Ideas and Inspiration for Vivid Sci Fi Worldbuilding

Casey Hudson bases her sci fi writing ideas on real-world science and technology. World Workings is where she shares her research, sci fi world building technique, and publishing journey.

Building a Fictional World shows the transition from science to fiction and offers prompts and inspiration to tease out your own sci fi writing ideas.
When Scratch Building Drifting Amalgams, Casey's modeler, Aaron, sculpts, paints, builds, and kitbashes his way to sci fi world building models.
Sci-Fi Self-Publishing Journey shows the path from sci fi writing ideas to sci fi books.

A satellite map of a sci-fi land mass. Only three massive, glowing, contrasting political entities show. They are defined by geography.

Pointers for Building a Fictional Government from Scratch

Everything from wars to scientific advancements can hinge on a government’s values and structures. So governing bodies are an important part of worldbuilding, whether they’re on display or idling in a narrative’s background. This is my approach to building a fictional government from scratch. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. Thinking about how to Choose a Fictional Government Type An important thing to remember when creating a fictional g

Building a Fictional World

May 4

Thought bubble of a spiral galaxy that fades from pencil drawing to full-color image

Creating a Fictional Galaxy: Worldbuilding to Visualization

I’m sci-fi writer Casey Hudson, and I’m worlbuilding SPACE for my Drifting Amalgams universe. Here’s how I’m transforming worldbuilding questions and real science into a galaxy and beyond. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. Worldbuilding Galaxy without Being Overwhelmed When worldbuilding space, it’s easy to get carried away. You could design every planet, every star, every system, and all the objects in between. But why? To stay focused on

Building a Fictional World

Apr 20

Wooden orrery depicting a sci-fi planetary system with one star and two planes. The orrery sits against a black background.

Making an Orrery with Wooden Gears (Sci-Fi Model Making)

It’s time to build the galaxy within the Drifting Amalgams universe. Literally. But making a star system model from scratch is nothing new. What if it's made from wooden gears? That could be interesting. Watch as model maker Aaron attempts making an orrery from soft wood. Get the IndServe Space Lane Summary Sheet

Scratch Building Drifting Amalgams

Apr 6

A planet with a beam of light flowing from it to a point in space

Worldbuilding Space Lanes for Interstellar Shipping | IndServ

Shipping and transit is quietly powerful in my Drifting Amalgams universe. But what’s so special about moving goods from one place to another? This is the worldbuild that helps turn a simple corporation into a galactic power. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. Creating a Fictional Galaxy-Wide Conglomerate Before it becomes a “galactic power,” my company needs an identity. Short for Industrial Services, IndServ’s roots are in mining. As it g

Building a Fictional World

Mar 23

Planet with color striations with a spiral of stars in the background

How to Create a Fictional Galaxy to Intrigue Sci-Fi Audiences

If your sci-fi lives outside the Milky Way, you may be thinking about worldbuilding galaxy aspects. But space is vast, it can be difficult to create something meaningful. Unless you focus on what’s important for your universe. This is a primer on how to create a fictional galaxy. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. How to Create a Fictional Galaxy’s Interstellar Space Because space is so immense, it’s helpful to define the extent of your nar

Building a Fictional World

Mar 9

Four Primates in a Lab Working on a Felid Robot

Warbot for Children: From Sci-Fi Worldbuilding to Sci-Fi Writing

I’m sci-fi writer Casey Hudson, and I’m worlbuilding a child-controlled warbot for my Drifting Amalgams universe. Here’s how I’m transforming worldbuilding questions and real-world ideas into remote-driven reconnaissance assistants. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. Worldbuilding Intrigue Rooted in Stagnation The current state of an intercultural relationship is as much about history as it is about the assumptions and actions of the presen

Building a Fictional World

Feb 23

Sci-Fi Model Making: Futuristic Robots for Children at War

The Independent Ponga States have a technologically advanced ally and a natural fear to use against their enemies. This is how the R-Cat was imagined. This surveillance and reconnaissance robot looks like a big cat and is operated by children of war. Watch as modelmaker Aaron, builds the robotic frame before cat-ifying this visualization from Casey Hudson’s Drifting Amalgams universe. Get the R-Cat Summary Sheet

Scratch Building Drifting Amalgams

Feb 9

Robot designed to look like a leopard being ridden by an orangutan-like child

How I Worldbuild Tools for Children to Fight Wars

A century of war makes for a lot of lost children. At least, that’s true of my Drifting Amalgams universe. How do they cope? Join the war that spawned them. These are the real-world technologies behind my narrative’s warbots–for children. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. Operators and Operations: The User and Interface of the R-Cat To be clear, I don’t take the realities of war or child soldiering lightly. My narratives, like many sci-fi

Building a Fictional World

Jan 26

Futuristic Diplomatic Meeting between Orangutans and Humans

How to Create Global Relationships that Captivate Readers

Intercultural relations are more than just politics. They affect everyday life, from the products we buy to the media we can access. So how do you worldbuild cultural relationships that truly impact your plot and characters? This is a framework for creating relationships on a global level. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. How it Makes you Feel: The Essence of the Relationship Relationships can be antagonistic or amicable. They can be char

Building a Fictional World

Jan 12

Neighborhood of futuristic apartments built into trees

Worldbuilding a Treehouse Community from Start to Finish

I’m worlbuilding a city full of treehouses for my Drifting Amalgams universe. Here’s what I’m asking and learning to create a rainforest community. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. How to Worldbuild Homes in Sci-Fi Worlds Environment and community are two essentials for worldbuilding a sci-fi home. Environment guides choices like building materials and style of residence. While community helps turn a physical space into a place for social

Building Speculative Societies

Dec 15, 2025

Sci-Fi Model Making: Treehouse for an Advanced World

The po’ongabel of the Drifting Amalgams universe are tree-dwelling primates that live in an advanced world. And every treehouse city starts with one tree. But how do you begin building a treehouse for a sci-fi world? Aaron will find a way as he shares his journey in making a treehouse …well, actually a tree-partment from Casey Hudson's sci-fi book series. Get the Treehouse Neighborhood Summary Sheet

Scratch Building Drifting Amalgams

Dec 1, 2025

Futuristic pod housing with VR screens and bright blue lights built into trees

How I Worldbuild a Technologically Advanced Treehouse Neighborhood

What if a civilization maintained its connection to nature as it evolved technologically? For one of my sci-fi species, I’m envisioning smart homes in the trees. But what does it look like to live in a tree, and how do tree homes form communities? This is how I worldbuilt a technologically advanced treehouse neighborhood. Rather watch a video? Check out the YouTube version of this blog post. How a Real Tree Inspires a Treehouse Neighborhood in Sci-Fi This is a po’ongabel. A h

Building a Fictional World

Nov 17, 2025