Searching fantasy land maps and artwork on Pinterest is my go-to for world-building inspiration It can be easy to limit your imagination to things realistic to our world. I’ve done it enough times when writing. In fantasy, anything can be possible and I love seeing artwork take that to heart. I have several Pinterest boards dedicated to otherworldly settings. I’m currently obsessed with fluorescent and unique colored plants. It’s fantasy, my forests don’t need to be green.
Not too long ago I started using Inkarnate for mapmaking. Before, I was creating fantasy lands in Photoshop. I talked about it in the post Creating Fictional World Maps with Inkarnate. When I’m stressed, it’s good to dive into a fantasy map or two. I created most of these as a way to relax. For some, like the sky city, I had a vision in my head so I took to Inkarnate to see if I could bring it to life.
A good image can jump-start your muse. Here are a few fantasy landscapes to inspire you if you’re stuck in your world-building journey.
I highly recommend collecting fantasy images while world-building. Keep them in whatever app you feel comfortable with. I use Pinterest now. When I first started writing, I used to put them in Word docs. Some, I printed out and placed them all on my wall. These images not only help me better picture my world but they’re also good reminders. Don’t limit my imagination.
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For more inspiration, visit my fantasy photography page.
If you’re building a world for a book or campaign, check out this guide and my world-building templates for tips and questions to ask yourself as you’re creating fantasy cities, towns, races and more.
