Category: Writing

Worldbuilding Wednesday 10/2/24: Paintings by Velázquez

Diego Velázquez is regarded as one of the most prominent painters of the 17th century and a forerunner of realism. So said my art history professors. Los Meninas was considered by them to be the height of his innovation, as it depicts him, the artist, sitting and painting a portrait of the Spanish court life …

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 9/25/24: Elvis!

  When Elvis died in 1977, no one could dream that he’d become an American icon on the level of Mickey Mouse or Marilyn Monroe. See even a crudely drawn figure with a pompadour, a guitar, and a lopsided posture, it’s impossible NOT to think “Elvis.” Or one of his many impersonators, also an American …

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 9/18/24: The Best of Twittersnips (Maritime Magic)

Are you or your adventurers embarking on an ocean voyage? Here’s some magic to help you out.   Maritime Magic Magic Items Clover of the Sea: A rare ocean plant that looks like an oversized, dark green, 4-leafed clover. It grows in sandy, shallow inlets and is used as a component in luck spells. Figurehead …

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 8/28/24: Narnian Apples (Narnia LVI)

Since there was an apple orchard at Cair Paravel (as detailed in Prince Caspian) there must have been Narnian varieties of apples, right?   Narnian Apple Varieties Ruby of Tash Named for the Calorman deity (not that the Narnians really believe in him) this apple is large, bright red, sweet, and juicy, and the flesh …

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 8/21/24: Narniaworld Extra Credit (Narnia LXI)

For this Worldbuilding Wednesday, let’s take another look at Narniaworld. Pics are all AI and I take no credit for any of them.

Worldbuilding Wednesday 8/14/24: Let’s Talk About Maugrim (Narnia LX)

If you’re a scholar of The Chronicles of Narnia, you’ll know that the White Witch’s Captain of the Secret Police, a wolf named Maugrim, received a name change when The Lion, the Witch, and Wardrobe was published in the U.S. in 1950. That change was to Fenris Ulf, a name familiar to those who read …

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 8/7/24: Werewolves and Hags (Narnia LIX)

One of the things I dislike about Prince Caspian is that, after many, many, centuries, hags and werewolves are still around, even though Lewis told us they had been eliminated at the end of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Seems like someone didn’t do the job they were supposed to. Nevertheless, they’re there, …

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 7/31/24: Narniaworld, Part 5 (Narnia LVIII)

Here is where everything else about Narniaworld goes… lodging, amenities, and non-ride attractions, all of which add to a park’s appeal. In making up this list, I put in what I’d like to see in a theme park. You can think of this as tying everything else together… lodging and services for guests, what guests …

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 7/24/24: Narniaworld, Part 4 (Narnia LVII)

Most theme parks have tons of merchandise associated with them. Such merchandise screams “Hey! I’ve been to the Magic Kingdom!” or “I could afford to visit Harry Potter’s Magical World of Wizarding for three whole days!” It doesn’t matter if you’re way too old to be wearing a purple Stitch backpack or a chibi Hermione …

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Worldbuilding Wednesday 7/17/24: Narniaworld, Part 3 (Narnia LVI)

Theme parks need more than just rides, food, and crowd control. Shows, special events, seasonal attractions, and wandering performers keep customers coming back. In this Narniaworld has a leg up on its competitors. While creating this post I realized the books contain all sorts of seasonal themes that could be adapted as entertainment… especially Christmas, …

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