[hippokrene]

I came across 30 Days of Worldbuilding (http://www.web-writer.net/fantasy/days/index.html) a few days ago, and immediately thought 'That sounds like fun!' because I'm a geek.

Not 14 days. Not 27 days. Not 143 days. 30 whole days of worldbuilding is scientifically proven to be the optimal amount of worldbuilding. There's even a PDF, so you know this guy is an authority on the matter.

Scanning the list, a question I've often had returned: What is it with fantasy and map fetishism?

I even recall Sara Douglas claimed that all you needed to do to write a fantasy story was to draw a map. She touches on it here. (http://www.saradouglass.com/createw.html) She apparently taught a course on writing fantasy where she had everyone start by drawing a landscape on a piece of paper.

Then again, she also states: "Neither magic nor adventuring quests can be believably set in a modern, logical and scientific world."

Which earns a giant WTH from me.

[HellsGuardian]

I'll have a look at it, might learn something.

[DailyRich]

That PDF is a formatting nightmare. It's literally a wall of words. Some space between sections would be nice.

[Wojciehowicz]

That PDF is a formatting nightmare. It's literally a wall of words. Some space between sections would be nice.

Obviously, they have mistaken the default behavior of old typewriters for being how MS Word should be set.

[choppy]

The National Novel Writing Month fantasy and SF folks usually begin this exercise in October. They take Halloween off, since they can begin writing at midnight.

[hippokrene]

That PDF is a formatting nightmare. It's literally a wall of words. Some space between sections would be nice.
Serious fantasy world-builders don't use white space, headers, or paragraphs. :cool:

[KatG]

I came across 30 Days of Worldbuilding (http://www.web-writer.net/fantasy/days/index.html) a few days ago, and immediately thought 'That sounds like fun!' because I'm a geek.

Not 14 days. Not 27 days. Not 143 days. 30 whole days of worldbuilding is scientifically proven to be the optimal amount of worldbuilding. There's even a PDF, so you know this guy is an authority on the matter.

Scanning the list, a question I've often had returned: What is it with fantasy and map fetishism?

I even recall Sara Douglas claimed that all you needed to do to write a fantasy story was to draw a map. She touches on it here. (http://www.saradouglass.com/createw.html) She apparently taught a course on writing fantasy where she had everyone start by drawing a landscape on a piece of paper.

Then again, she also states: "Neither magic nor adventuring quests can be believably set in a modern, logical and scientific world."

Which earns a giant WTH from me.

Oy. The map thing is actually possible. A landscape -- including a modern landscape -- can be a jumping off point. But then anything can be. And the modern, logical and scientific world is pre-industrial snobbism.

[EMMAXIS]

I came across 30 Days of Worldbuilding (http://www.web-writer.net/fantasy/days/index.html) a few days ago, and immediately thought 'That sounds like fun!' because I'm a geek.

Not 14 days. Not 27 days. Not 143 days. 30 whole days of worldbuilding is scientifically proven to be the optimal amount of worldbuilding. There's even a PDF, so you know this guy is an authority on the matter.

Scanning the list, a question I've often had returned: What is it with fantasy and map fetishism?

I even recall Sara Douglas claimed that all you needed to do to write a fantasy story was to draw a map. She touches on it here. (http://www.saradouglass.com/createw.html) She apparently taught a course on writing fantasy where she had everyone start by drawing a landscape on a piece of paper.

Then again, she also states: "Neither magic nor adventuring quests can be believably set in a modern, logical and scientific world."

Which earns a giant WTH from me.



I have no problem with maps, but why is every world a peninsula!?! IT'S ALWAYS a peninsula! Why not a landlocked continent? Or a big island like Australia? Or, you know, a giant never ending plain that creates itself as soon as you reach the edge of it . . .

[Wojciehowicz]

I have no problem with maps, but why is every world a peninsula!?! IT'S ALWAYS a peninsula! Why not a landlocked continent? Or a big island like Australia? Or, you know, a giant never ending plain that creates itself as soon as you reach the edge of it . . .

I'm not sure what you mean. I can't remember many peninsulas. Lord of the Rings was on a big-arse continent. My own writings are rarely anywhere near water. Have you read many?

[PeteMC]

I have no problem with maps, but why is every world a peninsula!?! IT'S ALWAYS a peninsula!

No it isn't, but when it is I suspect it's often because of the following thought progression:

peninsula -> sea -> ships -> pirates -> Piratz is teh kewl!

That and it makes drawing the map more fun. :D