Worldbuilding is fun but sometimes creating the setting where your story takes place can be the most challenging process of all. Not only must it stand out from all the other settings in other stories, but it must offer an immersive experience to the reader.
It takes a lot of time and care to create a setting that feels right and believable. Sometimes it’s so difficult that writers get stuck, leaving you unable to push through with the story you’re trying to tell.
The Best Setting Generators
When you’re stuck trying to visualize the stage where your characters will act, sometimes a setting generator can help you start the writing process.
These generators vary in complex. Some simply provide the barest framework of a setting while others have more detailed prompts. But whether you’re trying to defeat writer’s block or simply looking for a change of pace, these generators will test your writing skills.
Check out some of the best setting generators below!
1. Fiction Writer’s Location Creator
The Fiction Writer’s Location Creator is a simple, headache-proof randomizer. You only need to click a button and it generates a setting you can use in a story. Click the button again to generate a different location.
The locations are centered in Britain, but can easily be transported to a different world if you want to.
2. Chaotic Shiny
Chaotic Shiny is a one of the top websites dedicated to randomizers. The one shown above is specifically for medieval cities but there are others dedicated to other types of settings.
From places as large as an entire planet to one as specific as a building, each randomizer provides you with different levels of details to play with.
3. Seventh Sanctum
Like Chaotic Shiny, Seventh Sanctum is another long-running site full of randomizers. While it’s not as detailed, it offers a significant amount of location names instead. You can further refine some of the generators depending on what options are available.
4. Writing Exercises
Writing Exercises is another generator site with a simple interface. For its settings exercises, you only need to click on four buttons, each determining time, weather conditions, location, and atmosphere. One aspect can be changed without altering the others.
5. RanGen
RanGen contains many setting generators, ranging from solar systems and planets to countries and cities. Each one is fairly detailed, with a few having visual elements to further demonstrate a prompt. Some of the generators also include options you can use to better mold what setting prompts you want to see.
6. Springhole
Springhole also contains many setting generators you can use to jumpstart your writing. Shown above is its world generator, but there are also generators for different locations available such as towns, houses, and rooms. You only need to click on a button to cycle through random prompts until you find one you like.
7. Masterpiece Generator
Masterpiece Generator lets you tailor its results to what you want by having you fill out a form before generating any location. If you’re not up to it though, you can simply fill it up with random information. Apart from the house generator shown above, it also have ones for countries, towns, and streets.
8. Hiveword
Hiveword is a site dedicated to novel organization. One of its tools is a setting generator that creates a list of random places from all over planet Earth.
If you’re looking for a generator specifically for real-life places, then this is it. It even includes convenient links about each location to get you started on research.
9. Kassoon
Kassoon is a site dedicated to Dungeons & Dragons but its generators can be easily adopted for a more generic use. Aside from the town generator shown above, there are also specific generators for whole worlds, houses, streets, dungeons, and more.
10. 52prompts
52prompts is as simple as it gets for a setting generator. You simply need to click on the button and it’ll show a random location without any other detail. Combine it with the other generators available on site and you’ll have a decent amount of information to start your story with.
Creating Your Setting
A setting is a platform from which your characters perform and advance the plot. As such, it’s one of the most important elements in storytelling.
A bad setting leaves the story flat and in danger of collapsing. So writers spend a lot of time building the world they want for their plot to unfold. But sometimes, you just can’t seem to start. The setting you’re thinking of is either to similar with others, or you’re unable to properly convey it in words.
When this happens, setting generators are an excellent tool to either start or keep your momentum. There’s enough detail to get your imagination running while still leaving space for you to play with. When you use such a tool, expect that your end product is far different—and much more superior—to that which you started with.
If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:
- 10 Character Generators to Help You Beat Writer’s Block
- Writing Prompt Generators to Help You Overcome Creativity Hurdles
- 5 Villain Name Generator Tools and Tips for Naming Your Antagonist
- First Line Generator Tools to Help You Start Your Story
Cole is a blog writer and aspiring novelist. He has a degree in Communications and is an advocate of media and information literacy and responsible media practices. Aside from his interest in technology, crafts, and food, he’s also your typical science fiction and fantasy junkie, spending most of his free time reading through an ever-growing to-be-read list. It’s either that or procrastinating over actually writing his book. Wish him luck!
