One problem with writing fantasy novels in which heroes and heroines wield swords, shields and sundry other objets d’mayhem, is that most of us have no idea what using those things is actually like. Luckily, it’s almost a moot point–most of our readers have little experience in this area as well, and so don’t know … [Read more…]
This is from the Worldbuilding 101 panel at MadCon in 2010. Panelists included Patrick Rothfuss, Gene Wolfe, Allen Steele and Nicholas Ozment Notes compiled by Jenna Reynolds (These are not meant to be direct quotes.) When you are building a world (worldbuilding) for your stories, what is your process? What do you start with? Gene Wolfe: I start … [Read more…]
Writers talk a lot about using the five senses. But how much thought have you given specifically to the sense of smell in writing? Not just for description but developing character and worldbuilding and… I once read an interview with director Ridley Scott, whose second film–a little number called Alien had just been released. In … [Read more…]