Who makes the rules in your fictional world? Who has the power to enforce them? And what happens when your protagonist decides to challenge the system? Today, we’re exploring politics, authority, and power structures in our novels!
Welcome back to Day 16 of Preptober 2026! 🎃✍️
You guys, we’ve officially made it to the FINAL day of our worldbuilding exercises!
Can you believe it?!
Over the past several days, we’ve been exploring the worlds our characters inhabit.
We’ve established our settings, climates, terrain, and natural resources.
We’ve developed our magic and technology systems.
We’ve explored society, culture, traditions, and social expectations.
And yesterday, we identified the different creatures, species, and communities that live in our fictional worlds.
But today?
We’re figuring out who’s actually in CHARGE! 👑😂
Because every society has some form of power structure.
Someone makes decisions.
Someone establishes rules.
Someone has influence.
And someone probably isn’t very happy about any of it.
Which, as writers, means one thing…
CONFLICT! 👀
Today, we’re exploring politics and power, and how the systems governing our fictional worlds can influence our characters, relationships, and plots.
And before my contemporary romance writers start thinking this lesson doesn’t apply to them…
You know what I’m going to say.
WORLDBUILDING IS FOR EVERY GENRE! 😂💕
What Are Politics & Power in Worldbuilding?
Let’s start with the basics.
When we talk about politics in worldbuilding, we’re exploring how decisions are made, how authority is organized, and how different people or groups influence their society.
Now, I know what some of you might be thinking.
Elizabeth, I’m writing a cozy romance. I don’t need politics in my novel!
And you’re right!
You might not need an elaborate political system.
You might not need government officials debating laws or kingdoms fighting over territory.
But politics and power aren’t limited to governments.
Power exists anywhere people have different levels of authority, influence, or control.
Think about a family business.
A university.
A corporation.
A small-town community.
A royal court.
A criminal organization.
Or even a wealthy family whose opinions influence everyone around them.
All of these settings can have power structures.
And those structures can influence what our characters are allowed to do, what opportunities are available to them, and what obstacles they face.
The goal of today’s exercise isn’t to turn every novel into a political thriller.
It’s to understand who holds influence in your world and how that influence affects your story.
Step 1: Identify Who Holds the Power 👑
First things first, grab your free Preptober 2026 E-Guide and turn to the Politics & Power section.
We’re starting with one simple question.
Who holds the power in your fictional world?
If you’re writing fantasy, maybe your world is governed by a king or queen.
Maybe there’s a council of elders.
A group of powerful magical families.
Or several competing kingdoms.
If you’re writing science fiction, perhaps there’s a planetary government, an influential corporation, or an artificial intelligence that controls important systems.
If you’re writing contemporary fiction, power might exist within a workplace, family, school, or local community.
And if you’re writing historical fiction, you’ll want to consider the institutions and social hierarchies that existed during your chosen period.
Now, here’s something important.
The person with the highest title isn’t always the person with the most influence.
A king might officially rule a kingdom.
But perhaps his advisors make most of the important decisions.
A company might have a CEO.
But maybe the founder’s family still controls the board of directors.
Or a small town might have an elected mayor.
But perhaps one wealthy family has influenced local decisions for generations.
See where I’m going with this?
Authority and influence aren’t always the same thing.
And understanding that difference can create some really interesting storytelling opportunities.
Step 2: Establish the Rules of Your World ⚖️
Now that we know who’s in charge, let’s talk about the rules.
Every society has expectations about how people should behave.
Some are formal laws.
Others are institutional policies.
And some are unwritten social rules that people follow because challenging them comes with consequences.
Start by asking yourself:
What rules govern my fictional world?
Maybe certain magical abilities are forbidden.
Maybe only members of a particular family can inherit the throne.
Maybe a company has strict policies about workplace relationships.
Maybe a school has rules that limit what students can do.
Or perhaps a community has longstanding traditions that everyone is expected to respect.
Now, here’s where things get interesting.
What happens when someone breaks those rules?
Are they punished?
Ostracized?
Fined?
Removed from a position of authority?
Or simply judged by everyone around them?
Because rules become especially useful to our stories when they create meaningful consequences.
For example, imagine a fictional university where students are prohibited from entering a particular building after dark.
Now imagine your protagonist discovers something important hidden inside that building.
Suddenly, they have a choice.
Follow the rules and potentially lose access to the information they need?
Or break the rules and risk serious consequences?
That’s how a power structure can create conflict without requiring an elaborate political subplot.
Step 3: Explore Different Types of Power
Now, here’s something I want you to think about.
Power doesn’t always come from an official position.
There are many different ways characters can influence the people and systems around them.
Political Power
This is authority connected to governments, laws, and leadership.
Think kings, queens, presidents, councils, and elected officials.
These individuals or institutions might establish laws, control territory, or make decisions that affect entire communities.
Economic Power
Money and resources can create enormous influence.
A wealthy family might control important businesses.
A corporation might provide most of the jobs in a town.
Or a merchant might control access to something the community desperately needs.
And when someone controls an important resource?
They can influence the decisions of others.
Social Power
Sometimes influence comes from reputation, relationships, or social standing.
Maybe a character is respected because of their family name.
Maybe they’re a beloved community leader.
Or perhaps they have connections that give them access to opportunities others don’t have.
This kind of power can be especially interesting in romance, historical fiction, and contemporary novels.
Institutional Power
Schools, businesses, religious institutions, hospitals, and other organizations have their own hierarchies.
Someone might have the authority to hire or fire employees.
Approve funding.
Grant access to important resources.
Or determine whether a character can pursue a particular opportunity.
Magical or Technological Power
And for my fantasy and science fiction writers?
Power might also come from access to extraordinary abilities or advanced technology.
Maybe certain individuals possess rare magical talents.
Maybe an organization controls the most powerful weapons.
Or perhaps only a small group has access to advanced medical technology.
The important question isn’t simply who has power. It’s what they can do with it.
Step 4: Think About Who Doesn’t Have Power
Now, let’s look at the other side of the equation.
Who has the least power in your world?
Because understanding who holds authority is important.
But understanding who lacks it can be just as useful.
Maybe certain communities have limited access to resources.
Maybe younger family members have little influence over important decisions.
Maybe employees have no say in how a company operates.
Or maybe a character belongs to a group that isn’t represented within the government.
Those differences can create meaningful obstacles.
And they can influence how characters approach their goals.
For example, imagine a protagonist who works for a family-owned business.
They have an incredible idea that could save the company.
But the business owner refuses to listen because the protagonist is young and inexperienced.
Suddenly, the protagonist isn’t simply trying to solve a business problem.
They’re also trying to overcome a power imbalance.
And that creates additional conflict!
Power structures become interesting when they influence what our characters can and cannot accomplish.
Step 5: Explore Conflict Between Those in Power
Okay, you guys.
Now we’re getting into one of my favorite parts of storytelling.
People who disagree about how things should be run! 😂
Because even within the same organization or government, not everyone will agree.
Maybe two members of a royal council have completely different visions for their kingdom.
Maybe a family business is divided over whether to modernize.
Maybe a community disagrees about a proposed development project.
Or maybe a school administration and its students have very different opinions about an important policy.
These disagreements can create opportunities for conflict.
But here’s something important.
The people involved don’t necessarily have to be villains.
Sometimes two characters genuinely believe they’re doing what’s best.
They simply disagree about what that looks like.
And those disagreements can become especially compelling when both sides have understandable motivations.
For example, imagine a fictional town considering whether to sell an old historic theater.
One group wants to preserve the building because it represents the town’s history.
Another group wants to sell it because the money could fund much-needed community services.
Both groups have reasonable concerns.
But they want different outcomes.
And if your protagonist is caught in the middle?
Well, now we’ve got a story!
Conflicting priorities can be just as powerful as conflicting personalities.
Step 6: Connect Politics & Power to Your Protagonist 💕
Now, here’s the question I really want you to focus on today.
How does the power structure in your world affect your protagonist?
Because remember…
We’re not worldbuilding simply for the sake of worldbuilding.
We’re trying to create a believable environment that supports our stories.
So think about your protagonist’s goal.
What are they trying to accomplish?
And who has the authority or influence to help or stop them?
Maybe your protagonist wants to pursue a career their family doesn’t approve of.
Maybe they need permission from an organization to accomplish something important.
Maybe they’re trying to change a rule that harms their community.
Or maybe they have to work alongside someone whose authority they deeply resent.
Suddenly, your power structure has become part of your protagonist’s conflict.
And here’s where we can connect today’s exercise to something we explored earlier this month.
Goal. Conflict. Stakes.
Remember Day 10?
We identified what our protagonists want, what’s standing in their way, and what they stand to lose if they fail.
Well, sometimes the thing standing in their way is a person or institution with more power than they have.
And that creates an opportunity to explore how our protagonists respond to authority.
Do they follow the rules?
Challenge them?
Manipulate the system?
Or try to change it from within?
The way your protagonist responds to power can reveal a lot about their personality, values, and character arc.
Step 6: Don’t Turn Your Worldbuilding Into a Political Encyclopedia 😂
Okay, you guys.
Here’s your friendly reminder for today.
You do NOT need to develop an entire government system before November 1st.
Unless, of course, your story genuinely requires one!
But for most of us, the goal isn’t to create a fifty-page document explaining every law, political office, and administrative procedure in our fictional worlds.
We’re preparing to write our novels.
And sometimes, it’s easy to get caught up in the details.
Maybe you start by creating a royal council.
Then you decide every council member needs an elaborate backstory.
Then you develop a complete history of the kingdom’s political system.
And before you know it…
You’ve spent three days researching medieval taxation. 😂
Now, if that information is important to your plot, absolutely explore it!
But otherwise?
Focus on what matters most.
Who holds power?
What rules influence your characters?
Who benefits from the system?
Who struggles because of it?
And how does that power structure create conflict?
You can always develop the finer details as you write.
Remember, the goal of Preptober isn’t to plan every single detail of your novel.
It’s to create a foundation that helps you begin writing with confidence.
Today’s Preptober Assignment ✍️
Grab your free Preptober 2026 E-Guide and turn to the Politics & Power section.
Today, we’re identifying the authority structures that influence our fictional worlds.
Spend about 10–15 minutes answering these questions:
1. Who holds the power?
Identify the people, organizations, or institutions with the most authority or influence.
2. How is that power maintained?
Is it through laws, wealth, tradition, reputation, resources, or something else?
3. What rules govern your world?
Think about formal laws, institutional policies, and unwritten social expectations.
4. Who benefits from the current system?
Are certain people or groups given advantages because of their position?
5. Who has limited power?
Which characters or communities face obstacles because of the way authority is distributed?
6. How does this affect your protagonist?
Does someone in power stand between your protagonist and their goal?
And here’s my favorite bonus question:
What is ONE rule your protagonist would be willing to break—and what would happen if they got caught? 👀
Because that answer might lead you toward a very interesting plot point!
Remember, you don’t need to answer every question in enormous detail.
We’re simply identifying the power structures that matter most to our stories.
We’ve Finished Our Worldbuilding Exercises! 🎉🌎
YOU GUYS!
We’ve officially made it through the worldbuilding portion of Preptober 2026!
Over the past five days, we’ve explored:
- Location, Climate, Terrain & Natural Resources
- Magic & Technology
- Society & Culture
- Creatures, Races & Communities
- Politics & Power
And now?
We have a much better understanding of the worlds our characters inhabit.
We know where they live.
What systems exist.
How their communities function.
Who lives alongside them.
And who holds the power.
But here’s something I want you to remember.
Your worldbuilding doesn’t have to be finished.
You can discover new details while drafting.
You can change things.
You can expand on ideas.
And you can leave questions unanswered until they become relevant to your story.
Because we’re not trying to create perfect planning documents.
We’re trying to prepare ourselves to write a novel!
And speaking of writing…
We’re about to move into one of the most exciting parts of Preptober!
Follow Along With Preptober 2026! 🎃📖
If you’re just joining us, welcome!
Throughout October, I’m sharing 31 daily YouTube videos to help writers plan their novels and prepare for Novel November.
We’re working through my free Preptober 2026 E-Guide, one section at a time.
And whether you’re a dedicated plotter, a proud pantser, or somewhere in between, you’re welcome to join us!
You don’t need to know every law in your fictional kingdom.
You don’t need a complete political history.
And you definitely don’t need to create an organizational chart for every business in your contemporary romance. 😂
You just need to understand the power structures that influence your characters and the story you’re trying to tell.
Coming Up Tomorrow: Find the BIG Moments in Your Story! 📖🔥
Tomorrow, we’re moving on to Day 17 of Preptober 2026, and we’re officially diving into…
PLOTTING! 🎉
That’s right, you guys!
We’ve spent the first half of October discovering our stories, developing our characters, and building our worlds.
Now it’s time to start figuring out what actually HAPPENS in our novels!
Tomorrow, we’ll identify the major story beats that create the foundation of our plots.
Our openings.
Inciting incidents.
Turning points.
Midpoints.
Climaxes.
And resolutions!
And don’t worry.
We’re not outlining every single chapter tomorrow.
We’re simply identifying the BIG moments that will help guide our stories from beginning to end.
Before you go, I’d love to hear from you:
Who’s REALLY in charge in your novel—and does your protagonist agree with them? 👀👑
Is it a king or queen?
A powerful corporation?
A wealthy family?
A school principal?
Or maybe a very opinionated grandmother who somehow controls the entire family? 😂
Tell me in the comments!
I’ll see you tomorrow!
We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️
