Worldbuilder's Anvil

Now displaying: May, 2016

May 30, 2016

Today's Topic – Showing the setup for using gaming to beta test a fantasy world

Okay, we just want an excuse to play a game. You got me. However, I truly believe that we can both have fun and work. So, we hacked a plan. One that would allow us to test out a new episode type and fulfill Michael’s desire to play in another one of my stories.

The major goal is to entertain you. If it does not work, please let us know. In addition to entertainment, we want to show how you could use role-playing games to test out Worldbuilding elements and to help improve your storytelling techniques.

It is really like coauthoring a story. Michael will be in charge of his character. I will be in charge of everything else. Now, it is important to note that one storyteller to one player is not an optimal number to start out with. A good number of players is three to five for a new RPG GM or DM. It allows you to treat players like a multi-cat household. They can help keep each other entertained while you figure out what you are doing next.

I do hope you are entertained. Authors let me know, are you going to run a game-based in your world? DMs and GMs let me know are you tempted to try your hand at sharing a static story with the world?

Podcast Show Flow

Why is RPG gaming a good use of time for fiction writers?
Qïmi (Kemi)
Duke Aziniter, lord of Mellnaras, Warden of the Kleinphar
Wine Steward for Tuarqïmi (Caste of Tuarqïmi)
Michael’s Character’s largest problem
What we are testing
The roundup

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For complete Fantasy Worldbuilding, show notes go to Gardul.com

The Worldbuilding Task for the Day

Pick a place and people to test out elements of your world

The Real World task for the day

Start working on your beach body (I already have one thanks to mind over matter)

The Tease

Evolution, Microevolution, and stagnant worlds.

Michael's Resources

Episode 118: Power of interactive storytelling Part 1 http://gardul.com/blog/episode-118-power-interactive-gaming-part-1/

DeScriptors, A word game micro RPG https://www.facebook.com/DeScriptors/?__mref=message_bubble

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Episode 123: Turn Your Geek into a small business 0

May 16, 2016

Today's Topic – Make your geek official. 3 easy steps to start a small business and a path to marketing yourself

Hey, let’s start off serious. How many authors have you read that you had never heard of before you bought their book? I have a few. Many coffee table books. And I have bought a few and had a few given to me gifts.

I am much pickier with Games. If I do not know it, I will not buy it. I am stuck in my ways. Now, I have several friends who have large game collections. I will try out most games with them before I buy any.

Know, Since I have started the Worldbuilder’s Anvil. I have had the chance to talk to many people who have great talents in writing, game design and other parts of geekery. There is an amazing amount of talent. Great storytellers and talented individuals all around. Many of them spend most of their waking hours working and then again on their passion of choice. Most end up doing very little with it. They share their passion with a few lucky people they know. Another lot of them release content through traditional means or through their own personal financial risk. They launch their work and then move on to the next project.

Grimm Truth about creative products

Some get it, the hustle and work. However, they most have no background in business or marketing. They are creators. They love the craft. They hope or maybe even expect that the quality of their work will one day be noticed. However, the truth is that many of us will have trouble selling our products. According to Bowker Reports over 2 million new ISBN numbers were released in 2012. And the trend from 2002 to the projected 2013 numbers are grimmer the number of new releases has grown 470%.

What happens if you make money?

And then, what happens if your product sells. So you actually make money. You have to pay for graphics, editing, layout work and marketing. After that, the government will want you to give them a portion. You could work for years and never keep a dime.

Even if you are not an author, How much money do you spend on accessories, materials, and conventions? It is lucky we love what we do because most forms of creative arts are very expensive.

However, with the price of less than an hour of your time. We can get you started on a path that will help you make the most of what you do. Kristin and I will show you three simple steps on how to set you geekery into a business. It is simpler than you think. It should take you less than a day and probably less than $50. We will also share with you the basics we have learned to create a foundation for online marketing.

Do not lose hope, Start Smart

I am not trying to affiliate market you any products or services here. I am really trying to get more geeks to share more of their content with the world. I believe many of you have fans out there who would love to buy what you should be selling. Heck, I might even be one of them. And it truly hurts me that most people will not take a few simple steps to protect themselves and try and get their art into other people’s hands.

I will be joined by Kristin Ingram today. She is my co-host on another podcast called Small Biz Life. She is a CPA and the director of The Masters of Accounting and Taxation and the University of Hartford. She has spent a year working with small business on how to become more profitability. If you want to learn more about our business side, check out our business bios here.

Podcast Show Flow

The Mechanics of how to start a business.
- Focus on your brand.
- Business License (Or Trade Name Certificate)
- Federal Employer Identification Number
  - IRS Website: https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Apply-for-an-Employer-Identification-Number-(EIN)-Online
- Separate bank accounts
The path to starting marketing your products (books, art, or other geek good.)
- One website to hold all your geek-related
- Email list
- Take the time to learn what it takes to sell the book.

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us on iTunes
For complete Fantasy Worldbuilding, show notes go to Gardul.com

The Worldbuilding Task for the Day

Pick one item you have made in the past and start putting together a plan on how to sell it.

The Real World task for the day

Ask ten people you know; that are interested in what you plan to sell and ask them if they join your email newsletter.

The Tease

The Pregame Sow

Michael's Resources

Small Biz Life Podcast

Dungeon Masters Guild

Bowker Reports

Books

Jab Jab Jab Right Hook

Use Gardul.com/Amazon when shopping online to help support the show

Images and quotes

We give you three easy steps to setup a simple to run a business; that will help protect your identity and a simple path on how to start marketing it. "If the greatest novel ever written falls in a forest, and no one is around to hear it, does anyone read it? Jeff 1 “You might think your thing is too small of a niche to start. Well, I created a show that targets fantasy world builders and got over 30,000 downloads in a year that is a niche of a niche of a niche. The important is not to worry about the size of your audience and just start.” – Jeffery W. Ingram “If you are super passionate about something, there is a chance other people love it as well, and you might be able to pull some money in doing this thing that you are passionate at doing” – Kristin Ingram “In a successful launch, the author believes that buying their book is actually a good thing for people to do.” ― Tim Grahl, Book Launch Blueprint: The Step-by-Step Guide to a Bestselling Launch

Please take a moment and comment below on this episode. I look forward to hearing from you about your Fantasy Worldbuilding adventures

Listen to Worldbuilder's Anvil in iTunes or use Podcast Republic for your android device.

Download this Episode

Episode 122: How to Stop a Fantasy World Apocalypse? 0

May 9, 2016

Today's Topic – Preventing your fantasy world from blowing up

I am not going to talk about preventing errors in stories or fatal world building flaws that will lose you, readers. I am talking building a story towards a world apocalypse, but then adverting it.

It is a popular story type. It creates a lot of the same tension as destroying the world. However, you are not left with a post-apocalyptic world. Now you might have guessed from episode 86, 87, and 88. Michael and I love fictional worlds blowing up and consuming post-apocalyptic fiction.

You might have even cried a bit if you performed the Worldbuilder task for those episodes and destroyed your world, to that we say, “Thanks!”

However, in today's episode. We will be talking about why it might be a useful story to create. People do seem to love them. They are thrilling. And it might be possible to make them without turning the story into a horrible disaster trope.

However, as a show, we would like to encourage you to consider really just blowing the hell out of it. It really is quite fun and therapeutic.

Enjoy the episode and comment below to tell us what we missed.

Podcast Show Flow

Is your story about the apocalypse the prevention of said event?
Why prevent the Apocalypse?
Great story
Nature of Mankind.
How to prevent? Characters, plot devices that will kill off your world as it is known.
What are the consequences of prevention?

Please Subscribe, Rate and Review us in iTunes
For complete Fantasy Worldbuilding show notes go to Gardul.com

Use Gardul.com/Amazon when shopping online to help support the show

White Wolf’s Werewolf the Apocalypse

Use Gardul.com/Amazon when shopping online to help support the show

Images and quotes

Could you bomb your loved ones to prevent a war? What would your write to prevent an apocolapse in a story? How many? How many more worlds must be saved? “Apocalyptic stories are epic ways to look a people's fear of failure. So when the apocalypse is averted people cannot help but feel hope that they can overcome the problems they face which are hopefully on a smaller scale.” – Jeffery W. Ingram “When you master creating apocalyptic stories. You will be able to use the story elements to increase tension for smaller problems like shipwrecks or even disease in character’s family” – Jeffery W. Ingram Remember fact is stranger than fiction. Your device to stop an apocalypse might be scientifically accurate. However, your audience might still not believe it is possible. This episode shows talks about prevent worlds from being destroy. And has been banned by imperial decree.

The Worldbuilding Task for the Day

Write an apocalypse prevention tale, or turn it into a failed prevention and email us a copy.

The Real World task for the day

Spring cleaning in preparation for the enjoyment of the season forthcoming rebirth

The Tease

The basics of turning your passion into a business?

Please take a moment and comment below on this episode. I look forward to hearing from you about your Fantasy Worldbuilding adventures

Listen to Worldbuilder's Anvil in iTunes or use Podcast Republic for your android device.

Download this Episode

Episode 121: Learn the most important key to building tension in your story 0

May 2, 2016

Today's Topic – Humor in your fantasy world

An Orc walks into a bar. He reaches over the bar and grabs a keg of ale and starts to walk out. The bartender says, “Hey are you going to pay for that?” The orc says, “By my Axe.” The bartender responds, “Maybe after you pay for the Ale.” Now that you know for sure that I do not write humor. We can get started.

Humor is often thought of as the driver of comedies. It is important. However, that is not what we are talking about today. We are talking about today. We are talking about using humor to add tension in a story.

Now, we have all had a moment where we are watching a movie or reading a book and the drama or tension overwhelms us. We become numb to it. Join Michael and Jeffery as they look at ways to incorporate humor into your story to avoid falling into that trap.