New rule for SF/F stories: I’m not learning more than one made up word per chapter. If you need to substitute every other word just to sound exotic (“She drank the alear’nyo’gulrag, a nourishing Drink of fermented hops and barley”) I’m out.

And while we’re at it, if I catch you rambling into the 5th Sub-thread about unimportant side characters just to show off your world-building, I’m docking points. And you better use all those Chekhov’s Guns you’re leaving lying around!

In return, I will appreciate your wordplay, your diverse and well-rounded characters, your excellent pacing, and promote your book to all my friends if I like it.

Oh and this applies especially to male authors who do this way too often. Don’t create a mysterious yet smart yet capable yet musical yet awesome yet sensitive yet good-fighter main character who will master all the things immediately just because he is SO GOOD. #kvothechallenge