Fiction Tinker’s Guide to Whimsical Worlds by Award-Winning Author Theodore Niretac Tinker
World building. Does that phrase make you cringe? Do you wish you had someone to explain what that even means in an easy to understand way? Do you wish there was a a world building book out there like the “Emotion Thesaurus”? Guess what, there is such a book available!
To be honest, I wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into when I said give me this book to review. Yeah, sure, there was that one time I said I read the phone book for fun….but really this KIND of book usually falls into “resource” rather than something you’d want to sit down and read for fun. I also had some reservations about the depth of the material because I had already read most of Tod’s tip posts. I wondered if those subjects could be expanded further.

I’m glad to say this book is one you can simply sit down and read. Yes, it’s a reference style book to help any kind of world builder out there, but it’s a fun book to read. The included illustrative doodles by Holla Watson add to the whimsicalness of the book.
I myself write fantasy books often set in alternative timelines and alternative Earth like settings. This love of fantasy usually leads me to groups full of other fantasy enthusiasts. Some time ago I found myself in a debate with someone about the physics of dragons. This person said dragons would need to adhere to the laws of Earth physics. I countered with the fact that dragons are not real period and asked why you would want to stick to Earth physics and not simply alter the laws of physics to accommodate the made up creature. I mean it is fantasy for a reason. Why do you want math to ruin a perfectly good dragon? I think that is why I found this particular tidbit from the book fun:
If you are writing genre fiction, especially in a world that is decidedly not Earth, you can expand beyond Earth rules and even reinvent them as you create the world of your story.
Tidbit 1
Law of the Land
Fiction Tinker’s Guide to Whimsical Worlds gives you clear examples of each topic, such as the rules of the land, and dives into all the things any story teller needs for world building. Politics, life, death, religion, art….and so much more. The overall gist I take from the book is as long as you make up your rules and they stay consistent with one another in your world you can make anything believable. I personally don’t think any math is necessary to write about dragons. Or Fairies. Or Mermaids. Or whatever you dream up. And I feel a book like Fiction Tinker would help you figure out the world you want and the ground rules for it.
I can also see this book being really useful for game masters, movie makers, RPG players, and video game makers. Entertainment is ultimately telling a story in some way, and the more developed your world is the more drawn in a viewer of your story will become.
Blurb
The starting idea for a story may come easily, but many writers get lost when plunging into specifics. Which details should you seek on your quest to create a convincing world that enchants your readers? How do you keep from getting lost down the proverbial rabbit hole?
With his friendly and down-to-earth approach, Theodore Niretac Tinker—three-time award-winning author and seasoned developmental editor—will guide you through your journey to connect the dots, tie up loose ends, and gain new insights into your world. Fiction Tinker’s Guide to Whimsical Worlds is:
1. EASY TO FOLLOW: Twenty-one tips across seven topics provide a map for defining your world.
2. VERSATILE: Follow the map through the world of any fiction story—historical, contemporary, speculative fiction, and more.
3. REUSABLE: Employ the map as a quick reference or read it straight through.
4. FILLED WITH PLAYFUL SIGNPOSTS: Twenty-one ink drawings capture the curiosity and whimsy of worldbuilding!
Start your journey today and find the knowledge you seek to build an engaging and immersive world your readers will never want to leave.
Purchase at Balance of Seven:
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About the Author
Theodore Niretac Tinker is a worldbuilder. Words and worlds are his passion; quality and consistency, his goal. A three-time award-winning fantasy author, he has been through such a winding journey as an author that he wishes to help as many other writers and authors navigate the journey with ease and quality as possible.
With a certificate in editing from the University of Chicago (home of The Chicago Manual of Style), Tod has spent the last few years achieving this goal by providing editing services for his fellow writers. His bachelor’s degree in mathematics gives him an eye for details, as well as the big picture, enhancing his worldbuilding skills.
Tod supports his many literary endeavors with an endless supply of chocolate, which he hoards in his library alongside his books like any good dragon. You can follow Tod on Facebook and Twitter at @TNTinkerEditing for daily discussions under the hashtag #EditingTidbit.
Check out TheodoreNTinker.com for more in-formation on Tod’s editing services and available publications. Many of his previous fiction publications, including his Evon series and eleven short stories, can be found under his former pen name, Dorothy Tinker.
About the Artist
Holla Watson is a bipolar artist, teacher, creative energy healer, and illustrator who loves fantasy and whimsy. As a child, her whole world was vibrant with imagination and color. She collected odd, shiny, and silly things, using them to create art and make up stories. Her heart, body, and soul are consumed by art—her North Star during the traumatic challenges of her adolescence and early adulthood.
Her truth? Art saves lives.
When she’s not helping others find their souls through art, you can find Holla video gaming, hiking, hanging with her animal family, and playing with her two kids. Come say hi at @Sweet.Issues_art on Instagram, @SweetIssuesArt on Facebook, and Sweet-Issues-Art.com.