One of my favorite books, as cliche as it sounds, is the Lord of the Rings. The prose, the ideas, … more…
mystery novels
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…
Historical Characters
Throughout history, there have been individuals who have changed the course of history. What would the United States be without the … more…
Dealing with Strange Cultures
One thing I’ve noticed about most fantasy fiction and roleplaying is that many cultures are ultimately humans with a slight … more…
Goals and Planning for the Future
It’s the last week of the quarter, so it’s time for me to review my goals and see how I … more…
Setting Expectations with Worldbuilding
Imagine you are watching Criminal Minds, the police procedural focusing on the psychology of serial killers. You’ve watched the show for … more…
Designing a Magic System
One of the defining aspects of the fantasy genre is magic. Something so critical to your setting should be considered … more…
Learning from the Movies – Infinity War
One of the things I’ve learned about writing is that you can’t wait for inspiration in order to write. That … more…