Well, another day, another quarter. This year is flashing past me. I posted some goals for the quarter, so let’s … more…
fantasy novels
Laws and Your Setting
Ned Cuthbert was the first person to steal a base in professional organized baseball in 1863 or 1865, depending on … more…
Police in Fantasy Settings
For hundreds of years, the police and the army were one and the same for most civilizations. They were charged … more…
Separation of Authority in Legal Systems
One of the the most famous introductions in the history of television is from Law and Order. This division of … more…
Creating Legal Systems
For the next few weeks, I’ll be talking about creating legal systems in your fantasy world. Even if your plots … more…
August Update
It’s the last Sunday of the month, so I’m giving an update on where I am with my writing. I’m … more…
Creating Evil Empires
One of my favorite books, as cliche as it sounds, is the Lord of the Rings. The prose, the ideas, … more…
Ignoring Choices and Embracing Contradictions
Last week, I discussed how using restrictions can increase your creativity. This week, I’m going to advocate the opposite. Ignore … more…
Historical Revolutions
In nature, things generally don’t change slowly over time. They reach an equilibrium, which will last for generations. Then, over … more…
Character Histories and World Building
George Washington wasn’t a particularly great general at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. He was competent, which was actually … more…