The first time I sketched a fantastical world was in 7th Grade Social Studies. We were given a large sheet of paper, perhaps 24” x 20” and told to draw…
Last week, I began the discussion of magic in the world of Isfalinis by going over its basic concepts. Magic is based on spoken words. It is a science and…
As I mentioned in the last article, the development of my Etyni and their involvement in creation merged hand-in-hand with the development of the magical system of Isfalinis. In my…
This is the fourth article in a series on how the world of Isfalinis came into shape. The first article covered the earliest development some twenty years ago. Then, in…
Over the past couple weeks, we’ve explored the story behind “Tears from Iron” and how the world of Isfalinis came to be. First, I recollected the early days of world-building…
In last week’s article, I talked about the rawest origins of Isfalinis as it rose from a handful of brainstorms to the vestiges of life. After we had abandoned our…
If you’ve ever wondered how a fantasy author came up with their story setting, here is some background on my own world-building experience. In this series of articles, I’ll discuss…
When I write, I enjoy listening to music. It is a great aid to transitioning from the toils and distractions of modern day life to the mystical land of Isfalinis…
I’ve always been intrigued by contrasts, particularly, the play between light and darkness. I imagine this is hardly unique as such symbolism permeates imagery, literary and otherwise. I would hardly…
My answer to this question is a cautious sometimes. A group’s value depends upon what you personally need and, even more heavily, upon where you are in your writer’s journey. …