Wonderbook: The Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction

This all-new definitive guide to writing imaginative fiction takes a completely novel approach and fully exploits the visual nature of fantasy through original drawings, maps, renderings, and exercises to create a spectacularly beautiful and inspiring object. Employing an accessible, example-rich approach, Wonderbook energizes and motivates while also providing practical, nuts-and-bolts information needed to improve as a writer. Aimed at aspiring and intermediate-level writers, Wonderbook includes helpful sidebars and essays from some of the biggest names in fantasy today, such as George R. R. Martin, Lev Grossman, Neil Gaiman, Michael Moorcock, Catherynne M. Valente, and Karen Joy Fowler, to name a few.

Praise for Wonderbook:

“Jammed with storytelling wisdom.” —Fast Company’s Co.Create blog

“This is the kind of book you leave sitting out for all to see . . . and the kind of book you will find yourself picking up again and again.” —Kirkus Reviews online

“If you’re looking for a handy guide to not just crafting imaginative fiction like sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, but to writing in general, be sure to pick up a copy of Steampunk Bible author Jeff Vandermeer’s lovingly compiled Wonderbook."  —Flavorwire

“Jeff Vandermeer and Jeremy Zerfoss have created a kaleidoscopically rich and beautiful book about fiction writing.”  —Star Tribune

“Because it is so layered and filled with text, tips, and links to online extras, this book can be read again and again by both those who want to learn the craft of writing and those interested in the process of others.” —Library Journal

• Kobold Guide to Worldbuilding
• How to Draw Fantasy Art and RPG Maps: Step by Step Cartography for Gamers and Fans
• The Fantasy Fiction Formula
• How to Write Science Fiction & Fantasy
• The Weird: A Compendium of Strange and Dark Stories
• Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction: How to Create Out-of-This-World Novels and Short Stories
• The Secret History of Fantasy
• Steering the Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story
• Characters & Viewpoint (Elements of Fiction Writing)
• Writing Monsters: How to Craft Believably Terrifying Creatures to Enhance Your Horror, Fantasy, and Science Fiction