Worldbuilding for Masochists

An excellent thread, and honestly one of the reasons I sometimes think there was an upside to my first deal being so fraught. I was disabused of any illusions pretty quickly, and as a result, I'll certainly never expect one step forward to promise another.

book cover NATIONAL BESTSELLER, CHUCK WENDIG, A NOVEL, WANDERERS -- setting sun over heartland image with a bent water tower and a praise quote from the Toronto Star that compares it to The Stand, The Passage, and Station Eleven

I do not know why my "sleepwalkers mysteriously walk across a violent, divided America during an unfolding pandemic being investigated by a rogue government-built AI" novel WANDERERS is a buck-ninety-nine for your electromagnetic book reader of choice, but it is, so go enjoy an on-sale apocalypse?

If you are wondering about my extensive backlist, and which book/series might best fit your current reading needs/tastes, I wrote this post for you (boy-band style):

imakeupworlds.com/index.php/20...

“Prohibited words and concepts: Equity, diversity, & inclusion; anti-racism; Bias; Critical race theory; implicit bias; oppression; intersectionality; prohibited discriminatory practices; racial privilege; promoting stereotypes based on personal identity characteristics.”

This week, I withdrew from a speaking engagement at a public university because they sent me a list of prohibited “words & concepts.” I will not humor this censorship. It does a disservice to the stories I’m discussing & the audience, who deserve unfettered access to information & conversation.

In addition to a photo of Mary Robinette, the text says, "How Do I Know I'm Done? A class for writers available to Patreon subscribers at the 'Livestreaming Classes' tier, Monday, Nov 24, 8 PM EST. Patreon.com/maryrobinette"

Writers: If you've been working on a piece for a while and you aren't sure if it still needs more tweaks, or if you've entered the anxiety-editing phase, Monday's Patreon class is for you. To attend with a free 7-day trial, choose the Livestreaming Classes tier or above. patreon.com/maryrobinette

Salon Supplemental: Kirsten Beyer and David Mack YouTube video by The Salon | A Star Trek Podcast

Last night I and Kirsten Beyer were guests on the live podcast Salon Trek. We talked about the development of the STAR TREK: KHAN audio drama series from CBS and Realm, and reveal some behind-the-scenes technobabble we cut while writing KHAN, and voice-casting issues.
youtube.com/live/wyPC1gY...

COVER REVEAL: My next book is a standalone science fiction cyberpunk thriller starring aging corporate samurai. The Last Contract of Isako will be out on May 5, 2026 from @orbitbooks.bsky.social. Can't wait to share it with you. Thank you to @tommypocket.bsky.social for this kickass cover ⚔️

NEW EPISODE: Episode 168: It's Bigger on the Inside... of Book Two, ft. the incomparable @aparnaverma.bsky.social.

Listen now: https://worldbuildingformasochists.podbean.com/e/episode-168-its-bigger-on-the-inside-of-book-two-ft-aparna-verma/

Whenever people diss the romance genre or act as if it is by definition second-rate, I think about how genuinely difficult it is to write a truly effective (and non wince-inducing) consensual sex scene (whether cute, fun, passionate, tragic, comedic, horny, moving, etc). Especially an explicit one.

Ehigbor Okosun (Author) (@okosunreads) on Threads Today's reminder: You can support my girl @nia.davenport in three ways: 1. Send her a message of affirmation and love: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/6vRjQWoA 2. Donate to her GFM: https://www.gofun...

If you can, please help. Our hearts are breaking for Nia right now.

www.threads.com/@okosunreads...

NEW EPISODE: Episode 167: Spice Up Your Worldbuilding. ft. @niadavenport.bsky.social!

Let's get spicy! We talk all sorts of, ahem, arrangements, with our incredible special guest. Bring a glass of water, maybe... ;)

Listen now: https://bit.ly/WFMPOD167

#Worldbuilding

NEW EPISODE: Episode 167: Spice Up Your Worldbuilding. ft. @niadavenport.bsky.social!

Let's get spicy! We talk all sorts of, ahem, arrangements, with our incredible special guest. Bring a glass of water, maybe... ;)

Listen now: https://bit.ly/WFMPOD167

#Worldbuilding

Good morning to everyone on this joyous morning in America but also to @alixeharrow.bsky.social who's latest book THE EVERLASTING is #14 on the USA Today Bestsellers list.

www.usatoday.com/booklist

A black greyhound with white paws on a green dog bed.

In THE PHOTONIC EFFECT, Captain Demora Kim of the starship Horizon has a greyhound named Indy, rescued from an underground track on a Mars colony.

This is Indy in real life, our first racer rescue.

Request THE PHOTONIC EFFECT on Netgalley now! www.netgalley.com/catalog/book...

I LIKE BIG BIRDS AND I CANNOT LIE

Can I put a free audiobook in your trick-r-treat bag?

Apprehension / Red Star Hustle Author Event Join us October 29, 2025 at 7pm for a Conversation Apprehension by Mary Robinettte Kowal and Red Star Hustle by Sam J. Miller.  ApprehensionA family vacation arranged by Bonnyjean, a grieving mother, ...

I want to be clear that I'm not promising you'll get to meet Elsie, but... we are doing a trial to see how she does at a book event tonight in D.C.

Oh, also @sentencebender.bsky.social and I will be there with our new book APPREHENSION/RED STAR HUSTLE

littledistrictbooks.com/products/app...

A promo WFM graphic featuring Episode 166: the Histo-Remix, with Alix E Harrow

We use history a lot in our worldbuilding, whether as a direct re-interpretation or as inspiration for a secondary world. So… why? And what choices do we need to examine as we do so? @alixeharrow.bsky.social joins us to discuss weaving history into fiction.

Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD166

Since this etymology gets discussed with improbable frequency on @worldbuildcast.bsky.social 😂

A promo WFM graphic featuring Episode 166: the Histo-Remix, with Alix E Harrow

We use history a lot in our worldbuilding, whether as a direct re-interpretation or as inspiration for a secondary world. So… why? And what choices do we need to examine as we do so? @alixeharrow.bsky.social joins us to discuss weaving history into fiction.

Link: bit.ly/WFMPOD166

What are you writing this evening? Any intriguing worldbuilding tidbits to share?

As a bonus, in our Discord you may encounter friends from fabulous podcasts such as @hugospodcast.com, @octothorpecast.bsky.social, and @worldbuildcast.bsky.social, all in furtherance of my ultimate goal to create the megafancast, Hugoctothorpe Building There for Girl Masochists!

A graphic promoting episode 163, featuring a curled up dragon on a purple background

If you're a fan of mythical beasties, we've got the episode for you. Biology, ecology, and some plain good fun.

#worldbuilding

bit.ly/WFMPOD1163

We talk to @devafagan.bsky.social about worldbuilding religions, including when you, the creator, has given your world a specific afterlife, or what does "faith" mean when Gods are actually walking around, and what exactly IS the Bajoran religion on DS9, anyway?

a promo graphic for WFM featuring Deva Fagan and the cover of her book House of Dust over a sunset temple background

Fantasy religions often feel like reskins either of ancient Greek or Norse pantheons or of the medieval Catholic church. But what more interesting choices can we make when building faith within an invented world?

@devafagan.bsky.social joins us to explore some of the options!

bit.ly/WFMPOD162

YouTube video by ReligionForBreakfast Why Fictional Religions Feel So Fake

This is a neat video by @andrewmarkhenry.bsky.social, relevant to the considerations we've been playing with as part of #MythAugust, and very much the sort of thing we mean when we talk about a world feeling "lived-in" on @worldbuildcast.bsky.social.

youtu.be/pjrrUZeJMSo

A social media graphic promoting episode 161, which features a large dragon beside the episode title and images of the hosts, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Cass Morris, and Natania Barron.

Okay, so when you're #worldbuilding, how do you set the scene? How do you get your readers to anchor themselves without infodumping and overwhelming them?

In our most recent episode, 161, we discuss just that!

link: bit.ly/WFMPOD161

A social media graphic promoting episode 161, which features a large dragon beside the episode title and images of the hosts, Marshall Ryan Maresca, Cass Morris, and Natania Barron.

Okay, so when you're #worldbuilding, how do you set the scene? How do you get your readers to anchor themselves without infodumping and overwhelming them?

In our most recent episode, 161, we discuss just that!

link: bit.ly/WFMPOD161

It was surreal and awesome to see @cassmorriswrites.com and @fondalee.bsky.social geeking out together on the "Worldbuilding Through Structures of Society" panel at #WorldCon @seattlein2025.org. After so long being a fan listening to @worldbuildcast.bsky.social it was magic to see this live!

If y'all enjoyed the #WorldCon panel, here's a link to the @worldbuildcast.bsky.social episode where @cassmorriswrites.com @mrmaresca.com & @rowennam.bsky.social interview @fondalee.bsky.social in depth about worldbuilding in Green Bone Saga!

worldbuildingformasochists.podbean.com/e/episode-64...