The Worldbuilder’s Tavern
Welcome to The Worldbuilder’s Tavern — where great books meet creative minds.
Twice a month, we explore the worlds inside your favourite sci-fi and fantasy novels and build our own right alongside them. Whether you're constructing your next novel, TTRPG setting, or just love speculative fiction, pull up a chair at the Tavern!
Episodes
7 days ago
4.2 Building a Dragon
7 days ago
7 days ago
Join us for a hands-on worldbuilding exercise in creating a dragon!
Here are the 7 questions we answered in this episode, which can help guide you in building your own dragon.
What hallmarks of traditional dragons are essential to keep in order for something to still be considered a dragon?
What is our dragon’s intellectual capacity? Is it sentient, or more bestial?
What is the full-grown size of our dragon?
What does our dragon look like? Does it display any aspects of sexual dimorphism?
What is our dragon’s diet?
What is our dragon’s lifecycle?
Does our dragon have any magical/supernatural powers?
Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop
Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon
Next month’s novel: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Wednesday Jan 07, 2026
4.1 A Natural History of Dragons
Wednesday Jan 07, 2026
Wednesday Jan 07, 2026
Join us for a chat about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy novel, A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. We discuss dragons as the topic of academic study, worldbuilding inspired by Victorian England, and memoir-style novels.
Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok | Bookshop
Support us and get bonus episodes by joining our Patreon
Next month’s novel: Lucky Day by Chuck Tingle (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
3.22 Post-Apocalyptic: The Last of Us
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
In this episode, we're talking about writing and worldbuilding in the post-apocalyptic with zombies TV show (based on the video game series of the same name), The Last of Us.
Proprietor's Pick: The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)
Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael Ghelfi
Visit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok
Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our Patreon
Support Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
3.21 Paranormal Romance: Twilight
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
In this episode, we're talking about writing and worldbuilding in the paranormal romance novel Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.Proprietor's Pick: Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
3.20 Children’s Fantasy: How to Train Your Dragon
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the children's fantasy (with vikings) movie How to Train Your Dragon.Proprietor's Pick: Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!) Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
3.19 Urban Fantasy: Jade City
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
Wednesday Jun 11, 2025
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the urban fantasy novel Jade City by Fonda Lee. (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)Proprietor's Pick: The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday May 28, 2025
3.18 Children’s Sci-Fi: Animorphs
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the sci-fi alien invasion series Animorphs by K.A. Applegate.Proprietor's Pick: Ice Wolves by Amie Kaufman (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday May 14, 2025
3.17 Fantasy Heist: The Lies of Locke Lamora
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the fantasy novel The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.Proprietor's Pick: Foundryside by Robert Jackson Bennett (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
3.16 Gothic Romance: Crimson Peak
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
Wednesday Apr 30, 2025
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the gothic romance movie Crimson Peak.Proprietor's Pick: The Dark Window by Rachel Gillig (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)Intro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTok Listen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
3.15 LitRPG: Dungeon Crawler Carl
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
In this episode, we're talking about the writing and worldbuilding in the sci-fi/LitRPG novel Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman. (Disclosure: we are a Bookshop.org affiliate, so if you purchase through these links, we will earn a small commission AND you will support an indie bookstore!)Proprietor's Pick: The Wandering Inn by pirateabaIntro and outro music: "The Tavern" by Michael GhelfiVisit the Tavern: Website | Discord | TikTokListen to our Worldbuilding Workshop bonus episodes by joining our PatreonSupport Haneen's family in Gaza








