Tag: worldbuilding
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What is Love in Fiction?
Love, lust, desire, passion. As the selling point of romance fics, subplots, and fanbases, romance has been a strong theme in any tale. With the advent of LBGTQ+, more varieties have emerged. Readers enjoy romance for various reasons, whether they be psychological, physiological, or spiritual. Romantic Payoffs As with most stories, a romance promises a […]
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Mythic Artifacts & Ancestral Objects
With a mythic artifact, shiny blades, fireworks, and forbidden knowledge may come to mind. Our history is rife with artifacts, from Poseidon’s trident to King Arthur’s Excalibur. These relics have earned a place in history, as they do in the world of fiction. Mythic Artifacts In stories, artifacts are a trope used to further the […]
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Fantasy Food in Fiction
“Sure enough, when they entered the Gryffindor common room it exploded with cheers and yells again. There were mountains of cakes and flagons of pumpkin juice and butterbeer on every surface. —Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Everybody loves a good feast. Even better, readers salivate (quite literally) over feasts in fiction. The best […]
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The Father Figure in Fiction
When you think of a father figure, what comes to mind? Someone tough and brave? Unbeatable? Or perhaps less pleasant thoughts. The father figure can be a very subjective experience. It’s also a useful trope in storytelling. Mothers influence tradition too, in different but substantial ways than fathers. But that’s a post for another time….. […]
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Fantasy Maps: A Gateway to Adventure
The other day I stumbled upon the map you see above. It had me thinking how maps play into stories, and how vital they are to the worldbuilding process. Not only do they offer a reference for author and reader, maps add depth, immersion to that universe. I’ve written on making maps in GIMP and […]
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What is Good and Evil in Fiction?
Humans have always struggled with the question: what is good, what is evil? A primordial dilemma, evil paints the picture of villains, antagonists, darkness, violence, and oppression. No one likes evilness, but what is being evil in fiction? Is wickedness a subjective phenomenon of the ego? A Story of Black and White With the Hero’s […]
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Official Cover Art for Blade of Dragons
I’m excited to announce the official cover art of Blade of Dragons! The first piece of the puzzle is down, and as I turn to the next, I’m eager to get this book ready for publication. Although I may go the long route and set up several novels to release them all within a few […]
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Hard Magic, Soft Magic: How to Use Them in Creative Fiction
Magic—a word tossed around by authors and wordsmiths for decades. Magic is an abstract phenomenon with incredible potential, and such power usually comes with a cost. As a widespread tool in worldbuilding, when misused, it can wreck havoc on a story, figuratively and literally. Magic in Creative Fiction Your ability to solve problems with magic […]
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Cover Art and History of Ethereal Seals
That’s right! My cover art for the upcoming novel, Blade of Dragons, is almost finished! Months in the making, it was a pleasure working with the cover artist. She had a keen sense for design, excellent communication, and patience with the numerous requirements I had for the project. I’ll certainly consider her again for future […]
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Poems in Fiction—Worldbuilding—Ethereal Seals Poetry: Eulogies of Deliverance
Poetry triggers interesting reactions from readers. Not only is it a jump from storytelling long-form, but it invites rhythm, a detail of creativity not seen elsewhere in the story. I always found poetry bits to be fascinating—or tedious if they were too long and poorly done—in a story. My theory is the poetry activates different […]
Ethereal Seals 