JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Rings is perhaps the most popular book of the last hundred years. One of the reasons for this is the sense the story gives of taking place in a real world, with a great depth of history, language and culture of which this tale is just a part.

Tolkien's work has inspired hundreds of authors to create their own imaginary worlds as settings for their stories. Some are more successful than others. Few come close to Tolkien in the creation of a believable world that convinces the reader it is real.

Creativity

What are the ingredients that make for a successful invented world?

Myth-Making

What elements did Tolkien use to create Middle-earth?

Imaginary Lands

If you want to create an imaginary world, how can you make it seem real, at least for a little while?

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