Location Reference Sheet for writers This reference sheet is designed as a resource for writers of all speculative fiction, but particularly fantasy or sci-fi. It should help you to maintain consistency when writing about a setting, and help you find a deeper understanding of the locations in your story or novel. Please feel free to print, copy and redistribute this document, although I would ask that you please keep the contact information in the footer intact.
Basics Name of location Other names (nicknames, shortened versions,
name in other languages, etc) Environment type (underground, coastal, grassland, jungle, rainforest, mountains, hills, desert, ice, scrubland, sky, rural, urban, ruins, volcanic, artificial environment, etc) Atmosphere (oppressive, dark, brooding, miserable, evil, empty, soulless, boring, pleasant, friendly, invigorating, unsettling, relaxing, exciting, glorious, uplifting, charming, etc)
Temperature
Freezing Permanent Night
Day length
Cold
Moderate
Warm
Short
Moderate
Long
Hot Permanent Daylight
Weather (snow, hail, sleet, rain, cloudy,
stormy, sunny, drought, windy, hurricane, tornados, thunder & lightning, etc)
Environment Wildlife population
No Wildlife
Low
Moderate
High
Fauna – small (brief summary of the smaller creatures that live here)
Fauna – medium (brief summary of the mansized creatures that live here)
Fauna – large (brief summary of the larger creatures that live here)
Created by Jamie Lee Evans –
[email protected] – www.pithytitle.blogspot.com
Overpopulated
Flora – small (brief summary of the smaller plants and fungus that grow here)
Flora – medium (brief summary of the
average-sized plants and shrubs that grow here)
Flora – large (brief summary of the larger plants and trees that grow here)
People Population Cultural advancement
No Residents Wild Modern
Low
Moderate
Primitive Futuristic
High Agricultural SuperAdvanced
Significant individuals (leaders, wise people, business people, criminals, villains, etc)
Common professions (hunter, farmer,
herder, trader, shopkeeper, landlord, tailor, carpenter, military, criminal, mason, weaponsmith, scribe, artist, scientist, priest, sorcerer, inventor, slave, engineer, factory worker, teacher, philosopher, etc)
Local languages
Local religions/beliefs/superstitions
Local recipes/delicacies Created by Jamie Lee Evans –
[email protected] – www.pithytitle.blogspot.com
Overpopulated Industrial PostApocalyptic
Local festivals
Local customs (greetings, etiquette, etc)
Official organisations
Unofficial organisations
Food sources (rivers, hunting, berries, leaves, fruit, vegetables, agriculture, crops, livestock, industry, processed foods, etc)
Benefits of living here
Challenges of living here
Miscellaneous Significant places (landmarks, official buildings, meeting places, shops, historical sites, environmental hazards, etc)
Created by Jamie Lee Evans –
[email protected] – www.pithytitle.blogspot.com
History (give a brief summary of this location’s history)
Summary of neighbouring locations
Created by Jamie Lee Evans –
[email protected] – www.pithytitle.blogspot.com
