Before you begin, check out these rules.
This is the aspect of game design that deals with fleshing out your world with unique cultures and places. Maybe one town is built into the side of a cliff, while another is built in the trees? How is the culture and design different on a distant island than the closest town / village / city on the mainland coast?
Are all societies peaceful? Are some or all dangerous and warlike? I this a world of lush forests and soaring mountains with medieval villages and high castles or a post-apocalyptic wasteland strewn with the ruins of a once modern society? Is this world more steampunk with trains and airships?
You will use
Buildings
Roads
NPC's
Villagers
Illagers
Maps
Camera / Book & Quill / Lectern
Signs / slates / boards
To build a varied and convincing world.
Some of the best maps in Minecraft have found their inspiration in Literature and other games. Think of some of the best stories you've read or played through. What would that world look like in Minecraft?
This starter template is based on the "Starter Town" template, but with many more locations and Easter eggs. Enjoy.
Don't forget to use the world edit info from this page to speed up your work!
Minecraft Building Tutorial (Post-Apocalyptic Adventure Map)
How to Make Decaying Walls and Floors in Minecraft - Detail Tutorial #8
Steampunk Playlist (Lots of good tuts, including Grian)
Extreme Amplified Oak Village Transformation | Steampunk Minecraft Timelapse
There will be a lot more here as I add a flesh things out. Have something to add, ask for permission to add it.