How to answer any worldbuilding prompt

Using the 6 Questions Method

This is my method for writing at least 300 words for any worldbuilding prompt which I've decided to call the 6 Questions Method. I do this for every Summer Camp event on World Anvil and it's super easy to remember! I've found that this method can act as a great starting point to expand things further and get some ideas going.

Take the writing prompt and then write just 50 words for each question:

1. Who?
2. What?
3. Where?
4. Why?
5. When?
6. How?

That's it!

From there you can start editing and turn your ideas into a finished and shiny article (if you want to, of course)! 😀

Example

"Describe a food in your world that looks very unappealing yet is incredibly popular." (Answer this prompt on World Anvil)

Who?

• Who eats this kind of food?
• Who makes/cooks it?
• Who was the inventor or original creator of it?
• Who typically enjoys this dish?
• Who can't get over the look of it and won't even try it?

What?

• What ingredients is it made from?
• What does it taste like?
• What does it smell like?
• What does it look like that makes it so unappealing?
• What does it remind people of?

Where?

• Where does the dish originate from?
• Where do people go to consume it?
• Where has the best version of this food in town?

Why?

• Why don't people like the look of it?
• Why do people still make it this way even if it looks bad?
• Why do some people love it and others don't?

When?

• When is it typically made?
• When do people consume it? Time of day? Year?
• When does it actually go bad?

How?

• How is it made?
• How long does it take to make?
• How long does it last for?
• How is it stored?
• How is it culturally significant?
• How filling is it?
• How popular or well known is it?

If you want to see a different approach to worldbuilding, check out my previous blog post where I shared my process for tackling World Anvil's Rivers & Waterways challenge.