World Anvil Worldbuilding Podcast

To celebrate Douglas Adam's iconic "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" we're talking about Comedy Science Fiction. Comedy Scifi is an oft-forgotten genre, but from "Galaxy Quest" to "Rick and Morty" to "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi, it's an increasingly popular take on far future worlds! Join Janet Forbes, Kat Bradbury and Andy Law as we delve deep into how to make the future funny, as well as w...

To celebrate Douglas Adam's iconic "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" we're talking about Comedy Science Fiction. Comedy Scifi is an oft-forgotten genre, but from "Galaxy Quest" to "Rick and Morty" to "Starter Villain" by John Scalzi, it's an increasingly popular take on far future worlds! Join Janet Forbes, Kat Bradbury and Andy Law as we delve deep into how to make the future funny, as well as w...

If you're writing short stories,  it's good to know what an anthology is, what different kinds of anthologies exist, why people produce them, and how to write for one! Janet & Kat are joined by writing partners Trip Galey and Chris McCartney of Bona Books, who are publishing a themed anthology. https://www.bona-books.com https://www.tripgaley.com @chrismccartney.bsky.social WORLDBUILD WITH US!  Cr...

If you're writing short stories , it's good to know what an anthology is, what different kinds of anthologies exist, why people produce them, and how to write for one! Janet & Kat are joined by writing partners Trip Galey and Chris McCartney of Bona Books, who are publishing a themed anthology.   https://www.bona-books.com/   https://tripgaley.com/ @chrismccartney.bsky.social  WORLDBUILD WITH US! ...

The Blair Witch Project created a whole new film genre - and co-producer Gregg Hale is with guest host Kat to talk about worldbuilding urban legends and folk horror (and dark fairytales, like his new multimedia project, Black Velvet Fairies). Take a walk on the darker side of folklore as we explore how to make a creepy setting that uses the familiar to evoke DREAD.

The Blair Witch Project created a whole new film genre - and co-producer Gregg Hale is with guest host Kat to talk about worldbuilding urban legends and folk horror (and dark fairytales, like his new multimedia project, Black Velvet Fairies). Take a walk on the darker side of folklore as we explore how to make a creepy setting that uses the familiar to evoke DREAD.

Join Janet as we sit down with talented game designer (and counselor!) Alex Roberts, creator of Star Crossed, For the Queen and Our Time on Earth to explore the world of two-player and couples tabletop roleplaying games. Discover the magic of creating shared stories with just one other player and explore the ways RPGs can build connections and strengthen relationships.

Join Janet as we sit down with talented game designer (and counselor!) Alex Roberts, creator of Star Crossed, For the Queen and Our Time on Earth to explore the world of two-player and couples tabletop roleplaying games. Discover the magic of creating shared stories with just one other player and explore the ways RPGs can build connections and strengthen relationships.

What's in a name? Maybe everything! Janet is joined by authors Trip Galey, Chris McCartney, and Kat Bradbury to discuss pro tips (and what to avoid) when it comes to naming your novels, titling your stories, and deciding what to call That Crazy Thing You Created.

What's in a name? Maybe everything! Janet is joined by authors Trip Galey, Chris McCartney, and Kat Bradbury to discuss pro tips (and what to avoid) when it comes to naming your novels, titling your stories, and deciding what to call That Crazy Thing You Created.

Join Janet and award-winning and best-selling author Laura Anne Gilman for a conversation about the historical fantasy world she's built in the Huntsmen series. What is "gaslamp fantasy"? And how can you create an immersive fantastical world grounded in real world history?

Join Janet and award-winning and best-selling author Laura Anne Gilman for a conversation about the historical fantasy world she's built in the Huntsmen series. What is "gaslamp fantasy"? And how can you create an immersive fantastical world grounded in real world history?

Storytellers obsess over our goals - long and short term. In this episode, Janet is chatting with Peter Chiykowski, creator of the Story Engine Deck, about doing it in a balanced, responsible way to avoid burnout and overwhelm. Grab a cozy beverage, your favorite planners and pens, and let's prepare for an amazing year of worldbuilding!

Storytellers obsess over our goals - long and short term. In this episode, Janet is chatting with Peter Chiykowski, creator of the Story Engine Deck, about doing it in a balanced, responsible way to avoid burnout and overwhelm. Grab a cozy beverage, your favorite planners and pens, and let's prepare for an amazing year of worldbuilding!

We've got a killer interview today! Join Janet and Mur Lafferty, Hugo Award winning podcaster and author of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Midsolar Murders series. We'll discuss blending genres - specifically sci-fi and murder mysteries. You won't want to miss it!

We've got a killer interview today! Join Janet and Mur Lafferty, Hugo Award winning podcaster and author of Solo: A Star Wars Story and the Midsolar Murders series. We'll discuss blending genres - specifically sci-fi and murder mysteries. You won't want to miss it!

The biggest villain in tabletop RPGs is ... scheduling. But what if you could play a satisfying roleplaying game all on your own? Solo Journaling RPGs have taken off in recent years, and today Janet has acclaimed game designer Anna Blackwell, creator of Apothecaria, DELVE, and the upcoming For Small Creatures Such As We to talk about what makes these games special.

The biggest villain in tabletop RPGs is ... scheduling. But what if you could play a satisfying roleplaying game all on your own? Solo Journaling RPGs have taken off in recent years, and today Janet has acclaimed game designer Anna Blackwell, creator of Apothecaria, DELVE, and the upcoming For Small Creatures Such As We to talk about what makes these games special.

What IS Pulp Fiction? In this episode Janet talks with authors Trip Galey and Chris McCartney of Bona Books about unpacking this action-packed genre! What are the common tropes that make pulp AWESOME?! And how do we reinvent Pulp without the Problems? 

What IS Pulp Fiction? In this episode Janet talks with authors Trip Galey and Chris McCartney of Bona Books about unpacking this action-packed genre! What are the common tropes that make pulp AWESOME?! And how do we reinvent Pulp without the Problems? 

Worldbuilding Fantasy Castles with Wolfgang Baur!❤️ 🏰 Where should your castles be on the map? 🗺️ 🏰 What does everyone forget when worldbuilding castles? 🤔 🏰 How do you STORM a fantasy castle... or defend one!? 🐉 🧙 Janet (founder and CEO of World Anvil) chats with castle fanatic and Ennie Award-winning worldbuilding expert Wolfgang Baur (Founder and CEO of Kobold Pres), digging into the foun...

Worldbuilding Fantasy Castles with Wolfgang Baur!❤️ 🏰 Where should your castles be on the map? 🗺️ 🏰 What does everyone forget when worldbuilding castles? 🤔 🏰 How do you STORM a fantasy castle... or defend one!? 🐉 🧙 Janet (founder and CEO of World Anvil) chats with castle fanatic and Ennie Award-winning worldbuilding expert Wolfgang Baur (Founder and CEO of Kobold Pres), digging into the foun...

Hannah Nicole Maehrer's debut release, Assistant to the Villain, started out as a series of TikTok sketches. Janet sits down with her to talk about building a novel's worth of plot character-first, and using episodic formats to develop characters, settings, and plot for a longer work. They also discuss building a platform and connecting with readers on social media. 

Hannah Nicole Maehrer's debut release, Assistant to the Villain, started out as a series of TikTok sketches. Janet sits down with her to talk about building a novel's worth of plot character-first, and using episodic formats to develop characters, settings, and plot for a longer work. They also discuss building a platform and connecting with readers on social media. 

Vampires! Their undying appeal is unquestioned. But how can writers, gamemasters and tabletop RPG players inject new life into these monstrous heroes in games and fiction? Join Janet as she sits down with Jason Carl, brand marketing manager for Vampire: The Masquerade, to talk about fresh approaches to writing vampires!