Worldbuilder's Anvil

Interview: Anna Questerly Bookseller and bibliophile turned author, Anna Questerly writes medieval fiction and fairy tales for smart kids and young hearts. For adults, she creates Utopian fantasy as A.J. Questerly Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Religions and Fantasy States Create folder for your Fantasy religion in your Scrivener worldbuilding bible. Add a religions document Religion links to  track What percentage of the population follows this religion When did the religion first appear. Does the state have influence over the religion Is the religion approved by the state If not what happens if you get caught engaging in worship.  Are there any parts of the religion that are not the same in this country This could change overtime Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes   For Complete show notes

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Cultural and Racial Links in your Fantasy State Create folder for your Fantasy country in your Scrivener worldbuilding bible. Add a Cultural and a Racial links document Cultural links to track When culture first joins the state. Culture disappears from the state What percentage of the population belongs to the state Racial links All races should come from the cultural links What percentage of the population in the fantasy country This could change overtime Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes For Complete Show notes

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Trap: Paralysis by Analysis Worldbuilding helps create framework for story When it is happening? When you stop writing first draft. When you remake the world every time you start a revision When you avoid writing or storytelling because you have to work on the world Telling the stories is the point What is okay? If you pause to record newly minted words in a language Record new  unexpected world elements You are worldbuilding as education and you are using stories to explore your world Tips New world elements folder in your Scrivener file "GO GO GO" note record what you need for story. Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes For Complete Show notes

Interview: Aaron Wood Please listen to learn more about Aaron Wood.  A geek at heart and artist that has created some wonderful book covers and propaganda. Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing you would do? (Please keep it as clean as possible.) Pl

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Fantasy State History Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Important Things remembered Truth according to the culture based on norms Wars Turmoil Major Expansions War or land Trade Science Magic Exploration Stagnant periods Major new discovers New Power new type of geography new item in the night sky Complete Show notes

Today's Topic - The Rise and Fall of a Fantasy State Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes When did it become a state How did the state form Golden Age(s) State the collapse What caused the end of the state Was it really the end? Does it reemerge Full Show notes on Gardul.com

Today's Topic - Fantasy States Revisited Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes History Rise And Fall Links to Cultures and Races Tolerance Types of governments Taxes  The Arts Norms Check out the complete show notes on Gardul.com

  Interview: Bill Treadwell Please listen to learn more about Bill Treadwell, the chief worldbuilder for Caladria Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing you would do? (Please keep it as clean as possible.) Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTun

Today's Topic - Fantasy Racial Appearances Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Visual Appearance Common skin colors Common Eye color Height and Weight Hair Keep in mind Eyes Smell Sound Taste Feel

Today's Topic - Fantasy Racial Traits Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Physical Mental Social Vocational Allies/Enemies

Today's Topic - Fantasy Culture Arts, Dress, And Architecture Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Specific until Incorporated into a state.  The Symbology Geography Materials for clothing Materials for Building Types of clothing Materials Colors Clasp Accessories Architecture Inspiration Important Structures Type of materials Arts Based on materials Stone Wood and weeds Mud Metals Pigments and Paints Common goods The Mouth

Interview: Dawn Metcalf Please listen to learn more about Dawn Metcalf, the Twixt, mutant lemmings, breaking stuff and much much more.  Listen for the special bonus discussion about a zombie mouse.  Do not forget to preorder Insidious (The Twixt) today Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you

Today's Topic - Racial Makeup of your Culture Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes What Races are part of the culture Probable start with one culture Migrations of tribes early on will cause the makeup of race to change Merging of groups into new culture One of the races adapted the other races culture What is the status of the minor race What happens when the races have babies

Today's Topic - Fantasy Cultural Traits Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Racial before Cultural Physical Mental Social Vocational Allies/Enemies

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Cultural Evolution Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes   Separation Religious Physical Social Mass immigration Growth New Contact Taking land from other culture Magical or Technological growth Decline Subjugation Relocation Genocide Major Power Hand of god Drought Famine major disasters Disease

Today's Topic - Fantasy Worldbuilding Cultural Fashion Show Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Visual Appearance Common skin colors Common Eye color Height and Weight Hair Once per races Dress Common clothing Color of clothing types of materials Common weapons Traditional vs Modern

Today's Topic - Cultural Relations in Fantasy Worlds Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Internal Factions Pro culture Anti Cultural Self-Serving External Faction Nearby Tribes Nearby States Trading partners Internal-External Factions Same-Cultural different States Cultural Growth Cultural Separation

Today's Topic - Fantasy Cultural Norms Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Values Two-axis system x-axis Harmony To Dominion over nature y-axis Conformity to Divergence over people What is the actual What is the ideal Behaviors - Common expressions of the values Common Stories Greetings Polite or rude Idea This will be subject to change as time goes on.

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Trap: Consistent = Fake Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Thinking that Consistent means cultures always follow the same logic languages will always have exceptions Individuals will very from the cultural idea Cultures are made of of groups of individuals who are always changing. Being consistent means that once you make a choice. You have to respect it. If they people have to bow whenever they enter a room.  They have to do it. Work around Create an exception to a rule. Mary did not bow when she entered the room because the owner failed to greet her properly Punish the character who breaks the rule Mary becomes known as "the Rude" and never invited to parties in the city.