First Cup of Coffee – June 27, 2021
//Tag: worldbuilding
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Worldbuilding from a Character-Driven Perspective – Master Class
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Want to take a master class on worldbuilding with me? I’m teaching one this coming Sunday, July 25! I’ll be teaching stuff like in this post, and giving one on one feedback. Come hang out!
Worldbuilding from a Character-Driven Perspective
Presented by: Jeffe Kennedy
Date: July 25th, 2021 – 11:00am – 5:00pm MT (aka – 1:00pm – 7:00pm EST)
Fee: OIRW Member $25| Non-Member $35
Course Description:
Worldbuilding isn’t just for fantasy authors. Every genre requires that the world of that particular story be groomed and refined to support the story without bogging it down. Knowing how to create a convincingly realistic world and then how to pare away unnecessary explanation is an important acquired skill for any author. And one way to discover this perfect balance is to go at the problem from a character-driven perspective.
In this Master class, rather than starting with worldbuilding, we’ll start with character—and then build a world to maximize the character arc. Whether you write in a speculative fiction genre—like fantasy, science fiction or paranormal—or something else entirely, this class will teach you how to choose setting, magic or tech systems, history of that world and the social dynamics that drive it. You’ll learn how to choose relevant details, how to discard others, and how to drop hints that are sufficient to immerse the reader in the world without drowning them.
Over the course of this day-long online class, we’ll explore worldbuilding from a character-driven perspective, break for writing and brainstorming exercises, then return for discussion. Then we’ll add to your knowledge and repeat that cycle. At the end of the day, you should have a fleshed-out world for your story, and a feel for when and how to provide information to the reader.
Worldbuilding and Political Landscapes
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Our topic at the SFF Seven this week is politics and – no, wait! Come back!!
Politics in FICTION, okay???
We’re asking how politics and the political landscape of the world flavor the outcome of stories. This is my particular catnip as the political landscape of my books is always as important – if not more so – than other facets of the worlds I build. I even teach a workshop called “Worldbuilding: Political Systems in Conflict.” Why politics? Because they are about the conflicts that affect an entire society – and societies beyond them, too. As we’ve all learned from the political turmoil of recent years, politics affects the bedrock of our lives, our very rights as sentient beings. Come on over to learn more.
We’re asking how politics and the political landscape of the world flavor the outcome of stories. This is my particular catnip as the political landscape of my books is always as important – if not more so – than other facets of the worlds I build. I even teach a workshop called “Worldbuilding: Political Systems in Conflict.” Why politics? Because they are about the conflicts that affect an entire society – and societies beyond them, too. As we’ve all learned from the political turmoil of recent years, politics affects the bedrock of our lives, our very rights as sentient beings. Come on over to learn more.
First Cup of Coffee – May 21, 2021
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Painted Yourself into a Corner? Retcon FTW!
//Our topic at the SFF Seven this week is “World Rules and Painting Yourself into a Corner: What’s a rule of your world established in a previous book that complicated things for you in a later book?”
This has happened to me SO MANY TIMES. Come on over for my most recent gaffe – and how I solved it!
First Cup of Coffee – July 10, 2020
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Be Flexible with Your Process w/ Jeffe Kennedy
//No podcast today, for reasons, but I am delighted to share this! The delightful L. Penelope interviewed me on HER podcast, My Imaginary Friends, and we had a great time talking worldbuilding and process. Check it out!
Worldbuilding: Picking a Government
//This week at the SFF Seven, we’re asking: Presidential or Kingly – How do you decide your world’s structure of authority and/or governance? Come on over for my take.
What I Have and What I Want
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As requested, I’ve put THE SNOWS OF WINDROVEN, HEART’S BLOOD, NEGOTIATION and THE CROWN OF THE QUEEN into print format! You can find those on my website.
Our topic at the SFF Seven this week is One thing we’re really good at as an author and one thing we’d like to do better. Come on over to find out mine!
Representation in Stories: Intention Matters
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I can’t believe that THE ORCHID THRONE releases this week! Feels like it was forever away for so long, and suddenly it’s here. Woo hoo!
Our topic at the SFF Seven is Creating representation in our stories – how do you do it, and make sure you do it well. That last bit is key, right? Because about the only thing worse than not having representation of marginalized groups in our stories is having them in there, but in awful ways. Come on over to read more.