Worldbuilding

Transform Your Fanfic into Original Work Through Worldbuilding

October 29, 2015 // 0 Comments

Fanfic is a lot of fun and a great way to become a good writer. Some of us, though, might want to make the transition to writing professionally. This isn’t always as easy as E.L. James makes it look. One of the biggest issues with making the transition is that fanfic, by its nature, comes with a world already defined. The heavy lifting of worldbuilding has already been done by the original author or creators. And, of course, changing all of the names isn’t enough to change your //

In Another Place, Not Here: Writing Exotic Locales

October 21, 2015 // 0 Comments

Ah, the thrill of travel! Exploring new horizons, indulging in unfamiliar foods, and taking in sights only ever glimpsed in a guidebook holds endless appeal for us humans. We’re explorers at heart, and even if you hate the expense and inconvenience of traveling, chances are you like to read about places you’ve never been. That goes double (and maybe even triple) for fanfic writers. We live and breathe our canon. Whether our stories are set in the shadowy halls of Hogwarts, the //

Exploring an Established Universe: A Highlight of China Miéville

October 20, 2015 // 0 Comments

There are worlds where superimposed city-states fight invisible wars and where outposts at the fringe of a barely-understood universe struggle to stay united despite impossible language barriers. There is a planet where scientists battle moths that eat dreams, where underground crime is conducted by ganglords with too many limbs, and where interdimensional spider-beings speak in unending free-verse—they call this place Bas-Lag. In fact, all of these places have names—they’ve already been //