On Writing: Kickass Worldbuilding Articles from io9
And if you’re a writer too, then you’re also PLUM CRAZY. io9 has some of the best sci-fi and fantasy writing tips I’ve ever seen. Here are five of my favorites…
Number 5: What Elysium did wrong and right
I love the analysis here about the Elysium ‘super suit’ (not sure what else to call it.) It’s a great concept for worldbuilders to have technology trickle down to the masses, but in different forms.
Number 4: 7 Deadly Sins of Worldbuilding
I won’t spoil the article, but here’s one of my favorite worldbuilding deadly sins: Creating fictional versions of real-life human ethnic groups, that never go beyond one dimension. Deadly, am I right? It just gets better from there.
Number 3: Rules for Quick and Dirty Worldbuilding
These rules are spot-on, but I wouldn’t necessarily agree that you can ever make worldbuilding a quick and easy process. Still, how amazing is this advice: “Let’s say you’re whipping up a completely awful world like the one in Hellraiser or the post-apocalyptic Earth in the Terminator series. It’s great to show us a bunch of crushed skulls and people with pins in their faces, but nobody is going to stick around for a pure torture world unless they are Matthew Barney fans. There’s got to be something cool, fun, or intriguing about your universe.” Spot on, am I right?
Number 2: 12 Questions to Ask About the System of Magic in Your Fantasy Novel
Simply put, this article ROCKED MY WORLD. I want to have it tattooed on my upper arm, I use it so much.
Number 1: Secrets to Creating Unforgettable Supporting Characters
IMHO, rich supporting characters make or break a fantasy novel. This article has some great suggestions on how to create them.
Like these writing tips? Check out Aileen’s kickass series on STRUCTURE!
An Intro
Brainstorming
Beating it out
Fleshing it out
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