The Worldbuilder’s Tavern

Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the adult, indigenous horror novel The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones. We discuss themes of colonialism, respecting nature, and cycles of violence; when to relay cultural and historical information when writing a novel, and how lived experiences impact worldbuilding.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a necromantic magic system—inspired by Tamsyn Muir’s novel  Gideon the Ninth—by answering these six questions:

Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the adult science fantasy novel Gideon the Ninth by Tamysn Muir. We discuss having a large cast of characters, necromancy, five-act structure, and more.

4.18 Building a Bonded Creature

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a bonded creature, inspired by Moniquill Blackgoose’s novel To Shape a Dragon’s Breath, by answering these ten questions:

Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the YA fantasy novel To Shape a Dragon's Breath by Moniquill Blackgoose. We discuss animalistic dragons, themes of colonialism and racism, romance in YA, and more.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a university by answering ten questions:

Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the sci-fi novella Binti by Nnedi Okorafor. We discuss aliens with tentacles, culture-based worldbuilding, how less is more in novellas, and more.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a zombie outbreak by answering these nine questions:

Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the adult horror novel What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher. We discuss gross mushrooms, how the author uses line level techniques to create a sense of dread and deliver worldbuilding information, modern pronouns in a historical fantasy, and more.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a space colony by answering these six questions:

Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the adult space opera Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse #1) by James S.A. Corey. We discuss the mystery/noir feeling of Miller's chapters, how the two narrators are foils for each other, balancing politics with adventure in a sci-fi novel, and more.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a sea creature by answering these eight questions:

Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the YA mythological fantasy Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen. We discuss African and Yoruba mythology, gods, fairy tale retellings, "The Little Mermaid," foreshadowing, and more.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a spacecraft by answering these ten questions:

Join us for a chat about the worldbuilding in the comedic sci-fi novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. We discuss political humour, absurdism, aliens, the importance of writing craft, and more.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise as we create a superpower-based magic system by answering these eight questions:

Join us for a chat about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy murder mystery novel Voyage of the Damned by Frances White. We discuss genre blends, how to help readers keep track of multiple characters, what makes a novel voicey, and more.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise in creating a cataclysmic event!

Here are the ten questions we answered in this episode, which can help guide you in building your own cataclysm. 

Join us for a chat about the writing and worldbuilding in the horror novel Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle. We discuss luck and math as a magic system, how people react to trauma, and the wonderful weirdness of horror.

Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise in creating a dragon!

Here are the seven questions we answered in this episode, which can help guide you in building your own dragon. 

Join us for a chat about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy novel, A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. We discuss dragons as the topic of academic study, worldbuilding inspired by Victorian England, and memoir-style novels.

In this episode, we're talking about writing and worldbuilding in the post-apocalyptic with zombies TV show (based on the video game series of the same name), The Last of Us.

In this episode, we're talking about writing and worldbuilding in the paranormal romance novel Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the children's fantasy (with vikings) movie How to Train Your Dragon.

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the urban fantasy novel Jade City by Fonda Lee. (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the sci-fi alien invasion series Animorphs by K.A. Applegate.

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy novel The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the gothic romance movie Crimson Peak.

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the sci-fi/LitRPG novel Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the science fiction TV show Fringe.

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the epic fantasy novel The Will of the Many by James Islington.

In this episode, we're talking about humour, worldbuilding, genre, and the animated TV show Futurama.

In this episode, we're talking about genre, the state of YA sci-fi in publishing, and the writing and worldbuilding in the young adult science fiction novel Skyward by Brandon Sanderson.

In this episode, we're talking about the worldbuilding in the Dungeons & Dragons RPG comedy Fantasy High: Freshman Year, which is a Dimension 20 show produced by Dropout TV.

In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy novel Nettle & Bone by T. Kingfisher, and how the story feels like a fairy tale even though it is not a retelling.

In this episode, we're talking about the horror movie A Quiet Place.

In this episode, we're talking about environmental sci-fi, ecological themes, children's literature, and the Disney movie Wall-E.

In this episode, we're talking about cozy science fiction and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers.

In this episode, we're talking about how horror and romance can go together (and whether cozy horror is a thing) in Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell.

In this episode, we're talking about deconstructing tropes, dark fairy tales, costs of magic, monsters, and more in the dark fantasy TV show The Witcher.