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Artwork for Writing Worlds: Conversations About World Building

Writing Worlds: Conversations About World Building

Alternative Stories
World Building
Doctor Who
World-Building
Spaceships
Speculative Fiction
Daleks
Audio Drama
Science Fiction
Cybermen
Fantasy
Big Finish Productions
Sci-Fi
Horror
London
Nostalgia
Publishing
Deep Time
Urban Fantasy
Wasteland
The Dex Legacy

Join award-winning audio drama makers Chris Gregory and Emily Inkpen for fortnightly conversations about world building with some of the best science fiction and fantasy writers around, and find out how their worlds come to life.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes24Foundeda year ago
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FictionScience FictionBooksArts

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Artwork for Writing Worlds: Conversations About World Building

Latest Episodes

Our guest on writing worlds this week is one of the biggest names in science fiction. Peter F. Hamilton is the author of many bestselling novels and series , including the Greg Mandel series, the Night’s Dawn trilogy, the Commonwealth Saga, the Void ... more

This week on Writing Worlds we are chatting about belief systems with novelist and podcaster MJ Kuhn

M.J. Kuhn is a fantasy writer by night and a mild-mannered marketer by day. She is the internationally bestselling author of Among Thieves and Thick... more

Welcome to this bonus episode of Writing Worlds, the podcast about the art of world building with Emily Inkpen and Chris Gregory. For this episode, we're continuing our chat with award-winning novelist Gareth L. Powell about spaceships in world build... more

Our guest on the Writing Worlds podcast this week is novelist and short fiction writer Jeremy Szal. An author of space opera, fantasy and a genre he calls ‘Space Punk’ , Jeremy is the writer of the three book “Common Saga” , a host of short fiction a... more

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Recent Guests

MJ Kuhn
Writer and podcaster; marketeer by day
Author
Episode: M.J. Kuhn: Belief Systems
Jeremy Szal
Novelist and short fiction writer; author of Common Saga; former Hugo-winning editor/producer
Self / Dex Legacy / Common Saga
Episode: Jeremy Szal: Species
Frasier Armitage
Novelist, short story writer, prize-winning audio dramatist, presenter
Various including Spotlight Indie and Alt Stories
Episode: Frasier Armitage: Dyson Spheres
CJ Cooke
Bestselling novelist, poet and academic
HarperCollins (The Last Witch)
Episode: C.J.Cooke: Gothic World Building
Stewart Hotston
Novelist, short story writer, and live-action role-playing game organiser and player
Author, SP714 worldbuilder
Episode: Stewart Hotston: Politics And Governance
Alexandra Beaumont
Novelist and musician; author of Dissonance of Birdsong and Ballad of River Bones
Myst Cycle, Cornwall-based folklore fantasy
Episode: Alexandra Beaumont: Coasts and Shorelines
Gareth L. Powell
Novelist, short story writer, and publisher
Stars and Sabers
Episode: Gareth L. Powell: Spaceships
Chris Beckett
Arthur C. Clarke Award winning author
Self
Episode: Chris Beckett: Climate Crises
Adrian M. Gibson
Novelist and one of the hosts of the SFF Addicts Podcast
Episode: Adrian M. Gibson: Fungi

Hosts

Chris Gregory
Co-host and producer with extensive involvement in worldbuilding conversations and media projects.
Emily Inkpen
Co-host and writer; active in worldbuilding discussions and related audio projects.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 4 ratings
  • A great conversation based podcast that explains all the things you need to think about while writing a sci fi world.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    flycheese
    6 months ago
  • Love this podcast!

    I can’t recommend this podcast enough for readers!! And also writers - there are so many gems and good advice and wisdom here!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    K_Felix
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

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Gives clear, practical worldbuilding tips for writers and designers
Guests are knowledgeable and bring fresh, diverse perspectives
The hosts mix depth with playful energy, making episodes engaging

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Talking Points

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Bonus: More On Spaceships With Gareth L. Powell
Q: What's your favorite spaceship name from your own work?
Gareth discusses Troubledog as a favorite, elaborating on its canine DNA and the character's inner conflict, and mentions other evocative names like the Attitude Adjuster and Jitterbug as examples of how naming can reflect character and culture.
Jeremy Szal: Species
Q: How long is this going to take?
The question sets up a discussion about pacing and the duration of a dangerous or intense sequence within a world where an autonomous, adversarial AI interacts with a protagonist, illustrating how time pressure can influence storytelling and character choices.
Stewart Hotston: Politics And Governance
Q: What comes first for you, Stewart, world or story and characters?
Stewart leans toward option C, suggesting that world-building prompts lead to narrative outcomes and that the process is interdependent, with space opera and non-Western influences guiding the structural choices.
Arkady Martine: Language
Q: What was the inspiration behind sort of basing so much of the history on poetry?
Poetry in A Memory Called Empire is very much inspired by 11th and 12th century Byzantine poetry cultural significance.
Arkady Martine: Language
Q: Did you write the language? Is there a dictionary of anywhere or a phrase book?
I know several grammatical rules and sound patterns for the Texcalan language, but I am not a true Conlang person.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on worldbuilding across genres, blending practical craft with lush storytelling. Episodes thread together how settings, culture, language, and sensory detail shape characters and plots—from coastlines and folklore to spaceships, urban myths, and planetary futures. Hosts invite a rotating slate of acclaimed authors, editors, and performers to unpack their worldbuilding processes, publishing journeys, and creative rituals, often mixing deep craft with playful games. Its distinct angles—coastal landscapes as character, language design, and rich, market-ready storytelling insights—make it a strong fit for listeners who want actionable techniques alongside inspirational storytelling.

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this podcast launched a year ago and published 24 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. MJ Kuhn
2. Jeremy Szal
3. Frasier Armitage
4. CJ Cooke
5. Stewart Hotston
6. Alexandra Beaumont
7. Gareth L. Powell
8. Chris Beckett

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