K.M. Gallagher

Do Your Research

Pick a couple of real-life small towns or non-major cities and look into them!

How, when, and why did they form? Some towns or cities form around bodies of water, are created for a specific industry (such as mining or lumber), or grow in close proximity to more major cities. What is the population makeup and density? How do people make a living there?

Include the Essentials

There are a couple of things that your town or city will need in order to function:

• Housing
• Shop(s) for food/clothing
• Some kind of food source such as a farm or garden
• Some kind of nearby water source such as a well or river
• A place for medical supplies or treatment (pharmacy, hospital, doctor’s office…)

Depending on how modern the setting or how small the settlement, some of these may be located outside of your town/city.

Consider the Time Period

More modern settings may have additional locations: laundromats, auto repair shops, restaurants and cafes, libraries, hardware stores, city halls, post offices, emergency services, waste management services, etc.

A lot of it depends on how big and how current your town or city is. Less essential spots may be cut or merged based on these factors. For instance, a very small town might have furniture, groceries, convenience, and a pharmacy all in one building or “store.”

On Choosing a Name

For small town/city names, keep it simple! A lot of these places are named after relevant people/cultures, geography, or descriptors; think “Littletown,” “Fairhill,” “Fresh Springs,” or “Jefferson.” Some small towns or cities are named after larger towns or cities, like any one of the half dozen places called “Ithaca” in the U.S.

If you’ve built or are using another language, the same naming conventions usually apply.

Questions for Further Development

• What era does this setting take place in? Agricultural, pre-industrial, industrial, post-industrial, etc? What level of technological advancement does this setting have?
• What does trade look like there? What do they import and export? How close are they to major trade routes?
• What major cultures, political affiliations, and religions influence this setting? How and when did these influences come about?
• What is the geographical location? Island, mountain, plains, etc?
• What is stopping this location from growing into a major town or city?

Steal Like an Artist

Find an existing (or historical) small city or cities that fit the rough vibe you’re going for and swap out necessary details.

If you use multiple inspiration sources, try and keep it consistent! Even though settlements grow organically and there isn’t necessarily any rhyme or reason to it, most things are the way they are for a reason. Take climate, geography, and general location into account!