Category: Worldbuilding

Scribes & Archers > Worldbuilding

How to Write About Converging Cultures

Posted on by R.M. Archer

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It’s been wayyyy too long since I last posted, and even longer since I posted something other than a blog tag. I could blame the fact that the Coronavirus goings-on have turned my brain completely upside-down, but that’s really only part of it, so… Regardless of the reason, I apologize for totally disappearing. :P

Anyway, I got a writing question from one of my newsletter subscribers last month and it was on a topic that I find really fun: mixing cultures. I had several tips on the topic, so I thought I’d adapt the advice I gave to the subscriber into a blog post and share it with y’all. :) Continue reading “How to Write About Converging Cultures” →

The Benefits of Vignette Worldbuilding

The Benefits of Vignette Worldbuilding

Posted on by R.M. Archer

There are many methods you can use to build a world. I mean, many. Everyone is going to have a different way they go about worldbuilding, and I personally tend to use a broad variety of methods. One method I’ve found a lot of fun while working on Deseran (my huge “desert fantasy” world, which I finally get to share a piece of with Caithan) is what I call “vignette worldbuilding.” The way it works, I select a piece of the world that I’ve been developing recently, or I latch onto a cool new concept that doesn’t have an official place yet, and I write a piece of short prose around it. Caithan, for instance, was an exploration of the mix of cultures in Teraco, an empire that’s something of a cultural melting-pot. I’ve also written short pieces to further develop races, or to show how certain groups are treated in differing countries, or to showcase the unique traits of the wildlife of the world. There’s really no limit to what you can explore with vignette worldbuilding. But what are its unique benefits? Continue reading “The Benefits of Vignette Worldbuilding” →

Preptober Prompts Day 7 – 2019

Preptober Prompts Day 7 – 2019

Posted on by R.M. Archer

Virilia doesn’t have any music-related superstitions (that I’m aware of). However, in Teraco violins are considered cursed because they’re such a common instrument of the Harlequins. It’s believed that violin music always heralds a group of Continue reading “Preptober Prompts Day 7 – 2019” →

Preptober Prompts Days 5 & 6 – 2019

Preptober Prompts Days 5 & 6 – 2019

Posted on by R.M. Archer

While most Virilen celebrations involve music–particularly in the lower villages–there is one holiday that was set in place specifically to celebrate music itself, and the Virilen Continue reading “Preptober Prompts Days 5 & 6 – 2019” →

Preptober Prompts Day 4 – 2019

Preptober Prompts Day 4 – 2019

Posted on by R.M. Archer

There’s no music-based magic in Virilia, no. In Teraco (which is significantly westward of Virilia) there’s a race of Harlequins who possess illusion magic and sometimes use music to focus it–violins and flutes are especially popular among Harlequins–but unfortunately, none of my worlds include legitimately music-based magic (yet).

Does your world feature any music-based magic? I’d love to hear about it down in the comments!

And don’t forget that you can submit prompts! There are three “extra” days in October which aren’t part of an official Promptober week (thank you, Anne, for this term!), and I’ll be featuring reader-submitted prompts for those days. All you have to do is submit a prompt below, but you can improve your chances of getting your prompt chosen by sharing about and participating in Preptober Prompts. The three readers who are chosen will get special graphics for their prompts, and if they’re bloggers then their blogs will be featured. Any prompts not chosen will be compiled into a list as a bonus for those who want extra prompts. Sound cool? Submit a prompt below!

Note: I do reserve the right to remove from the drawing anyone I can’t find a prompt for or whose prompt doesn’t fit Preptober.

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