Worldbuilder's Anvil

Today's Topic - The Roadmap for the Worldbuilder's Anvil Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Thank you so much for listening to the first 50 episodes. We shall always have a focus on the worldbuilding moving into the future. Monday Episode types #Storytelling episodes Random questions I want to answer about Worldbuilding,RPGs, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Storytelling, or Gardul Questions from newsletters subscribers Questions from twitter or social media Questions I have and will pretend like someone has asked me Worldbuilder's Wednesday Focused discussions on worldbuilding topics Friday Episode Types Flash fiction Friday World Explorer What's Around the corner? Worldbuilder Interview's on Saturday will continue No new episode days, I just do not have the time to make more episodes. However, If you would like to hear more about how you can support the Worldbuilder's Anvil without spending a dime. Please go to this no cost support page. For complete Fantasy Worldbuilding show notes go to Gardul.com

Today's Topic - Who am I? Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes We know what motivates your character We know what your characters looks like Bring it together What is the personality of your character What will cause the character to stand their ground What will cause them to comprise their principles What causes action or in action What are at least 5 quirks about the character (Thanks, GURPS) For complete fantasy worldbuilding show notes for this episode. Please go to Gardul.com

Today's Topic - Character Traits and Flaws Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes What makes the character stand out Attributes Physical Mental Social Vocational Allies/Enemies Supernatural It is not all good news For complete Fantasy Worldbuilding show notes go to Gardul.com

Interview: D.N. Frost D.N. Frost is a fantasy author, cartographer, and worldbuilder. She is best know for her work with Awakening (Tales of the Known World Book 1). She is a person I am glad to call friend. And a person who I go to when I want to know more about maps and languages. Now let's all put our hammer's together for D.N. ". Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing you would do? (Please keep it as clean as possible.) Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes For complete show notes and contest information goto Gardul.com

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Trap: World to Story Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Your world has more words than the Encyclopedia Britannica You have developed 99 cultures, 154 races, 543 states that spans the 5,502,532,127,000,001 square feet of your new world. You sit down and start writing your first work. About a fictional world war on your planet. STOPPPPPP!!!! relax plan the story explain the world through the story not the story through the world

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes What motivates people Maslow's Hierarchy of needs Physiological Safety Love/Belonging Esteem Self-actualization For full show notes please check out Gardul.com

Today's Topic - Fantasy Character Fashion Show Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Baseline for a character's appearance comes from the fictional state and the fantasy culture fashion. From the time your characters life span Age and Travel modifiers Appearance Hair Eyes Mouth Clothes Pant or what? Under the pants Accessories The little things in the house Show of wealth Mementos Type of materials Weapons of choice Based on materials Skill Intimidation Show of wealth Characters' Taste + Ability to acquire = Characters' Fashion For complete shownote check out gardul.com

Interview: Rae Elliot From the age of eight Rae Elliot has been on a journey to becoming a writer. Her love of writing and storytelling merged with her love of Fantasy and science fiction with her first book Fractured, a science fiction novel. Fractured is also available on iTunes in a podcast. Her next fiction novel will be a fantasy novel called Treefell: Legend of The Wood. Beyond her love for Fantasy she is now working on a non-fiction work "Pinterst for Indie Authors" Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing you would do? (Please keep it as clean as possible.) Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes For Complete Show notes visit Gardul.com

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Trap: The Trouble with Tropes What is a Trope? Are Tropes bad? Understanding your Avatar does it seem forced Does it seem fake Make up your own mind. Understanding you Avatar is they key Thanks to Rae Elliot for the great review Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Go to Gardul.com for complete Worldbuilding shownotes

Today's Topic - TAX Attack How does your fictional government support its power? Direct Taxes and duties Property Tax Income Tax Statute Labor Salt Tax Tenure Tax Tithe Tariffs Tribute Inheritance Tax Excise Tax Tolls Marriage Tax Minority Tax Indirect Taxes Sales Tax Value Added Tax Goods and Services Inflation Subsidy Corporate Tax Thanks to The Entrepreneurs Library and Ray Rose WC Talk Radio for the great reviews Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Complete Show notes on Gardul.com

Today's Topic - Types of Governments in Fantasy Worldbuilding Power of the state Anarchy True democracy consent of the governed Limited Monarchy Authoritarian How do rulers come to power Birth Personal traits Appointed by divine source Appointed by previous leader Coup Random selection Election How is the transitions of power handed Peaceful Violent War How are rights earned Natural Rights Rights granted by rulers Nepotism Forced by the mob Reward Who owns what? Individuals own property State owns property Is the stated tied to a religion What do you call your state? List of common government types Special thanks to Nick Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes For full show notes click here

Interview: Anna Questerly Bookseller and bibliophile turned author, Anna Questerly writes medieval fiction and fairy tales for smart kids and young hearts. For adults, she creates Utopian fantasy as A.J. Questerly Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing you would do? (Please keep it as clean as possible.) Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Complete show notes click here

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Religions and Fantasy States Create folder for your Fantasy religion in your Scrivener worldbuilding bible. Add a religions document Religion links to track What percentage of the population follows this religion When did the religion first appear. Does the state have influence over the religion Is the religion approved by the state If not what happens if you get caught engaging in worship. Are there any parts of the religion that are not the same in this country This could change overtime Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes For Complete show notes

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Cultural and Racial Links in your Fantasy State Create folder for your Fantasy country in your Scrivener worldbuilding bible. Add a Cultural and a Racial links document Cultural links to track When culture first joins the state. Culture disappears from the state What percentage of the population belongs to the state Racial links All races should come from the cultural links What percentage of the population in the fantasy country This could change overtime Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes For Complete Show notes

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Trap: Paralysis by Analysis Worldbuilding helps create framework for story When it is happening? When you stop writing first draft. When you remake the world every time you start a revision When you avoid writing or storytelling because you have to work on the world Telling the stories is the point What is okay? If you pause to record newly minted words in a language Record new unexpected world elements You are worldbuilding as education and you are using stories to explore your world Tips New world elements folder in your Scrivener file "GO GO GO" note record what you need for story. Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes For Complete Show notes

Interview: Aaron Wood Please listen to learn more about Aaron Wood. A geek at heart and artist that has created some wonderful book covers and propaganda. Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing you would do? (Please keep it as clean as possible.) Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Complete Show notes

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Fantasy State History Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Important Things remembered Truth according to the culture based on norms Wars Turmoil Major Expansions War or land Trade Science Magic Exploration Stagnant periods Major new discovers New Power new type of geography new item in the night sky Complete Show notes

Today's Topic - The Rise and Fall of a Fantasy State Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes When did it become a state How did the state form Golden Age(s) State the collapse What caused the end of the state Was it really the end? Does it reemerge Full Show notes on Gardul.com

Today's Topic - Fantasy States Revisited Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes History Rise And Fall Links to Cultures and Races Tolerance Types of governments Taxes The Arts Norms Check out the complete show notes on Gardul.com

Interview: Bill Treadwell Please listen to learn more about Bill Treadwell, the chief worldbuilder for Caladria Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing you would do? (Please keep it as clean as possible.) Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Learn more about the worldbuilder Website Twitter Email: [email protected] Check out Caladria today! The Tease Fantasy States Revisited

Today's Topic - Fantasy Racial Appearances Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Visual Appearance Common skin colors Common Eye color Height and Weight Hair Keep in mind Eyes Smell Sound Taste Feel

Today's Topic - Fantasy Racial Traits Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Physical Mental Social Vocational Allies/Enemies

Today's Topic - Fantasy Culture Arts, Dress, And Architecture Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Specific until Incorporated into a state. The Symbology Geography Materials for clothing Materials for Building Types of clothing Materials Colors Clasp Accessories Architecture Inspiration Important Structures Type of materials Arts Based on materials Stone Wood and weeds Mud Metals Pigments and Paints Common goods The Mouth

Interview: Dawn Metcalf Please listen to learn more about Dawn Metcalf, the Twixt, mutant lemmings, breaking stuff and much much more. Listen for the special bonus discussion about a zombie mouse. Do not forget to preorder Insidious (The Twixt) today Introduction Do you feel Orc or Elf today? Tell us about your latest work. How do you connect your worldbuilding back to The Story? When did you know you had a love for worldbuilding? Biggest achievement to date? What real world advice do you wish you had known sooner? Tell a quick STORY about some task that could have gotten you started sooner as a writer Gauntlet round What held you back from sharing your world(s)? Favorite types of fantasy worlds: alien, earthlike, or earth-based? What is your favorite time period for fantasy settings? What is the most important habit or skill in creating a world? What tool(s) could you not work without? What is one resource you would offer to a Worldbuilder starting down your path? If you ended up in the (a) world you created. What would be the first thing you would do? (Please keep it as clean as possible.) Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Learn more about the worldbuilder Website Twitter Facebook Instagram Goodreads Ello About Me Amazon Author Page with the links to her books Start the Twixt series today and buy Indelible, and preorder a copy of book 3 in the Twixt Insidious Also check out SCBWI (Society for Children's Book Writers & Illustrators): scbwi.org SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America): sfwa.org

Today's Topic - Racial Makeup of your Culture Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes What Races are part of the culture Probable start with one culture Migrations of tribes early on will cause the makeup of race to change Merging of groups into new culture One of the races adapted the other races culture What is the status of the minor race What happens when the races have babies

Today's Topic - Fantasy Cultural Traits Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Racial before Cultural Physical Mental Social Vocational Allies/Enemies

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Cultural Evolution Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Separation Religious Physical Social Mass immigration Growth New Contact Taking land from other culture Magical or Technological growth Decline Subjugation Relocation Genocide Major Power Hand of god Drought Famine major disasters Disease

Today's Topic - Fantasy Worldbuilding Cultural Fashion Show Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Visual Appearance Common skin colors Common Eye color Height and Weight Hair Once per races Dress Common clothing Color of clothing types of materials Common weapons Traditional vs Modern

Today's Topic - Cultural Relations in Fantasy Worlds Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Internal Factions Pro culture Anti Cultural Self-Serving External Faction Nearby Tribes Nearby States Trading partners Internal-External Factions Same-Cultural different States Cultural Growth Cultural Separation

Today's Topic - Fantasy Cultural Norms Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Values Two-axis system x-axis Harmony To Dominion over nature y-axis Conformity to Divergence over people What is the actual What is the ideal Behaviors - Common expressions of the values Common Stories Greetings Polite or rude Idea This will be subject to change as time goes on.

Today's Topic - Worldbuilding Trap: Consistent = Fake Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Thinking that Consistent means cultures always follow the same logic languages will always have exceptions Individuals will very from the cultural idea Cultures are made of of groups of individuals who are always changing. Being consistent means that once you make a choice. You have to respect it. If they people have to bow whenever they enter a room. They have to do it. Work around Create an exception to a rule. Mary did not bow when she entered the room because the owner failed to greet her properly Punish the character who breaks the rule Mary becomes known as "the Rude" and never invited to parties in the city.

Today's Topic - Cultural Information in Worldbuilding Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes What I track when I create fictional cultures Brief pre-state history Important symbols Basics on Music and Arts pre-religious believes Type of culture Hunter gatherer Tribal Agriculture Pastoral Civilization Other Other similar cultures This will be subject to change as time goes on.

Today's Topic - Evolution, Not just for your species! Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Not a creation vs evolution discussion about the real world. It is about things changing. Long-term Species Races Chemical Plants Geology Cosmos Short-term Cultures States Languages FACES - Characters change before, during, and after stories . . .unless they are dead . . . then they still might.

The Worldbuilder's Anvil is planning to add a weekly interview starting 3/7. If you would like to request an interview please join my newsletter and respond to the email. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Today's Topic - What is the state of your nation(s)? Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes What are states? You should know the basics of one? What is the cultural makeup? What is the form of government? How are the people taxed? What is the history of important events? What are important current events? What relations do they currently have with neighbors? Know the basic economics Do I need this if I am working on a fantasy version of earth? Yes! Should Iwrite up other nations thatare mentioned when talking about my state? I would, but it depends Should I share mine with the world? Depends again? The Gazetteer Writer's Manual: Creating Travel Guides to Fictional Worlds (World Building Series)

Today's Topic - Laphinnesehïrïm errr Languages Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Why are languages important and intriguing Languages are a common way for cultures to share ideas. They flesh out cultures like nothing else They add a high level of detail that can be shared with others Must have resources on languages The Language Construction Kit and The Conlanger's Lexipedia both by Mark Rosenfelder What type of languages are there Common spelling mock ups - town becomes jeff so Newtown = Newjeff Naming languages - you have the basics, lack grammar, rules, and phonics A Full blown language - Think Tolkien or Klingon Oral vs writing systems vs sign vs ???

Today's Topic - Religions in your Fantasy World Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes Myths to Religion Common Rituals Common Beliefs Common Symbols Common Stories Possible belief in the Supernatural Salvation is optional

Today's Topic - Races What are Races? Depends on how you define it for your world Common appearance of the grouping Not body height, weight, and intelligence should vary based on nutrition Shared Traits by then vast majority of the group What Races is not? All living in one country Photocopies of each other (Depends) What I say

Today's Topic - Cultures What is a culture? Shared Experience Shared symbolism Shared Beliefs and Norms Language Religion Common Food, and Rituals Art, Music, and Dress What culture is not? A country (Most likely not) A Race (Most likely not) Fixed in time

Today's Topic - Wonders of Your World Why do I keep Coming Back to Wonders? Because they stick out in the world Some are natural Mount Fuji Great Barrier Reef Aurora Borealis Great Riff Valley or Grand Cannon Some are Man-made Great Wall of China Stonehenge Pyramids Chunnel Some are over looked as wonders Great terrain features Major States Capitals They are wonders as long have influence on central to the culture(s) They will change over time

Today's Topic - Maps and Fantasy Worldbuilding What are maps important? What should they show? What language should they be in? How much of the world needs to be on it? How can I map and store What do I use and why?

None due to Blizzard. Goto gardul.com for the shownotes

Today's Topic - Cosmos Cosmos Sun Your Planet Other Planets Other Things in the night sky Comets Meteors & Asteroids Stars Star Clusters Nebula's Galaxies Your Galaxy Weather

Today's Topic - The Places of your World Rules is the filter for each of your Basic topics Places = Physical Geography Cosmos Natural Wonders Oceans Land plate tectonics Mountains Plains Steppes Deserts Rivers Lakes Seas Weather

Today's Topic - Basics Breakdown Rules is the filter for each of your Basic topics Places Cosmos Natural Wonders Religion Language Races Culture States Faces Technology is the limit to when the Worldbuilding ends Histories are when I know I am done

Today's Topic - Makeover Session Name of my world: Gardul Earth-like Fantasy Sometimes: Podcastia Important Rules Recreation and Evolution The elements of the universe are spread out amongst the stars when they explode Life is caused by the elements present on a world Life on different planets can be similar because of the last rule. Speed of light is the maximum speed for particles a atom or larger Cosmic strings can be tapped to bend space and time to allow for faster then light travel and move far distances Some are Major and can be used to travel between different parts of the universe. Others are minor and can be used to move across planets Major points only exist in space Minor points are places the races consider to be holy or magic sites Survival of the fittest does not mean the best, strongest version survives. surviving does not mean winning Economics is ruled by "Human Action" Magic simple another rule of the universe. It allows people to manipulate the other rules for a price. The cost of magic prevents those that use it from dominating Tech Level for first stories is Late Iron Age Technology Magic has four forms True, Divine, Casting, and Spirit

Today's Topic - Technology Breakdown Stone Age Bronze Age Iron Age Early Medieval Late Medieval Renaissance Pre Industrial Industrial Early Global Global Solar System Short Interstellar Universal multiverse Extra Dimensional The Rating This is an Basic topic The Worldbuilding Task for the Day Determine the Technology for your world. Check out all the GURPS books and visit Steve Jackson Games The Real World task for the day Prepare your lunch ahead of time, so you are not rushed in the morning going to work The Tease 1 Minute Makeover Session

Today's Topic - Rules Breakout! What are the laws of your World? Creation, Evolution or both Does your world have to end? Theory of relativity? Speed of light? How does magic word? Are the gods or God real? How many dimensions,Euclidean space, are there? length, width, height, depth, and breadth Fourth dimension of time Warning on other dimensions The Rating This is an intermediate topic The Worldbuilding Task for the Day Create a list of the truths about your world The Real World task for the day Prepare your lunch ahead of time, So you are not rushed in the morning going to work. And for more on winter check out George R. R. Martin's A Game of Thrones 5-Book Boxed Set (Song of Ice and Fire series): A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords, A Feast for Crows, and A Dance with Dragons The Tease 1 Minute Technology Breakdown Please take a moment and comment below on this episode. I look forward to hearing from you about your Fantasy Worldbuilding adventures

Today's Topic - How to find Inspiration for worldbuilding? How to find Inspiration for worldbuilding? Google worldbuilding websites Follow me on Twitter or Facebook Art and architecture Read about cultures, languages, and religions Physics and science Mythology How Not to find inspiration Copy another person's work Take exact cultures and transplant The Rating This is a basic topic The Worldbuilding Task for the Day Check out worldbuilding content sign up for newsletters or subscribe to channels. Worldbuilding Resources: Artfexian, World Building Academy, Worldbuilding School, and Launch Your Universe (Press the Button) The Real World task for the day Write a note to your significant other and hide it where they will find it The Tease 1 Minute Rules Breakout Please take a moment and comment below on this episode. I look forward to hearing from you about your Fantasy Worldbuilding adventures

Today's Topic - Why are you building a Fantasy World? You want to write books You want to create Video Games You want to create Role-playing games You want to create Role-playing settings You want to learn more about the rules of the world, so you want to build a fake version Maybe for money, maybe just to do it, maybe just because you need two. Come up with goals What you want to accomplish? When you what to accomplish it by? What do you need to accomplish? what you want? Don't have your stories end like a bad ending to The NeverEnding Story The Rating This is a basic topic The Worldbuilding Task for the Day Create goals for what you want to accomplish with Worldbuilding this year? Michael Hyatt See Your Name In Print: How To Get Published. This book is free with Kindle Unlimited. Now I need Kristin to get me a Fire HD 6, 6" HD Display, Wi-Fi, 8 GB - Includes Special Offers, Black The Real World task for the day Make a list about why world building is important to you and share it The Tease 1 Minute How to find Inspiration for worldbuilding? Please take a moment and comment below on this episode. I look forward to hearing from you about your Fantasy Worldbuilding adventures