Magic Systems in Romantasy: Discover How Menelon’s Works
If you’ve spent any time in the romantasy genre, you already know that a world’s magic system isn’t just window dressing. It shapes the story’s stakes, defines its power dynamics, and tells you something fundamental about how that…
Your Favorite Romantasy Style
So, as we put the final touches on our upcoming epic romantasy series, we thought we'd ask: what's your favorite romantasy style of fiction? Is it: We'd love to hear your views on what makes a good romantasy story. What turns you on and keeps you turning…
Tasha McKinnis: From Middle Class to Sailor’s Brass
Tasha McKinnis' journey "from middle class to sailor's brass" is as long as it is heartbreaking. She was born into a Middle Class family in the suburbs of Fernwall, where the scent of the sea mingled with the everyday hustle of wartime suburban life.…
For the Fandom of Fantasy World Maps
This is an essay about a lifelong love affair with fantasy world maps. I could have written it; so could my husband have, and any of several of my friends for that matter. We who are fans of maps just generally can be inordinately fond of fantasy maps,…
Reason, and Magic — Philip Pullman
“The universe of magic is a large place. It contains phenomena ranging from simple good luck charms to complicated systems of belief and practice such as astrology and alchemy, and it comes to us from prehistory, and from every part of the world,…
The Archmage of Brechtmal
Here's another fantasy fiction short: In this little piece we meet the evil Archmage of Brechtmal, one of the powerful leaders of the Confederation in The Great War. The orc to her left hit her in the back with his pole axe, dropping her to her knees…
For Writers: Zen and the Art of the Story Arc
Every story has a story arc; it's a way of fitting more narrative in between two points which would be short and relatively uninteresting, otherwise. The goal of a writer is to start at the beginning point, then describe that arc so that it's so…
Uncommon Catalysts: Coherent Universes – Using RPGs for Consistency in Your Writing
Metaphor Publications is pleased to present Uncommon Catalysts a series of guest articles sourced in the catalytic intersection between fantasy fiction and role playing games (RPG, or RPG's). Irregularly, we'll be reaching out to irregular writers and…
Uncommon Catalysts: On the Nature of First Things
Metaphor Publications is pleased to present Uncommon Catalysts a series of guest articles sourced in the rich, yeasty intersection between fantasy fiction and role playing games (RPG, or RPG's). Irregularly, we'll be reaching out to irregular writers…
Whether Or Not To Weather
Today, we live in air conditioned houses or flats in concrete jungles, and travel in air conditioned cars and buses and planes. Natural disasters not withstanding, weather is usually little more than a minor irritation or point of idle conversation. It…