Let's dive into the different kinds of NPCs & monsters your players might encounter—and how to make them MEMORABLE! 🐉 From recurring villains to one-shot encounters, here's your guide. #DnD #TTRPG

Stuck on campaign ideas? 🎲 This process will help you generate, tailor, and select the BEST DnD campaign concepts to ensure an exciting and immersive experience for your group! #DnD #gamemaster

Stepping behind the DM screen for the first time? 🎲 Whether you're brand new or returning after a break, this guide has practical advice and resources to help you succeed as a Dungeon Master! #DnD #gamemaster

A well-placed plot twist can add shock and awe to your one-shot—and keep your players on the edge of their seats! 🎲 Ready to surprise your party? Check out our ideas for twists that'll make your session unforgettable. #DnD #TTRPG

Great campaign ideas guide your narrative choices, help you avoid predictable cliches, and keep your players engaged, and curious. Here are a few brainstorming methods to help you quickly generate a list of BIG IDEAS for your next campaign.

Magic systems are often the first thing storytellers get excited about when creating a fantasy setting. But they can also be the thing that breaks your story. 😱 This guide can help! From types of magic systems to mechanics and more...

Whether you're crafting a fantasy or sci-fi novel or a tabletop RPG campaign, a cool macguffin, article or relic can offer an intriguing, irresistible goal for characters to pursue. Here are some ideas to spark your inspiration!

Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking Glass—and evolutionary biology—hold the secret to more dynamic, believable #worldbuilding…. 1/3

Spotlighting is an essential #worldbuilding technique, helping creators focus efforts on the most impactful parts of their game or novel setting. By developing key locations, you create a rich, immersive setting without becoming overwhelmed.

Portal fantasy is a great fit if you’re writing for middle grade & young adults. But more modern stories have given it a grown up spin! Let’s discover what it is, common tropes, examples, and things to watch out for as a worldbuilder.

It's easy to see why Portal Fantasy is a popular subgenre - it's ✨literally✨ the best of both worlds! 1/3

It's easy to see why Portal Fantasy is a popular subgenre - it's ✨literally✨ the best of both worlds! Explore what portal fantasy is, famous examples & common tropes, and where to start worldbuilding (as well as what you can leave for later).

We promise, you don’t have to learn orbital mechanics, plate tectonics, or evolutionary biology to build a believable fantasy world. This step-by-step guide covers the basics—from "I have a cool idea" to avoiding common pitfalls.

Why worldbuild religion in your fantasy setting? Because... you want a rich source of motivation, magic & conflict for your novel or campaign characters! Check out this guide to get started ➡️

It's cozy season! So let's talk about creating swoon-worthy side characters for your ttRPGs with co-authors of STRIXHAVEN: CURRICULUM OF CHAOS, Amanda Hamon & T. Alexander Stangroom! Watch live at 10AM PST | 1PM EST | 6PM UK www.twitch.tv/worlda... OR www.youtube.com/watc...

It’s the end of the year… which means it’s WorldEmber time! Plus the Articles & World Manager is even more improved, we have announcements for the next Worldbuilding Awards and more!

📍SAVE THIS POST! If you’re worldbuilding a religion, start with these questions! 1/3

Biomes are the natural spaces of a world. But how does ✨magic change a world's 🌿natural environment? Let's talk about how to craft enchanted ecosystems for your fantasy game or novel!

A second world setting is a BIG undertaking, BUT you can get started with just the essentials... 1/3

Organizing your worldbuilding is a HUGE struggle for many fantasy writers & dungeon masters. It's so much information! Here are 2 methods that could help—with extra tips for neurodivergent creators.

Tips to make sure your ending really works and is satisfying to your readers. Plus, a WRITING CHALLENGE to help you practise writing different kinds of endings! #writingadvice #shortstory #novelwriting

Different lengths of fiction have different markets—and audiences! It’s helpful to know what options exist & how the market works for those options! #writingadvice #novelwriting #shortstory #flashfiction #drabble #microfiction

Ever wondered when you should worldbuild your novel setting? Before you write? While you write? Or after? 1/3

We have big dreams for our creative work. But as the year winds down... life often gets messy. Join Janet & guest @sandratayler.bsky.social author of Structuring Life to Support Creativity, as they discuss how to stay creative when life gets CHAOTIC. WATCH HERE -> www.youtube.com/watc...

Ever wondered when you should worldbuild your novel setting? Before you write? While you write? Or after? Janet gives you a framework to test, tweak & make your own, whether you're a plotter, pantser or something in-between! WATCH NOW ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwpM...

There's no getting around it: becoming a dungeon master is intimidating. And running the game IS a lot of effort—but when you create an epic experience, it's also incredibly satisfying! Here's some practical advice to help you get started!

Themes can help your writing and worldbuilding feel cohesive—and keep YOU focused. They ensure you purposefully build out your setting or story with elements YOU find meaningful. Here are a few themes to help inspire you as you tackle your creative goals! academy.worldanvil.c...

Theme is often the missing ingredient in rejected fantasy & scifi short stories.

Theme is the missing ingredient in many rejected short stories. Especially in fantasy & sci-fi, where writers fall in love with their premise. Learn the difference between premise and theme, how to spot a missing or mangled theme, and how to fix it. ➡️ youtu.be/ULWK2QtupY4

D&D players! Here are 5 totally free gifts that will make your GM's heart grow three sizes this holiday season, to thank them for all the hard work they do to make your campaign fun. ➡️ youtu.be/owV8rNlvDIY

My flash story “Song of the Loom” is now published in @dreamtheorymedia.bsky.social ! Please go check it out (and maybe leave a comment, if you can? 🙏)! 🥰❤️

This past month we’ve released a TON of major updates to make your worldbuilding experience even better! Plus, November is the month of writing (in NovelEmber)… and preparing for WorldEmber!

Critical Role's fourth campaign is running what they’re calling a West Marches-style campaign. Let's take a look at why homebrew DMs should consider this approach to sandbox worldbuilding. WATCH HERE ➡️ youtu.be/iZZs4fBakPE

You WANT players invested in your worldbuilding. BUT—it's your creative baby, and they are chaos gremlins. How do you solve this AND make downtime more fun? By letting them build a home (and hirelings) they care about! Let's talk BASTIONS. ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=evPQ...

Happy October 24th, to all the #Tolkien fans! If you missed it, be sure and check out our interview with @davidgreenwriter.bsky.social in celebration of 70 years of #LordOfTheRings! youtube.com/live/Nlu2CWk...

Planning a #FalloutDay party? Janet's got you covered with a vault full of themed recipes! Including printable labels! Check it out on the World Anvil blog ➡️ blog.worldanvil.com/worldbuildin...

Learn what you MUST figure out FIRST for your shiny new setting, and what you can leave till later, so you can avoid overwhelm & FOCUS on what matters most. WATCH NOW ➡️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3PQ...

Big quality-of-life improvements! This update is focused on ORGANIZATION: 1. Folders for ALL content types (+nesting!) 2. Better image management (mobile-friendly, accessible from article edit) 3. Improved Notebooks (mobile-friendly, accessible while editing) ➡️ blog.worldanvil.com/worldanvil/d...

“The AM/FM problem” is when a #scifi world’s tech works TOO perfectly. It breaks suspension of disbelief & drains the story of drama.

Did you know there’s a wild - but 100% true! - story about how the CIA saved 6 people from capture, interrogation, and possible execution… WITH THE POWER OF #WORLDBUILDING! 🌏

It's a killer genre-mashup combination! Join Janet and author Leah R. Cutter as they discuss mixing MYSTERY and FANTASY. WATCH HERE ➡️www.youtube.com/watc...

Here's 5 tried & tested techniques for creative #brainstorming, helping you solve problems and come up with fresh ideas in a hurry!

Janet speaks with science communicator & creature illustrator Shirin Sheppard about how fire-breathing dragons could work! Check it ➡️ youtu.be/M7wFiejPdOM

Low magic settings don't have to be underwhelming! You can create a low-magic fantasy world that still feels mystical and enchanting... here's how.

It’s day 5 of WorldCon Seattle… and our WA Meetup is at 1:30pm of the 4th Floor meet up terrace! Come join us and pick up one of these babies! 🙌✨🥳🥰

Here's a gold mine of inspiration! A 5 question template to help you create a mysterious #GHOSTTOWN ... in just 10 minutes! #worldbuilding

This week, Janet's at seattlein2025.org! Come find her if you're attending - and join her for the #WorldAnvil creator meet-up on Sunday!

Ever wondered how to keep a world full of magic hidden? 🤔 Whether it's 🦇 hidden vampires or 👽 interstellar coverups, here's how to get it just right. ➡️ www.youtube.com/watc...

Herding cats? More like "what cats heard"... Janet (and adorable guest) talk about the CIA's attempt to use feline spies to gather intelligence. It went... poorly. 😆 #worldbuildinginspo

In this interview excerpt, we chat with Abigail Owen, author of NYT bestselling novel "The Games Gods Play" about the appeal of retelling ancient myths & how putting a modern spin on these oldest of stories is a fun #worldbuilding challenge! WATCH NOW: youtu.be/rvqgM3Ddrg0