The Worldbuilder's Tavern
The Worldbuilder's Tavern
The Worldbuilder's Tavern
The Worldbuilder's Tavern is a bi-weekly podcast for sci-fi and fantasy writers. The hosts (writer, makeup artist, and dungeon master Emma Maione; writer and developmental editor Allison Alexander; and marketing manager and academic Christiana Jones) break down the worldbuilding of speculative shows, movies, and books, sharing insights into how creatives can apply professional storytelling techniques to their own projects.
2.12 Time Loops in Edge of Tomorrow
In this episode, we're chatting about situational humour, aliens, montages, and time loops in the movie Edge of Tomorrow. Proprietor's Pick: The Misfit Soldier by Michael Mammay Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠
Mar 6, 2024
37 min
2.11 Blood Magic in Heartless Hunter (with Kristen Ciccarelli)
In this episode, we're chatting with author Kristen Ciccarelli about blood magic, witches, and witch hunters in Heartless Hunter, the YA fantasy romance inspired by the The Scarlet Pimpernel. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ Find Kristen Ciccarelli at kristenciccarelli.com The Universal Fantasy Workbook by T. Taylor The Psychology of Fiction with Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Feb 21, 2024
47 min
2.10 Adaptable Storytelling in Baldur's Gate 3
In this episode, we're chatting about worldbuilding in the shadows, how actions matter, and adaptable storytelling in the video game Baldur's Gate 3. Proprietor's Pick: The West Passage by Jared Pechaček Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠
Feb 7, 2024
40 min
2.9 Religion, spirits, and dark magic in Vespertine (with Margaret Rogerson)
In this episode, we're chatting with author Margaret Rogerson about religion, spirits, and dark magic in the YA fantasy novel Vespertine. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Find Margaret Rogerson at margaretrogerson.com
Jan 24, 2024
51 min
2.8 Stitchpunk, Giant Worlds, and Gender Dimorphism in 9
In this episode, we're chatting about the worldbuilding in the movie 9. Proprietor's Pick: The Last Human by Lee Bacon Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠
Jan 11, 2024
37 min
2.7 Superpowers and Society in My Hero Academia
Listen in as we chat about superpowers and superhero society, having a large cast, and female characters in the anime My Hero Academia. Proprietor's Pick: Saving Fable by Scott Reintgen Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠
Dec 27, 2023
42 min
2.6 Worldbuilding in The Book Eaters (with Sunyi Dean)
We've got fantasy author Sunyi Dean with us on this week's episode of the podcast! Listen in as we chat about her 2022 debut novel, The Book Eaters, how to decide what worldbuilding details to include and what to cut, oppressive societies, the goal of your story, and the power of books. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠ Find Sunyi Dean at sunyidean.com Check out the Publishing Rodeo podcast
Dec 13, 2023
48 min
2.5 Comedy in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
Listen in as we chat about how to write comedy and action for different age categories, traditional vs. self-publishing, the "sucked into a video game" genre, and the movie Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. Proprietor's Pick: Rainbow in the Dark by Sean McGinty Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠Discord⁠⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠⁠Patreon⁠
Nov 29, 2023
34 min
2.4 Revealing Worldbuilding through Character in Avatar: The Last Airbender
In today's episode, we're chatting about bending, magic rules, disability, and how to reveal worldbuilding details as they relate to character via Avatar: The Last Airbender! Proprietor's Pick: Wingbearer by Marjorie M. Liu and Teny Issakhanian "Five Tips for Writing Disabled Characters in Speculative Fiction" by Allison Alexander "How to Escape the Show Don't Tell Trap" by Jeni Chappelle Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: ⁠Twitter⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠ | ⁠Discord⁠ Access bonus content and support us on ⁠Patreon⁠
Nov 22, 2023
32 min
2.3 Fake Science and Villainy in The Outside (with Ada Hoffmann)
Join us for a chat with author Ada Hoffmann about their sci-fi horror novel The Outside. We talk about how to choose narrating characters, writing antagonists, writing nonbinary characters, and making stuff up when worldbuilding. Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi Visit the Tavern: Twitter | TikTok | Discord Access bonus content and support us on Patreon Find Ada Hoffmann at ada-hoffmann.com
Nov 1, 2023
43 min
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