Read WHO, WHAT, WHERE in previous installments. Coninuing – Question 4: WHEN It isn’t a coincidence that stories told to all of us in our childhood used to begin with “Once upon a time…” The concept of a moment in … Continue reading
Tag Archives: worldbuilding
Read WHO and WHAT in previous installments Continuing – Question 3: WHERE The setting of any given story is neither more nor less than context – and context matters a great deal. It determines what KIND of story may … Continue reading
Before reporting became a dying craft, every newbie was taught that a news story had to answer five fundamental questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why … and sometimes, How. In fiction, these questions are just as fundamental. The difference is … Continue reading
It’s that time of year on the old homestead: the often drastic change of seasons, when it’s 90F/32C on Wednesday and 32F/0C by Sunday morning. Even in regions where the range isn’t quite so dramatic, there’s still a point at … Continue reading
In worlds and historical periods in which horses are a primary means of transport, they often coexist with cities. There’s a bit of a disconnect there. Large, herd-dwelling herbivore that evolved on and for steppe and tundra, that needs large … Continue reading
Here we are, a day late but not, we hope, a dollar short. Technical difficulties laid Book View Cafe low over the weekend, and then I had my own Fun With Computers. Whenever my brain is about to explode with … Continue reading
There’s one trap the worldbuilder can fall into all too easily. It’s the same one Hollywood persistently falls into with genre films. The special effects take over, and nobody remembers that what really makes a story work is people. Soylent … Continue reading
I still have more to say about science-fictional horses, but I’ve promised the Kickstarter backers a go at that first if we make the next bonus tier, so this week we’re switching genres. Horses and magic have a long, long … Continue reading
Ha! Thought this would be all about fantasy and historicals (pre- included) and preindustrial societies, didn’t you? In the process of interacting with the public for my Kickstarter project, I’ve been riffing on (and offering to write a story about) … Continue reading
This post brought to you by my pet, Peeve. One of the things writers have to do when they’re writing in any world that is not right here, right now, their own culture and their own world view, is to … Continue reading