The Wayfarer’s Guide to Worldbuilding is a tool to help writers, DMs, and creatives build unique, scientific, and magical worlds. Each episode explores one facet of worldbuilding and gives practical advice on writing these elements. Hosted by the Mythos
Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise in creating a cataclysmic event! Here are the 10 questions we answered in this episode, which can help guide you in building your own cataclysm. What is the nature of the event? Natural vs supernatural; single vs multiple events; unprecedented vs repeat, etc. What is the scale and impact of the event? Who or what is most affected, both immediate and long term? Who survives and why? How do governments/institutions/power structures respond? Do new religions/belief systems/factions emerge as a result of the event? What has permanently changed about reality after the event? Are there new dangers introduced? Are there new opportunities created in the wake of the event? Resources, technologies, etc. What everyday behaviors must change in order for people to function after the event? What's the emotional and psychological fallout? What do people think caused the event? Are there secrets waiting to be discovered? Who controls the information about what really happened? Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Next month's novel: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
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. Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Next month's novel: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise in creating a dragon! Here are the 7 questions we answered in this episode, which can help guide you in building your own dragon. What hallmarks of traditional dragons are essential to keep in order for something to still be considered a dragon? What is our dragon's intellectual capacity? Is it sentient, or more bestial? What is the full-grown size of our dragon? What does our dragon look like? Does it display any aspects of sexual dimorphism? What is our dragon's diet? What is our dragon's lifecycle? Does our dragon have any magical/supernatural powers? Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Next month's novel: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
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. Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Next month's novel: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
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.Proprietor's Pick: The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about writing and worldbuilding in the paranormal romance novel Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.Proprietor's Pick: Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the children's fantasy (with vikings) movie How to Train Your Dragon.Proprietor's Pick: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
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!)Proprietor's Pick: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the sci-fi alien invasion series Animorphs by K.A. Applegate.Proprietor's Pick: Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman (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!)Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy novel The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.Proprietor's Pick: Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett (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!)Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the gothic romance movie Crimson Peak.Proprietor's Pick: The Dark Window by Rachel Gillig (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!)Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
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!)Proprietor's Pick: The Wandering Inn by pirateabaIntro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTokListen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the science fiction TV show Fringe.Proprietor's Pick: Recursion by Blake Crouch (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!)Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTokListen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the epic fantasy novel The Will of the Many by James Islington. Proprietor's Pick: Red Sister by Mark Lawrence (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about humour, worldbuilding, genre, and the animated TV showFuturama.Proprietor's Pick:I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Comby Kimberly Lemming (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through this link we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern:Website |DiscordListen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining ourPatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
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. Proprietor's Pick: Red Rising by Pierce Brown (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 book store!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
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. Proprietor's Pick: Highfire by Eoin Colfer (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through this link we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
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. Proprietor's Pick: All the Murmuring Bones by A.G. Slatter (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | TikTok | Discord Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about the horror movie A Quiet Place. Proprietor's Pick: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle and Birdbox by Michael Louis Calvillo (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | TikTok | Discord Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about environmental sci-fi, ecological themes, children's literature, and the Disney movie Wall-E. Proprietor's Pick: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (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!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | TikTok | Discord Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about cozy science fiction and The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. Proprietor's Pick: Cascade Failure by L.M. Sagas Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
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. Proprietor's Pick: Voyage of the Damned by Frances White Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Website | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
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. Proprietor's Pick: Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about the novella All Systems Red (The Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells. Proprietor's Pick: The Mercy of Gods by James S.A. Corey Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about how science and magic intertwine in the Netflix show Arcane. Proprietor's Pick: The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
This season, we're introducing a new type of bonus episodes for our patrons: worldbuilding workshops! In these episodes, the hosts pick an element of a world and build it together. You can use whatever we build for your own stories, or take the questions we ask and build your own. These monthly bonus episodes are exclusive to our Patreon, but the first is free for everyone to listen to! Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: TikTok | Discord Listen to more Worldbuilding Workshops by joining our Patreon The questions we asked about building a magic system: What is the basis of the magic system (colour, nature, time, space, elements, etc.) What are the abilities and limits of the magic? What are the costs and consequences of using the magic? Who can use the magic? How does society view magic and magic users?
In this episode, we're talking about superpowers, secret identities, and characterization in the Netflix show The Umbrella Academy. Proprietor's Pick: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
Season 3 is coming! We've added a couple new segments and will be talking about worldbuilding through the lens of genre. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're talking about humour, character arcs, prologues, pirate mythology, and more in the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Proprietor's Pick: The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about mechs, feminism, disability representation, and more in the novel Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao. Proprietor's Pick: A Song to Drown Rivers by Ann Liang Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Support Haneen's family in Gaza
In this episode, we're talking about nanofibers, science as a weapon, and supercomputers in the TV show 3 Body Problem. Proprietor's Pick: Jumpnauts by Hao Jingfang Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're talking about science gone haywire, confusing vs. interesting worldbuilding, and tension in the TV show 3 Body Problem. Proprietor's Pick: Exordia by Seth Dickinson Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're talking about sense of place, metaphor, mythology, and symbolism in the movie Song of the Sea. Proprietor's Pick: The Selkie's Daughter by Linda Crotta Brennan Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're talking about writing a story based on a theme, age categories, oppressive systems, and utopian societies in the novella Pet by Akwaeke Emezi. Proprietor's Pick: Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're talking about factions, over-the-top worldbuilding, and retro-futurism in the TV show (based on the video game) Fallout. Proprietor's Pick: Service Model by Adrian Tchaikovsky Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're talking about humour, morality, and the afterlife in the TV show The Good Place. Proprietor's Pick: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying by Django Wexler Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're chatting with author Trudie Skies about deities, races, domains, magic, and expansive worldbuilding in The Thirteenth Hour, a gaslamp adult fantasy and the first in The Cruel Gods series. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Find Trudie Skies trudieskies.com
In this episode, we're chatting about historical worldbuilding, weirdness, anti-capitalism, and ecological themes in the Studio Ghibli movie Princess Mononoke. Proprietor's Pick: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're chatting about situational humour, aliens, montages, and time loops in the movie Edge of Tomorrow. Proprietor's Pick: The Misfit Soldier by Michael Mammay Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're chatting with author Kristen Ciccarelli about blood magic, witches, and witch hunters in Heartless Hunter, the YA fantasy romance inspired by the The Scarlet Pimpernel. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Find Kristen Ciccarelli at kristenciccarelli.com The Universal Fantasy Workbook by T. Taylor The Psychology of Fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes
In this episode, we're chatting about worldbuilding in the shadows, how actions matter, and adaptable storytelling in the video game Baldur's Gate 3. Proprietor's Pick: The West Passage by Jared Pechaček Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In this episode, we're chatting with author Margaret Rogerson about religion, spirits, and dark magic in the YA fantasy novel Vespertine. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Find Margaret Rogerson at margaretrogerson.com
In this episode, we're chatting about the worldbuilding in the movie 9. Proprietor's Pick: The Last Human by Lee Bacon Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Listen in as we chat about superpowers and superhero society, having a large cast, and female characters in the anime My Hero Academia. Proprietor's Pick: Saving Fable by Scott Reintgen Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
We've got fantasy author Sunyi Dean with us on this week's episode of the podcast! Listen in as we chat about her 2022 debut novel, The Book Eaters, how to decide what worldbuilding details to include and what to cut, oppressive societies, the goal of your story, and the power of books. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Find Sunyi Dean at sunyidean.com Check out the Publishing Rodeo podcast
Listen in as we chat about how to write comedy and action for different age categories, traditional vs. self-publishing, the "sucked into a video game" genre, and the movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Proprietor's Pick: Rainbow in the Dark by Sean McGinty Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
In today's episode, we're chatting about bending, magic rules, disability, and how to reveal worldbuilding details as they relate to character via Avatar: The Last Airbender! Proprietor's Pick: Wingbearer by Marjorie M. Liu and Teny Issakhanian "Five Tips for Writing Disabled Characters in Speculative Fiction" by Allison Alexander "How to Escape the Show Don't Tell Trap" by Jeni Chappelle Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Join us for a chat with author Ada Hoffmann about their sci-fi horror novel The Outside. We talk about how to choose narrating characters, writing antagonists, writing nonbinary characters, and making stuff up when worldbuilding. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Find Ada Hoffmann at ada-hoffmann.com
Join us for a chat about Over the Garden Wall, the animated series that you have probably never heard of! We chat about dream sequences, leaving clues, over-explaining, and trusting your readers. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Proprietor's Pick: The Horrible Bag of Terrible Things by Rob Renzetti Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
Season Two is here! In this episode, we talk about the TV series Wheel of Time, adapted from the novels by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. We chat about complex worldbuilding and how to distill it, why it doesn't matter if the show is different from the book, and gendered magic systems. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Proprietor's Pick: Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
It's the Season One finale! In this episode, we talk about House of the Dragon, so be prepared for some dark and disturbing topics. Allison gives her top seven horrifying moments from the show, and we give some tips on how to write your own grimdark worlds. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Proprietor's Pick: The Sword Defiant by Gareth Hanrahan Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon
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