worldbuilding Archives - Jemma Pollari

Writing the Journey: a walking writing exercise from my rural writing residency

22 Jun 2026 | Spec. Fic. Society, Writing Life

This walking writing exercise will take you and your character on a journey through emotional, sensory and physical details to map a story.

The Fifth Season, by N. K. Jemisin: world-building and character-driven plot like no other

31 Dec 2025 | Book Recommendations, Spec. Fic. Society

The Fifth Season novel by N. K. Jemisin is a stunning example of world-building with a rich character-driven plot unlike any other.

Immersive worldbuilding short story collection: Liberation Day

8 Apr 2025 | Book Recommendations, Spec. Fic. Society

Immersive worldbuilding short story collection, Liberation Day, by George Saunders is a beautiful example of how to create worlds, fast.

Explore Creative Blog

Explore Spec. Fic. Society

Kickstarter prelaunch: Holometabola is coming!

Our inaugural fantasy and science fiction anthology, crafted for readers who crave depth and characters that will grab you from the moment you enter their world.

Nine unexpected lessons I learnt at my first writing residency

My first writing residency was a mental challenge that has changed the way I approach my writing. Here’s the nine unexpected lessons I learnt.

Does your novel pass the sexy lamp test? Representation tests for writing fiction

Representation tests for writing fiction: the Bechdel test, Mako Mori test, Pivotal Character test, DuVernay test and more.

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Articles about: worldbuilding