Storyworld Tip: The Power of Landmarks
Landmarks have power. I don’t mean just those landmarks lying atop ancient burial grounds at the intersection of three different ley lines. Sure, those suckers… Read More »Storyworld Tip: The Power of Landmarks
Storyworlds
Storyworld Tip: Three Reasons to Embrace a Genre
Some creators shun genre labels. “Just because there’s elves in the story doesn’t mean it’s a fantasy world. They’re cyborg vampire elves! It’s totally different!”… Read More »Storyworld Tip: Three Reasons to Embrace a Genre
Planting Story Seeds part 3: Consistency
Today I’ll be wrapping up this series of posts on creating stories for storyworlds with a few notes on consistency. (And I’ll not even mention… Read More »Planting Story Seeds part 3: Consistency
Planting Story Seeds Part 2: Windows
In part 1 of this series on creating stories for storyworlds, I wrote about choosing the right combination of story and platform. Today I’d like… Read More »Planting Story Seeds Part 2: Windows
Planting Story Seeds Part 1: Platforms
I won’t tell you how to tell a story. Oh, I could, but there are thousands of books, websites, and street-corner literary professors who can… Read More »Planting Story Seeds Part 1: Platforms
The World to Come
As I continue to hack my way through the storyworld jungle, dual-wielding the Machete of Words and the Weedwhacker of Theory, it occurs to me… Read More »The World to Come
Three Parts of Conflict
Storyworlds without conflict are beyond boring. They’re empty and pointless, like decaffeinated coffee or alcohol-free beer. I’ve mentioned this before, but I’d like to take… Read More »Three Parts of Conflict
Characters vs. Archetypes: Round One!
Back when we were all much younger, I wrote that storyworlds don’t need specific characters, but should focus on character archetypes instead. This might may… Read More »Characters vs. Archetypes: Round One!
Pictures Tell Stories
As I mentioned previously, storyworlds are partially defined by their settings. But what, you may ask, goes into making a good setting? Conveniently, I answer,… Read More »Pictures Tell Stories
Four Key Elements of a Great Storyworld
Great storyworlds don’t just happen. Okay, you can take an exciting story (like, say, the movie “Star Wars”) and then cobble together a cohesive universe… Read More »Four Key Elements of a Great Storyworld