nautical culture, with floating cities and underwater exploration. Meanwhile, a desert world might develop rituals around water conservation and rain ceremonies.

Writing Prompts:

1. “The City Beneath the Waves” – Write about an underwater city where people have adapted to the ocean’s crushing depths. What challenges and wonders do they face?
2. “The Glass Lake” – Imagine a lake made of crystal-clear, unbreakable glass. What secrets are trapped beneath its surface?
3. “The Vanishing Sea” – Describe a world where the oceans periodically drain away, exposing the ocean floor. What ancient ruins or creatures emerge?

6. Gravity, Physics, and Otherworldly Phenomena

Fictional worlds don’t have to follow Earth’s physics. You can invent planets where gravity fluctuates, time flows differently, or the sun never sets. These details make your world feel distinct and immersive.

For example, a low-gravity world might have soaring cities built into floating rocks. A land with perpetual twilight could develop unique biomes where plants bloom according to moon phases. Letting go of Earth’s rules allows for limitless creativity.

Writing Prompts:

1. “The Gravity Shifters” – Write about a planet where gravity randomly intensifies or weakens. How do people adapt?
2. “The Eternal Sunrise” – Imagine a world where the sun never fully rises or sets, creating an eternal golden hour. How does this affect the planet’s wildlife and culture?
3. “The Planet of Echoes” – Describe a place where sound waves take hours to dissipate, causing eerie, long-lasting echoes. How does this shape communication and music?
4. “The Timeflow Isles” – Write about a cluster of islands where time flows at different speeds on each one. How do travellers adapt to the disorienting shifts in time? What consequences arise from spending too long on one island?
   
5. “The Shattered Sky” – Imagine a world where the sky is fractured into floating shards of atmosphere, creating regions with varying air density and gravity. How do the people navigate these fragmented layers?
   
6. “The Reverse Rain” – Create a landscape where rain falls upward, drawn toward a magnetic force in the sky. How do the inhabitants build their homes and gather water in this strange environment?
   
7. “The Flickering Realm” – Write about a dimension that periodically overlaps with another, causing the landscape and its inhabitants to flicker between two realities. How do people cope with the constant shifting, and what dangers arise?

Let Your Imagination Redraw the Map

Strange new worlds are the perfect playground for creative writers. By crafting unique landscapes, you can build societies, shape cultures, and create compelling conflicts. Whether you’re writing about floating cities, bioluminescent forests, or eternal storms, let the environment drive your storytelling. Use the writing prompts in this post to build immersive and unforgettable fictional worlds—ones that readers will be eager to explore.