Fantasy often centers around a character doing something out of the ordinary. Something fantastical. But they have to start somewhere, as do the characters around them, and that starting point will often involve work of some kind. For that reason, if for no other, you ought to give at least passing thought to the work in your culture. But work can also reflect a lot about what a culture values, it adds to the backdrop of your world and creates easier openings for your characters to interact with the world around them, and it can simply be of value to Continue reading “Work in Fantasy Culture”
Category: Culture-Building
Fantasy Fashion With Purpose
Fashion is a part of worldbuilding that can sometimes be overlooked and/or done incorrectly. Sure, you could just slap all of your nobles into modern high fashion… but should you? Depends on the world. And sometimes you really shouldn’t. Today I want to talk about a few concepts to think about while developing your fantasy fashions that will make your worldbuilding richer and more believable. Continue reading “Fantasy Fashion With Purpose”
Medicine and Medical Practice in Fantasy Cultures – Guest Post by Allie
Welcome back to another worldbuilding post! This one is a guest post by my best friend Allie, who was kind enough to write up a post about something that she loves and is great at: medicine. Specifically, of course, fantasy medicine. So, without further ado, let me turn you over to her!
Thank you for this opportunity to guest post on your blog, Ariel! Lord knows I have a hard time posting enough on my own blog, but I love helping others out, especially on a topic I enjoy ranting about for hours on end: medicine!
One thing I’ve noticed people struggle with is successful—or even believable—medicine in books where info isn’t readily available (and sometimes even when it is, but that’s another post). Most of the time this means fantasy, sci-fi, dystopian, steampunk, or anything involving magic, but other genres can also fall victim to some of the biggest issues most people have with writing a functional medical system. Continue reading “Medicine and Medical Practice in Fantasy Cultures – Guest Post by Allie”
Coming-of-Age Themes in a Fantasy World
Welcome to another worldview and worldbuilding post! This one is on coming-of-age themes specifically in fantasy. Namely, what ought coming-of-age themes look like in a fantasy world? What overlaps should they have with real-world coming-of-age themes, and how should they differ? So let’s get into it! Continue reading “Coming-of-Age Themes in a Fantasy World”
Myth and Legend in Fantasy Worlds
Cultures are shaped by their stories. These stories might reinforce cultural ideals, religious ideals, general morals… or, on the flip side, they might subvert or reject these ideals. Myths and legends are a prime example of this, as they often reflect the mindset and values of the cultures that created them. So today I want to talk about how to build and use myth and legend in your fantasy world. Continue reading “Myth and Legend in Fantasy Worlds”