As a fantasy writer, it’s easy to feel like word counts aren’t enough—especially when you’re building an entire world from scratch. Recently, I added about 2,000 words to my main story, bringing it to a total of around 16,000 words. While it may not sound like much in the grand scheme of a fantasy novella, each word represents a step closer to completing the story I’ve envisioned.

In addition to the core narrative, I’ve spent a lot of time crafting detailed world-building documents. These include 4,000 words (and counting!) focused on fleshing out character biographies, descriptions of unique races, the dynamics of manufacturing corporations, and defining magical abilities like clairvoyance and chromatic resonance. These foundational details ensure the world feels rich, immersive, and cohesive.

World-building may not immediately reflect in the main text, but it strengthens everything. Whether it’s defining the political tensions that influence a character's decisions or describing how chromatic resonance impacts a community, these details make the narrative more engaging.

So, while 16,000 story words might feel “small,” the true scope of work behind them proves otherwise. I’m excited to keep building this world and telling its story—one page at a time.

Learn more about my Young Adult Fantasy Novella.