C. R. Rowenson
“There are tons of other books and resources out there made by creative and encouraging people.
So to ensure you get the information you need and that these other fabulous creators and sites get the recognition they deserve, I’ve put together my favorite resources for five big topics.
The basics of each topic is below with links to the topic’s resource page so you can deep dive down the rabbit holes. These links will take you to new sites, more free resources and provide additional tools for your creative toolbox. I encourage you to embark on this journey and share any new findings.” – C.R.
Magic-Building
Sanderson’s Laws of Magic are practically foundational for most people’s magic-building efforts. Of course, they aren’t laws at all but rules Brandon Sanderson tries to follow whenever he builds a new magic system. They are always a great place for any aspiring magic-builder to start.
Sanderson’s Laws of Magic
Sanderson’s Laws of Magic are practically foundational for most people’s magic-building efforts. Of course, they aren’t laws at all but rules Brandon Sanderson tries to follow whenever he builds a new magic system. They are always a great place for any aspiring magic-builder to start...
Resources Include:
Sanderson’s Laws of Magic
Mythcreants
R/magicbuilding
Worldbuilding
While it is easier to find content on worldbuilding than it is for magic-building, some resources are better than others. Worldbuilding is a big task, not to mention complicated, and like magic building, doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves.
Worldbuild With Us Podcast
When it comes to observing worldbuilding in action, the Worldbuild With Us podcast is the best. Since the launch of their podcast, Rob and Chris have delivered a comprehensive series building a variety of worlds including a fantasy setting where...
Resources Include:
Websites
Podcasts
Youtube channels
Books
Writing
Without a story, very few people will care about the magic system or world you created. Writing is the core skill of most storytelling, be it for novels, games, RPG modules, or screenplays. Fortunately, there are lots of outstanding resources in the world to help you develop your writing craft.
Writing Excuses Podcast
Hosted by Brandon Sanderson, Dan Wells, Howard Taylor, and Mary Robinette Kowal (each of them rank in my top 10 authors), this podcast is all about the craft of writing; they cover everything from world building to story structure. If you want a place to start...
Resources Include:
Websites
Podcasts
Books
Tools
Useful Software
While you can’t be successful without skill, good tools certainly make things easier! Following are various everyday tools and software programs with brief rundowns of their benefits and the best way to use them. Some of these tools are writing specific, others are more general, but all of them have proven immensely useful.
Scrivener
Allow me to introduce you to the best creation since birthday cake: Scrivener from Literature & Latte. Congratulations, your life as an author will never be the same again. This program is all about taking massive writing projects and breaking them down into as many pieces as you need while still retaining easy access to all of it.
Resources Include:
Scrivener
Aeon Timeline 2
Mind Mapping Tools
Fractal Terrains 3
Campaign Cartographer
Tabletop RPGs
This section is more for fun than anything. Tabletop roleplaying games (TTRPGs) continue to grow in popularity and are something I cannot recommend enough. If you’re looking to learn more about the topic, find examples of how they work, or are just looking for tools to help you out with your own game, this page is a good place to start.
Open Legend
There are a lot of different tabletop systems out there. Open Legend is a favorite! Open Legend is completely open-source which means all the rules are available online for free. It is also system-agnostic so the rules work just as well for a far-future science fiction like Star Trek as it does for a standard fantasy setting...
Resources Include:
Open Legend
Dungeon Master’s Guild
DriveThruRPG
Shows and Podcasts
Books