Writing SFF From The Margins

Welcome to Part 9 of my WorldCon, CoNZealand panel write ups. The panelists for the titular panel were: E.J. Beaton (as … More

Constructed Languages

When we read a book or watch a show with a created language, it’s easy to wonder — did they invent a word or the whole language?

And when I write, do I need to create a whole language?

Here are the layers of a language, and the levels of language construction you can choose. Plus, a few more tips and tricks for getting your conlang just right.

Fairy Tale Contract Law

While fairy tale contracts can often seem cruel and capricious:

– They can’t get something for nothing
– There must be consent (often uninformed, though)
And?
– There’s always a loophole

Spirits Abroad and At Home

At Spirits Abroad and At Home, we got to hear 3 writers from non-european descent talk about the different ways spirits are seen in their cultures. Comparing and contrasting between their cultures and the Western storytelling norms.

Stranger in a Strange Head: Imposter Syndrome

From the hobbyist, to the amateur, to the professional — most writers have suffered with imposter syndrome at least once.

Here are some triggers for writers, 21 things to try to fight it, and 4 quotes/mantras.

What techniques have you found effective?

What’s In A Name? Characters in Fiction

Welcome to Part 4 of my WorldCon, CoNZealand panel write ups. The panelists for the “Writers on Writing: What’s in a … More

World-Building: Economics

Economics is usually seen as a dry topic, full of game theory and calculated systems.

But economic systems do not exist in a vacuum. Here are:

5 Things To Consider When Designing Future (or Fantastical) Economic Systems

Accessible Magic

So often, Fantasy (and sf) use magic (or tech) to ‘cure’ disabilities, and create worlds populated without any. Let’s talk about the ways that different abilities might be a boon to magic casting and ways that magic could add accessibility, without negating the existence of differently-abled people.

Cultures and Their Myths

How right were Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell? Are there underlying stories behind myths around the world? Or does the culture influence the myths.