So you want to build memorable settings?
Think about the places in fiction that feel as real as anywhere you've actually been. They shape the story, don't they? The oppressive humidity of Faulkner's Mississippi. The towering, claustrophobic verticality of Minas Tirith. The windswept moors of Wuthering Heights. A story set in a cramped spaceship feels fundamentally different from one set in an endless prairie, even if the plot beats are identical.
You likely already see your settings clearly in your mind. You can picture the layout of your city, feel the climate of your planet, hear the sounds of your marketplace. Now you just have to translate your vision onto the page in a way that's immersive without being overwhelming.
That's what our setting templates aim to help you do. They help you think systematically about the elements that make places feel real — geography, climate, culture, history, sensory details — and organize them so you can write settings that enhance your story instead of slowing it down.
Get access to every setting template you'll ever need
Our specialized templates cover every scale of setting development: planets and continents that establish your world's fundamentals, countries and biomes that define regions and ecosystems, and cities and landmarks that bring specific locations to life.
Each template focuses on the questions that matter at that particular scale — so you can build settings that feel authentic whether you're zooming out to view entire continents or zooming in to describe a single room. Here's a sample of what's inside.
The Planet Template
What you can build with it: Tired of Earth? Create a new planet where the only boundaries are that of your own imagination.
- What extreme or unusual landforms make it unique?
- How long is a day on this planet?
- How many moons orbit the planet?
- How did this planet come into being?
- What golden ages or collapses marked planetary development?
- What is the gravity like on this planet?
- What ecosystems dominate the planet?
- How do languages vary across continents or species?
The Biome Template
What you can build with it: Design a rich and immersive biome and build everything from its climate to its flora and fauna.
- What distinctive landmarks or landforms define the identity of this biome?
- How does the biome connect to other regions?
- What is the seasonal cycle of the biome?
- What natural resources are available?
- How is the food chain structured?
- How does biodiversity compare to other regions?
- Who inhabits the biome now?
- How have maps of this biome changed?
The Continent Template
What you can build with it: Create a continent big enough for mountains, coasts, dragons, dictators — and your cast of characters.
- How does the north, south, east, and west differ?
- Which regions are most fertile or habitable?
- What places remain unexplored or unmapped?
- What major weather systems define the continent?
- How diverse is the continent's plant and animal life?
- How did borders and nations form over time?
- What shared cultural traits or common values exist across the continent?
- What trade systems are used in this continent?
The Country Template
What you can build with it: Shape a country whose rise and fall drives your world, defining everything from its government structure and economy to its traditions and conflicts.
- Which regions are most heavily populated, and why have they developed there?
- How does the terrain shape regional identities within the nation?
- How are the seasons defined?
- How does weather dictate daily life?
- Which animals are most iconic or culturally significant in this country?
- Which natural resources sustain the economy?
- Which historical events are widely known as turning points in the country's timeline?
- Which languages are spoken?
- How strong is its position internationally?
The City Template
What you can build with it: Create a city whose skyline, streets, and citizens tell their own story.
- Why was this site originally chosen for settlement?
- What kind of climate does the city experience?
- What surrounding natural features define it?
- How is the city organized or divided?
- What form of government runs the city?
- What is a typical day like for an ordinary citizen?
- What social classes or castes exist?
- What are the city's core values or taboos?
- What do people eat, wear, and do for leisure?
The Landmark Template
What you can build with it: Develop significant landmarks in your world, from temple ruins to natural caves.
- What does the landmark look like?
- How has the appearance of the landmark changed over time?
- Who discovered or built the landmark?
- How do locals vs. outsiders tell its story differently?
- How is the landmark used today?
- What economic value does it provide?
- How do foreign cultures perceive it?
- How is it used in politics or propaganda?
Build settings at every scale, step by step
The art of setting development is knowing what to include, what to skip, and when description serves the story versus when it slows it down.
- Build what the story touches. If your characters never leave the capital city, you don't need to map the entire continent in detail. If a building appears in one scene, you don't need its complete architectural history. Develop settings in proportion to how much they matter to your narrative—deep detail for places that shape the story, lighter touches for everywhere else.
- Use all five senses, but sparingly. Settings feel real when you go beyond visual description — the smell of salt air, the sound of crowded markets, the texture of rough stone walls. But sensory details work best in quick, vivid bursts. A few well-chosen details create immersion. A paragraph of exhaustive description creates a wall of text readers will skip.
- Let setting create obstacles and opportunities. The best settings aren't neutral backdrops — they actively shape what characters can and can't do. A city built on canals changes how people chase each other. A desert planet makes water more valuable than gold. Mountain ranges force armies to choose different routes. Use geography, climate, and infrastructure to create natural story complications.
- Reveal through action, not exposition. Readers learn more about a setting from watching characters navigate it than from lengthy descriptions. Show us the character dodging carts in a crowded marketplace rather than explaining the market's layout. Let sensory details emerge through interaction, not through paragraph-long establishing shots.
What makes Reedsy's templates different
Our templates follow one simple philosophy: your settings should should support your story, not get in its way. Each one is focused, intentional, and designed to fit naturally into your writing workflow. They’re all also integrated into Reedsy Studio, where you'll find an entire ecosystem to strengthen your writing: tools and resources that help you work better, faster, and stronger.
Beyond the template, Studio provides:
- A full universe of planning templates—character, story structure, scene planning, timelines, and more
- Seamless integration between all templates and your manuscript
- Full-featured manuscript editor for drafting and revision
- Automatic saving and cross-device syncing
- Export options in multiple formats
- Collaboration tools for writing partners
- Distraction-free writing environment
And of course, these setting templates are lovingly built for authors, by authors.
So what are you waiting for? Start building your landscapes today.
