This article is by Eleanor Konik. Gods in Myth Creating a myth cycle is one of the hardest and most exciting parts of worldbuilding. I’ve written previously about how to frame a myth cycle around a war, but another useful trick is to imagine deities as modern-day celebrities. It’s an exercise teachers often use when … Read more
This article is by B.K. Bass and is presented by Worldbuilding Magazine. “Certainement qui est en droit de vous rendre absurde est en droit de vous rendre injuste.” (“Certainly anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities has the power to make you commit injustices.”) — Voltaire, Questions sur les Miracles, 1765 When … Read more
This article is by by Toni Šušnjar. Map building is perhaps the basis of fantasy, epic fantasy in particular. JRR Tolkien once wrote, “I wisely started from the map, and made the story fit” (1 2). George Martin, aside from stealing Tolkien’s RR, also utilized the same process; this is particularly noticeable in how he … Read more
This article is by Seán Gray, and is presented by Worldbuilding Magazine. Fiction is overflowing with kings and queens, galactic empires, and bloodlines bursting with hidden power. History, too, is replete with important lineages and conquerors who spawned mighty dynasties. This article aims to explore an often neglected succession system that helped create several such … Read more
This article is by Janet Forbes. World Anvil came on the scene just 2 years ago, and sky-rocketed to success. They now boast the most complete suite of worldbuilding features out there with over half a million users onboard, including famous authors like Brian McClellan and Chris Fox, along with several publishing houses and universities. … Read more
This article is by by Tina Hunter, and is presented by Worldbuilding Magazine. Building a world from scratch is no small feat for any worldbuilder. From culture to characters and everything in between, the geology of the planet your story lives on can sometimes feel secondary. That shouldn’t be the case, however, as your geology … Read more
This article is by Assaph Mehr. I was recently invited by a closed Facebook group (the Historical Fantasy Book Club, which I’d highly recommend) to do an “author takeover”. I thought rather than talking about my usual topics (Romans, and their obsession with fantastical beasts and how to cook them), I’d try to create a … Read more
The foods we stuff down our gullets reflect the society we have established, the way we live our lives, and even our attitudes towards food itself. A society reliant on cheese must have established the necessary production and transport networks, while a person subsisting on caviar and champagne is unlikely to live the life of … Read more
This article is by Alex Baker. Fantasy is a genre that has always resonated with teenagers. Whether it’s imagining themselves exploring the halls of Hogwarts in the pages of Harry Potter, or deciphering the alethiometer in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, for many teens fantasy is a chance to immerse themselves in a universe … Read more
This article is by by Cathy, the Overprepared GM, PsychoJuliet, Jaren J. Petty, and Cryssalia Noire, and is presented by Worldbuilding Magazine. Punk The mid-seventies saw the birth of a new artform, punk. It was a style, an ideology, and a way of life. It was a reaction to the peaceful acceptance of the hippie … Read more