The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

In this episode, I'm joined by New York Times Best Selling fantasy author, Kel Kade. Kel's new book, Sanctum of the Soul, was published by Tor in February 2025 and completes her brilliant new trilogy. As well as discussing the new book, we also dive into the character creation process and how to create fantasy worlds, discussing techniques and methods to ensure we don't info dump!Kel also shares her favourite and least favourite fantasy tropes, and we discuss some newer and more shocking tropes that writers should think about before including. And Kel also discusses her amazing journey through the world of writing, starting out as a popular indie author with The King's Dark Tidings, before getting snapped up by Tor.FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLShttps://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ⁠⁠ABOUT KEL CADEhttps://torpublishinggroup.com/sanctum-of-the-soul/?isbn=9781250293893&format=hardback https://kelkade.com/books/  ⁠⁠https://www.goodreads.com/series/172856-king-s-dark-tidings GET IN TOUCHthefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠ RESOURCESDiscover more ⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠ hereAnd learn more about ⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠ here

Award-winning YA author Sarah Arthur returns to the Toolshed to discuss her brilliant new book, Once A Castle.Sarah also shares her experiences following the release of her debut YA novel (Once A Queen), what it was like writing book two, and how theme has played such an important role in the writing of both. We also discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) creeping into the writing world, and Sarah provides her expert insights into what 2025 holds for the world of Young Adult fantasy fiction. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ABOUT SARAH ARTHUR⁠⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2216828/sarah-arthur/ ⁠⁠www.saraharthur.com ⁠ ONCE A CASTLEhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213618161-once-a-castlehttps://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707441/once-a-castle-by-sarah-arthur/GET IN TOUCHthefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠RESOURCESDiscover more ⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠ hereAnd learn more about ⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠ here

In this episode, I'm joined by fantasy author and ER doctor, HB Reneau.HB talks all about injuries we commonly see in fantasy worlds--usually inflicted by swords and magic, and explains how we can best portray things like wounds and infections. We also talk about the impact of injuries and trauma and mental health too. HB also tells us all about her new book, The Revenant, and how she's used Kickstarter to fund a pretty awesome project. You can find out more here - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theremnant/the-remnant-ya-fantasy-adventure-collectors-editionGET BOOKS AND CLASSES ON WRITING FANTASY⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠⁠ABOUT HB RENEAUhttps://hbreneau.com/GET IN TOUCH⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠RESOURCESDiscover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here -⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th⁠

In this episode, I'm joined by Brianna Summers, literary agent assistant with Holloway Literary. Brianna also works as an editor with Of Metal and Magic Publishing.Brianna shares her wisdom after spending several years working in the literary agency field. She tells us what it's like for agents on a day-to-day basis and the main reasons she rejects submissions.We also take a deep dive into query letters and Brianna shares her ideal structure for what a query letter should contain. If you're thinking about querying literary agents or want to learn more about it, this episode is a must-listen!GET BOOKS AND CLASSES ON WRITING FANTASYhttps://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshedJOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠ABOUT BRIANNA SUMMERShttps://www.instagram.com/brianna.summers.338/https://hollowayliterary.com/https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/GET IN TOUCH⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/⁠⁠⁠RESOURCESDiscover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here -⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠⁠⁠And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here -⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/⁠⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th

In this episode, award-winning short story writer and editor Dan Coxon joins me for an in-depth chat about writing short fiction.We look at the definition of a short story, the different structures they can have, the pitfalls to avoid, and best practices for editing.Dan also shares his best tips on getting short stories published, sharing vital insights on what it's like to be an editor with a publisher. You can also find a very helpful explanation for writing cover letters.It's a must-listen for anyone keen to learn more about writing short stories and getting them published.JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠ABOUT DAN COXONhttps://www.dancoxon.com/https://www.instagram.com/dan.coxon.author/GET DAN'S BOOKSWriting The Uncanny -https://deadinkbooks.com/product/writing-the-uncanny/https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034PDEYMGET IN TOUCH⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/⁠⁠RESOURCESDiscover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here -⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠⁠And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here -⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/⁠

In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by the Queen of Grimdark, Anna Smith Spark! Anna joins me for a deep dive into all things writing. We look at Anna's process, how she wrote her brilliant books, A Court of Broken Knives, A Woman Of The Sword, and A Sword Of Bronze and Ashes, and how she approaches pantsing. Anna also shares her fantastic wisdom on Grimdark, explaining what it is and what the key features are for writers. We also discuss character creation, worldbuilding, and dealing with writing challenges. You're bound to learn something new! JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY ⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ ABOUT ANNA SMITH SPARK https://britishfantasysociety.org/meet-anna-smith-spark/ https://www.instagram.com/annasmithspark/ https://www.facebook.com/queenofgrimdark/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15935255.Anna_Smith_Spark GET A SWORD OF BRONZE AND ASHES https://www.flametreepublishing.com/a-sword-of-bronze-and-ashes-isbn-9781787588400.html GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com ⁠https://richiebilling.com/⁠ RESOURCES Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here - ⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠ And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here - ⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/⁠

In this final episode of 2024, I discuss all of the best writing tips I've come across in the past year, as well as the most helpful things I've learned. In particular, I dive into writing short stories and getting them published, amazing pieces of wisdom from legendary author Ian Rankin, and the most important thing I learned over the past 12 months. Here are some useful links I referred to in the ep. https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/ https://duotrope.com/ https://richiebilling.com/writing-tools/list-of-fantasy-magazines Thank you as always for listening and for your fantastic support. I sincerely appreciate it and can't wait to create more helpful things for you in 2025! JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com ⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/⁠⁠ RESOURCES Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here - ⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠⁠ And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here - ⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/

In this episode, I'm joined by voice over artist and audiobook producer, Ethan Fifield, for an explainer on how to make an audiobook. Ethan offers a fantastic insight into the process of making audiobooks, explaining what it's like to be a producer and what it's like to work with publishers and authors. Ethan also offers practical advice on how to make an audiobook, using platforms like ACX to create projects that narrators can pitch for. He also explains how different contracts can be arranged, like royalty splits, meaning you can make an audiobook with the help of a narrator today without paying a penny! If you're keen to learn more about audiobooks, this episode is guaranteed to help. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY ⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ ABOUT ETHAN FIFIELD https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Ethan+Fifield GET THE PARIAH'S LAMENT https://mybook.to/PariahsLament GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com ⁠https://richiebilling.com/⁠ RESOURCES Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here - ⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠ And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here - ⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/

In this episode, award-nominated author Ciel Pierlot joins me in the Toolshed for a fascinating chat about writing fantasy and writing queer fiction. Ciel's new book, The Hunter's Gambit, was published by Angry Robot earlier this year. We chat all about the writing of the story, Ciel's writing process as a whole, and crafting characters who are interesting and engaging. Ciel also discusses her experience of the query trenches and how she found a literary agent. As always, you're bound to learn something new! JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT CIEL PIERLOT https://cielpierlot.com/ GET THE HUNTER'S GAMBIT https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/the-hunters-gambit/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com https://richiebilling.com/ RESOURCES Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here - ⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠ And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here - ⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/

In this special episode, I'm delighted to be joined by returning guest and bestselling author, Stephen Aryan. Stephen has just released his latest fantasy novel, The Blood Dimmed Tide, and on 1st October, he's releasing his first-ever crime novella, New York Minute. We chat all about New York Minute, writing novellas, mixing fantasy and other genres together, crafting characters readers love, and navigating the world of self-publishing. It's an interview packed with advice and insights—you're bound to learn something new. And if you enjoy it, why not check out Stephen's awesome new novella? You can find the link below. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY ⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠ ABOUT STEPHEN ARYAN https://stephen-aryan.com/ GET NEW YORK MINUTE https://stephen-aryan.com/2024/08/01/new-york-minute/ https://amzn.to/3zjiTc8 GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ RESOURCES Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/

In this episode I'm delighted to be joined by fantasy author, Kate J. Armstrong. Kate's new book Fyrebirds recently hit the shelves and in this episode we talk all about it. We also dive into Kate's journey through the world of writing, how she found inspiration when it left her, and the crafty questions we love so much, such as how to create characters, magic systems readers love, and worlds people want to escape into. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠ ABOUT KATE J. ARMSTRONG https://www.katejarmstrong.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/pub-dates/id1589892622 https://www.theexploresspodcast.com/ GET FYREBIRDS https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697069/fyrebirds-by-kate-j-armstrong/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com ⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠ RESOURCES Discover more ⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠ here And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠ here

Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of the biggest authors in the world right now. A #1 NYT Bestseller, as well as a #1 International Bestseller, Jennifer has penned over 70 books in a range of genres and for all different audiences. In this episode, we talk all about Jennifer's journey into writing and how it all led to the release of her brand new book, Born Of Blood And Ash, which hit the shelves on 13.08.2024 (link below). We take a deep dive into Born Of Blood And Ash, exploring the writing side and how it felt to bring together the final book in the Flesh And Fire series. We also dive into worldbuilding, character creation, and plotting, and Jennifer shares her best tips for writers. It's truly an insightful interview with one of the best writers in the world. You're bound to learn something new. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY ⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ ABOUT JENNIFER L. ARMENTROUT ⁠https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/ GET BORN OF BLOOD AND ASH Get exlusive editions and signed copies here - https://jenniferlarmentrout.com/books/born-of-blood-and-ash/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com ⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠ RESOURCES Discover more ⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠ here And learn more about ⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠ here

In this episode, I'm delighted to welcome bestselling author, Sarah Arthur. Sarah's debut YA fantasy novel, Once A Queen has recently hit the shelves courtesy of Penguin Random House. We chat all about writing a YA fantasy novel, creating characters, transitioning from writing non-fiction to fiction, creating a magic portal-based system, and building a fantasy world within our real world. We also explore writing Young Adult fiction (YA) and how it's become its own genre that deals with issue-driven stories. Sarah shares some brilliant insights into how to connect with and reach a younger audience here. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY ⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ ABOUT SARAH ARTHUR ⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2216828/sarah-arthur/ www.saraharthur.com ONCE A QUEEN ⁠https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707440/once-a-queen-by-sarah-arthur/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com ⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠ RESOURCES Discover more ⁠writing tips⁠ and guides here And learn more about ⁠writing fantasy⁠ here

In this episode, we welcome the Kindlepreneur himself, Dave Chesson for a chat about selling books on Amazon and Kindle Direct Publishing. Dave has devoted huge amounts of time and effort into helping authors sell books and reach readers. We chat about the latest changes Amazon has made to its book category system, how selling books on Amazon works, how you can use Amazon ads to great effect, and what best practices authors can follow (like using keywords) to find more success. The book marketing advice you'll find here will help you sell both fantasy fiction books, non-fiction books, and books of all genres. Dave reveals all about how Amazon works for selling books here. As always, if you have any questions, comments or requests, please email us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com JOIN THE COMMUNITY ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠ GET FANTASY WRITING CLASSES AND BOOKS https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ABOUT OUR GUEST Learn more about Dave Chesson: https://kindlepreneur.com/ Get Dave's free Amazon Ads course: www.amscourse.com ABOUT RICHIE BILLING www.richiebilling.com

In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Sunday Times Bestselling author, Manda Scott. Manda is well known for her historical fiction series, Boudica. And in June, her new novel, Any Human Power is hitting the shelves. Any Human Power is a fantasy story of a family at the centre of a global uprising. A band of young tech-visionaries in the real world are guided from the afterlife by their anthropologist grandmother Lan, as they find themselves at the heart of a terrifying, worldwide media storm. It offers a critique of aspects of our current society, social media culture in particular, and we chat all about it here. We also dive into the writing process and Manda's style of storytelling, which is known as Thrutopian. Thrutopia is the art of writing engaging route-maps through to a world we'd all be proud to leave to future generations. The current global crisis is so overwhelming that, it's tempting for writers to stick with what we know: dystopias, because it's easy to imagine how bad things could be, or utopias, because we can leap forward and imagine something better as long as it's somewhere distant. We talk all about Thrutopian writing, how writers can incorporate it into their storytelling, and how it has the potential to change our culture and hopefully the worst parts of our world. As always, you're bound to learn something new! JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT MANDA SCOTT https://mandascott.co.uk/ ANY HUMAN POWER https://septemberpublishing.org/product/any-human-power-hb/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com www.richiebilling.com Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here

In this episode, I'm joined by fantasy author Gabriela Houston for an honest chat about writing and publishing. Gabriela has developed a reputation for writing brilliant, Slavic-inspired tales. The Bone Roots, published by Angry Robot, is her latest book. We talk all about it, as well as Gabriela's journey through writing, what it's like to be traditionally published versus self-publishing, and more than a few honest assessments about the publishing process as a whole. Join Our Discord Community Join our writing community on Discord and get involved in the conversation - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠ Resources ⁠⁠Creative Writing Tips For Beginners⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Advice On Writing Fantasy⁠ - ⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing⁠ About The Guest Gabriela Houston - ⁠https://www.gabrielahouston.com/ Buy The Bone Roots - https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/the-bone-roots/ Richie Billing: ⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com

I'm joined by author Salinee Goldenberg for a brilliantly honest chat about writing her debut novel, The Last Phi Hunter, getting published, and dealing with challenges like Imposter Syndrome. The Last Phi Hunter is a fantasy book unlike any other, with strong inspiration taken from Thai demon folklore. Sal tells us all about the process of writing the novel, creating the amazing setting and characters, and navigating the plot as a pantser. Learn More About Our Sponsor, Fictionary ⁠⁠https://fictionary.co/fwt Join Our Discord Community Join our writing community on Discord and get involved in the conversation - ⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ Resources ⁠⁠Creative Writing Tips For Beginners⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠⁠ ⁠Advice On Writing Fantasy⁠ - ⁠https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing About The Guest Salinee Goldenberg - https://twitter.com/salgo | https://www.instagram.com/gosalgo/ Buy The Last Phi Hunter - ⁠https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/the-last-phi-hunter/ Richie Billing: ⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com

In this episode, award-winning author and leader in the world of children's literature and children's books, Meredith Davis, shares many a pearl of wisdom. Not only is Meredith a leading author of children's books, she's the founder of the Austin Chapter of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, and also has an MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. A specialist if ever there was one. We talk all about Meredith's new book, The Minor Miracle (Waterbrook/Penguin Random House), how to write a children's fantasy book, and advice for authors navigating the world of querying agents and submitting to publishers. Join Our Discord Community Join our writing community on Discord and get involved in the conversation Head here to join us on Discord⁠⁠ - ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ⁠⁠ Resources ⁠Creative Writing Tips For Beginners⁠ - ⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/⁠ Advice On Writing Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing About The Guests Meredith Davis - https://meredithldavis.com/books/ Buy The Minor Miracle - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721051/the-minor-miracle-by-meredith-davis-illustrated-by-billy-yong/ Richie Billing: ⁠www.richiebilling.com

In this episode, we cover a very hot topic right now (in more ways than one)—romantasy. With the help of editor Jennia D'Lima and author Lara Buckheit, we look at what romantasy is, its surge in popularity, the reasons behind why, and how you can write your own fantastically romantic stories. What do you think of the romantasy phenomenon? Do you write/read in this genre or are you thinking of giving it a go? Join our Discord community and get involved in the conversation! Join Our Discord Community ⁠Head here to join us on Discord⁠ - ⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ Resources Creative Writing Tips For Beginners - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ Advice On Writing Romance Scenes - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/how-to-write-romance-scenes About The Guests Jennia D'Lima: www.jenniaedits.com Lara Buckheit: www.larabuckheit.com Richie Billing: www.richiebilling.com

In this episode of the podcast, we take a comprehensive look at fantasy maps: how to make them, tips on designs and how to draw them both freehand and with the help of digital tools and websites. Helping me do that are two of the best cartographers around, Tyndall Doodle and Dread Maps. Both are talented artists and inspirational users of the fantasy map making website, Inkarnate. We enjoy a comprehensive chat about the magic of maps and cartography, best practices for creating your own world maps and battle maps for DnD and tabletop campaigns, and how you can use Inkarnate to bring your imaginings to life.  It's a brilliant discussion featuring two passionate and talented individuals, and with the beauty of video, you can see examples of their work throughout.  And that's not all. If you head over to Patreon and sign up for a free or paid account, you will qualify for the draw for a year's subscription to Inkarnate Premium. Head here to enter today - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed Resources A Complete Guide On How To Make A Fantasy Map - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/how-to-make-a-fantasy-map About The Guests Tyndall Doodle: https://twitter.com/tyndalldoodle | https://www.instagram.com/tyndall_doodle Dread Maps: https://www.patreon.com/dreadmaps | https://twitter.com/dreadmaps About Inkarnate Inkarnate is a free digital mapmaking platform that's designed to make cartography easy and fun. You can check it out here - https://inkarnate.com/ About Richie Billing Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales tend to explore real-world issues, zooming in on the characters, their troubles and their efforts to overcome them. You can check out his acclaimed book on writing fantasy fiction, A Fantasy Writers' Handbook, here - https://mybook.to/AFWH And head here to check out his debut epic fantasy novel, Pariah's Lament - https://mybook.to/PariahsLament. And you can learn more at www.richiebilling.com #podcast #fantasywriter #writingtips

With Halloween just around the corner we wanted to tackle something spooky. In this episode—our last in series 2—we're diving into all things monstrous. I'm joined by writer, actor and producer Meghan Martin who's a native of the monster-filled state of West Virginia. In our chat, we dive into Bigfoot, the mothman and more monsters that are said to stalk the forests of Appalachia. We examine the folklore, the surge in recent reports and explore the reasons why people are so fascinated by these tales—all to give you ideas and inspiration for when it comes to creating your own. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET A TOOLSHED TSHIRT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ToolshedTshirt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ABOUT MEGHAN MARTIN https://www.instagram.com/hellomeghanmartin/ ABOUT RICHIE BILLING www.richiebilling.com

Michael R Miller is an indie author who's forged a tremendously successful career in the world of writing. Off the back of the launch of his new book, DEFIANT, Michael and Richie talk all about writing, the process, and how Michael's found success as an indie author. It's essential listening for anyone who wants to go down the indie route. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET A TOOLSHED TSHIRT ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ToolshedTshirt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ABOUT MICHAEL R MILLER https://www.michaelrmiller.co.uk/

As you may have heard, I have an audiobook coming out soon—in a few weeks in fact (called Pariah's Lament for anyone interested)I don't know much about audiobooks, so I decided to speak to someone who does—professional voice-over artist for movies, TV and audiobooks, Rachanee Lumayno.In our chat, we talk all about why audiobooks are so popular and why they're worth exploring as authors, how you can go about it, where to find narrators, how to do it yourself, the costs involved and much, much more. You're guaranteed to learn something new! If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET A TOOLSHED TSHIRT ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ToolshedTshirt⁠⁠⁠⁠ JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠ page - ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠⁠⁠⁠  ABOUT RACHANEE LUMAYNO https://www.rachanee.net/

Book marketing is a thorn in many a writer's side, but here with a fine set ot tweezers is marketing whiz, Nicky Pecone.Nicky is the founder of Iron Age Marketing, a marketing agency that specialises in helping writers promote their books and build their brand.In our chat, we talk about the fundamentals of book marketing—what it is, what it involves, and what writers can do to start building their name and selling books.  If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at ⁠⁠⁠thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠ GET A TOOLSHED TSHIRT ⁠⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ToolshedTshirt⁠⁠⁠ JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY ⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠ page - ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠⁠⁠  ABOUT NICKY AND IRON AGE MARKETING https://nickpecone.com/iron-age-media-marketing/

For our latest community panel, we had the pleasure of welcoming award-winning literary fantasy author Karen Healuer as our special guest.The topic centred all on characters—creating them, getting to know them, and how to grow them. We looked at specific strategies for character creation, discussed ways to understand what our characters want, the role of side characters in stories, and looked at different approaches for growing and developing our fictional people. A big thank you to our community members Joshua Parker and Isa Ottoni too! If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at ⁠thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠ JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY ⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our ⁠Patreon⁠ page - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠  OUR GUESTS Karen Heuler - The Splendid City - ⁠https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/the-splendid-city/⁠ | More about Karen - ⁠https://www.karenheuler.com/ Isa Ottoni - https://www.instagram.com/isa.ottoni.writes/ Joshua Parker - https://ontheedgebusiness.wordpress.com/ RESOURCES https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/what-is-characterization https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/character-plotting https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/character-development

Editing is tough. There's so much to think about, so much to keep an eye out for, the whole process can just be exhausting.  As a writer, it's probably the most important part of the writing process, yet so many of us despair at the thought. When it comes to enlisting the help of editors to make our lives that bit easier, there can be even more hurdles to overcome. Where do we look? How much is a fair price? And what type of editing do we need help with, because there's a bit of a range?  It's for all of these reasons I was excited to take a deep dive into the topic with professional book editor Jennia D'Lima.  In our chat, we explore the different types of editing, how to sharpen your editing skills, where to find trusted editors, and what price is fair to pay, plus much, much more.  If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at ⁠⁠thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠⁠ GET A TOOLSHED TSHIRT ⁠⁠https://tinyurl.com/ToolshedTshirt⁠⁠ JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY ⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ page - ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠⁠  ABOUT JENNIA D'LIMA https://jenniaedits.com/

Religion, belief systems and spirituality are huge topics in the fantasy genre. When we create our fictional worlds, so often they feature gods and goddesses or some kind of faith system. And in many tales, there are characters who are devout or devote themselves to their faith. Recreating these things in our fantasy worlds isn't easy. The religions we know are powerfully compelling and rich in detail and history. And honing in on the thoughts and feelings of someone so devout can be tough to achieve. That's why I'm delighted to welcome to the show Mark Weisman. A former Christian pastor turned Celtic and Norse shaman, Mark's life has been a spiritual journey and his insights into faith and belief and second-to-none. In our chat, we discuss everything from the philosophical side of faith to how we can create these powerful elements in our stories.  If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at ⁠thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com⁠ GET A TOOLSHED TSHIRT ⁠https://tinyurl.com/ToolshedTshirt⁠ JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY ⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our ⁠Patreon⁠ page - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠  ABOUT MARK WEISMAN https://akulfhednar.com/

Daniel Polansky is a Hugo-nominated author and writer of scores of acclaimed books, including his most recent: March's End (Angry Robot). In this jovial interview, Daniel tells us how he wrote March's End, how he crafted its unique world and the gripping conflict between his characters. And we discuss Daniel's writing journey and processes—how he comes up with ideas and how he handles the endless challenges, before finishing with some terrific advice and tips for writers. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com GET A TOOLSHED TSHIRT https://tinyurl.com/ToolshedTshirt JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed  ABOUT DANIEL POLANSKY Website: http://www.danielpolansky.com/ March's End: https://amzn.to/3D9n4VU RESOURCES Try our passive voice converter tool - https://richiebilling.com/passive-voice-checker Download a free worldbuilding template - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding Learn how to create a fantasy map here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/how-to-make-a-fantasy-map

We're thrilled to welcome Laura Bennett as a special guest for our latest community panel discussion on working with literary agents and navigating the world of traditional publishing. With scores of questions asked and informatively answered, you're bound to learn something new about writing query letters, perfecting a blurb and synopsis, how to find a literary agent, and things to look out for. To keep up to date with our live community events, to join a critique group, to get help with beta reads and much more, just click below. JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY (DISCORD) https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed FOLLOW LAURA https://twitter.com/Losbennett ABOUT THE LIVERPOOL LITERARY AGENCY https://www.liverpool-literary.agency/ RESOURCES ON FINDING LITERARY AGENTS Cover letters - https://www.liverpool-literary.agency/news/guide-to-query-letters / https://www.mushens-entertainment.com/blog/the-perfect-cover-letter Publisher's Marketplace: https://www.publishersmarketplace.com/ The Bookseller: https://www.thebookseller.com/home R/Pubtips: https://www.reddit.com/r/PubTips/ Jericho Writers: https://jerichowriters.com/ I AM in Print: https://www.iaminprint.co.uk/

Award-winning literary fantasy author Karen Heuler stops by the Toolshed to talk about pantsing and writing in the literary style. Karen's new book, The Splendid City, published by Angry Robot, offers a fantastic example of the style and approach, and we dive into it to understand how to write literary fantasy fiction. Karen is also a massive pantser and we discuss the benefits of taking this approach and how you can give pantsing a go yourself. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYhttps://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writersLEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITINGTo join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed OUR GUESTSKaren Heuler - The Splendid City - https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/the-splendid-city/ | More about Karen - https://www.karenheuler.com/Sounds and editing by 3D Sound Studio - https://www.youtube.com/@3DSoundStudio Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over in our Discord community, we were thrilled to host our very first panel discussion with the brilliant bestselling author, Stephen Aryan.Also joining me on the panel were three great writers from our community, Isa Ottoni, Joshua Parker and Jonny Altair. Our chat focused all on worldbuilding. We discussed our challenges and headaches, took questions from our community and tackled some of the biggest issues and talking points.Stephen also tells us all about his approach to building worlds and how he crafted the incredible setting for his brilliant new book, The Judas Blossom (out in July).If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYhttps://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writersLEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITINGTo join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ABOUT ANGRY ROBOT BOOKSThis episode is sponsored by the award-winning publisher, Angry Robot Books. You can learn more about them by clicking the link below:https://angryrobotbooks.com/THE JUDAS BLOSSOMhttps://angryrobotbooks.com/books/judas-blossom/OUR GUESTSStephen Aryan - https://stephen-aryan.com/ | Stephen's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZlaVQ9rks4GaN-x3Jkos0ASounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/@3DSoundStudioRESOURCESGet a free worldbuilding template - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuildingLearn how to start worldbuilding - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/how-to-start-worldbuildingCheck out the best books on worldbuilding - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/books-on-worldbuilding Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I welcome three members from our writing community, Isa, Josh and Jonny, for a chat about our community writing groups. Not so long ago, Josh approached me about setting up some writing groups through our Discord community. These small groups of around 5 or 6 people meet regularly and are matched by genre, time zone and how regularly you can meet. We have about 6 or 7 groups running at present and you can join one too. Just click below to join our Discord community and head to #writing-groups. In this episode, we discuss the benefits being in a group has given us. We explain how they work, how to join one, and how to approach editing and taking feedback.JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY (DISCORD)https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writersLEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITINGTo join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed OUR GUESTSJonny Altair - Twitter - @JonnyLeeAltairIsa Ottoni - https://www.instagram.com/isa.ottoni.writes/Josh Parker - Ontheedgebusiness.wordpress.comSounds and editing by 3D Sound Studio (ASMR Specialists) - https://www.youtube.com/c/OdysyxNEW RESOURCESWorldbuilding tips and advice - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuildingSensory language examples - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/sensory-language-examples Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second episode of our mini-series on magic systems, Janina and Lucy from The Fey Fellows Podcast rejoin me for a deeper look at two big examples of magic systems: witchcraft and the systems found in Dungeons and Dragons.We look at their origins and how they've evolved over time to help spark some new ideas. And we also take a look at some key bits of advice for making your own magic system from scratch.If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYTo join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed OUR GUESTSJanina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson - The Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/ / https://anchor.fm/fey-fellows-podcastSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/OdysyxRESOURCESUPDATED - Passive Voice Detector And Converter - https://richiebilling.com/passive-voice-checkerNEW - Wizards In Fantasy, With A Name Generator Tool - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-name-generator/wizard-name-generatorNEW - Tips On Creating A Fantasy Castle - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/fantasy-castle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One thing that I haven't covered an awful lot of, both in blogging form and on the podcast, is magic systems.I'll admit, I'm not a massive user of magic in stories (my current work in progress aside). However, I do love a good magic wielder with Pug from The Riftwar Cycle my all-time favourite. So given this lack of coverage, I decided to tackle things in earnest, starting with a duology on The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed podcast.To help me, I'm joined by Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from The Fey Fellowes Podcast and in this first instalment we talk all about hard and soft magic systems—the two main types that people often discuss.We look at examples of these different magic systems as well as the space in between where writers can find unique and original angles. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYTo join our writing group as well as access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed OUR GUESTSJanina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson - The Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/ / https://anchor.fm/fey-fellows-podcastSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/OdysyxLEARN MOREUPDATED - List Of Fantasy Publishers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/writing-tools/list-of-fantasy-publishersUPDATED - List Of Fantasy Short Story Publishers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/writing-tools/list-of-fantasy-magazinesNEW - How To Create A Literary Theme - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/how-to-create-literary-themeNEW - How To Write Dialogue - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/how-to-write-dialogue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm delighted to share with you an insightful interview with legendary fantasy author, Juliet E. McKennaIn our chat, we discuss Juliet's new book, The Cleaving, which is a retelling of the Arthurian legend from the female perspective.We chat all about character creation, worldbuilding, plotting, theme and the writing process as a whole.Juliet is also a font of knowledge when it comes to the publishing industry and explains here how it's changed in the 20+ years she's been writing. You're bound to learn something new that hopefully will help you on your own writing journey. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYTo join our writing group as well as access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed OUR GUESTSJuliet E. McKenna - https://www.julietemckenna.com/ | Buy The Cleaving - https://amzn.to/3FWVCgdSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome one of the world's top-selling fantasy authors, Amish Tripathi. The BBC has described Amish as "India's JRR Tolkien and Asia's Paulo Coelho" and, for the first time, the books of India's fastest-selling author have been translated into English. We have a very open and honest chat about writing, discussing everything from tackling challenging topics and how to imbue our stories with philosophies and ideas, to creating memorable characters that readers love. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYTo join our writing group as well as access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed OUR GUESTSAmish Tripathi - https://www.authoramish.com/ | The War Of Lanka - https://amzn.to/3TaCyQWSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're absolutely thrilled to bring you a very special interview with bestselling author and former FBI special agent, Joe Navarro.Joe is a world-leading expert on body language. In his career, he conducted over 13,000 interviews and oozes a passion for the subject that you can't help but admire. Body language plays such a huge role in storytelling, from written fiction to that found on-screen. But it can be underused and ill-understood. To help us better our understanding and appreciation, there's no better person to ask than Joe. In this deeply insightful interview, packed with examples, Joe provides vital guidance and advice for writers to help master this form of communication that's arguably more important than dialogue. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYTo join our writing group as well as access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed OUR GUESTSJoe Navarro - https://www.jnforensics.com/ | Buy The Dictionary Of Body Language - https://amzn.to/3Y2VNMZSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I've had a lot of specialists on the podcast in recent months but it occurred to me that I've never really reflected on my own experiences as a lawyer and how that can be applied to writing.When I got to pondering I realised I draw upon these experiences an awful lot. And it was then I began to appreciate just how much scope there is to inject your stories and worlds with conflict.So in this episode, I reflect upon my time working as an accident and injury lawyer. I discuss the impact that injuries can have on a person, from minor ones to major ones, and how you can utilise these ill-used details in your stories, both from a character creation perspective and a worldbuilding one. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYTo join our writing group as well as access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm always keen to chat with book bloggers to get an insight into the latest trends in reading. Fantasy romances, for example, are particularly in demand right now. But as well as that, I'm always keen to chat with reviewers to learn more about their experiences. Above all, I want to know how I, and other writers like you, can forge better partnerships with them.I was delighted then to chat with Blaise Ancona from Under The Radar SFF Books about these very things. Blaise runs both a podcast and a website devoted to highlighting fantasy and sci-fi novels that haven't got the credit they deserve.What began as a lockdown hobby has grown into something quite remarkable. We talk about how it happened and his experiences as a book blogger. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comOUR GUESTSBlaise Ancona of Under The Radar SFF Books - https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/ | https://twitter.com/undertheradarb2Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/OdysyxJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYTo join our writing group as well as access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're delighted to welcome to the Writers' Toolshed bestselling fantasy author, Stephen Aryan.Stephen has published eight novels to date with both Orbit and Angry Robot. This year sees the release of the first in a new trilogy: The Judas Blossom. He's an author at the top of the game and has some wonderful insights to share. We have a grand old natter about writing, editing, the publishing industry, working with agents, and ways to improve your writing.It's a very open and honest interview packed with insights and advice on specific topics ranging from creating memorable characters to building immersive fantasy worlds. You're guaranteed to learn something new.If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comABOUT ANGRY ROBOT BOOKSThis episode is sponsored by the award-winning publisher, Angry Robot Books. You can learn more about them by clicking the link below:https://angryrobotbooks.com/THE JUDAS BLOSSOMhttps://angryrobotbooks.com/books/judas-blossom/OUR GUESTSStephen Aryan - https://stephen-aryan.com/ | Stephen's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZlaVQ9rks4GaN-x3Jkos0ASounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/OdysyxJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYTo join our writing group as well as access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed OTHER RESOURCESHow to write a villainHow to write a battle scene in a bookThe many races found in the fantasy genreWhat is a creative writing class? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final episode of 2023, we welcome Vickie Lan to the Toolshed, host of the Speculative Sandbox Podcast.Vickie is a specialist in deconstructing fantasy tropes. Her show sees her joined by top authors to discuss everything from The Chosen One to beardy wizard mentor figures. In our chat, we cover the epic fantasy quest—its classic features and how you can spin them. We also discuss tropes around resurrections and mentor figures, as well as tropes generally.And Vickie shares some fantastic examples of books and writers who have spun things to create something brilliant and original.If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/online-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSVickie Lan - https://vickielan.com/podcast | https://www.instagram.com/speculativesandboxSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/OdysyxOTHER RESOURCESCharacter PlottingAvoiding Tropes And Cliches When Writing FantasyHow To Write A Battle Scene In A BookMen Writing Women Characters - Things To Watch Out ForExamples Of Sensory LanguageFree Worldbuilding Template And Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Award-winning journalist and Afrofuturist author Denise Crittendon stops by the Toolshed to discuss her debut science fantasy novel, Where It Rains In Color, published by Angry Robot Books on 6th December 2022. Denise tells us about the new book, how she created her unique and incredible worlds and characters, and reveals some of her favourite writing tips. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast BUY WHERE IT RAINS IN COLOR - https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/where-it-rains-in-color/JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSDenise Crittendon - https://denisecrittendon.blog/ | https://twitter.com/denicrittendonSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/OdysyxOTHER RESOURCESThe Best Podcasts About Writing - https://richiebilling.com/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast/best-podcasts-about-writingA Free Name Generator Tool For Knights - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-name-generator/knight-name-generator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're both thrilled and honoured to welcome to the Toolshed for the first time the New York Times Bestselling author Mary E Pearson.Mary is the mastermind behind the Remnant Universe, a fantasy world that she explores through her hugely popular YA novels and novellas.A talented storyteller, Mary tells us all about her latest book, Morrighan, her writing life and her best tips for writers.We cover everything from character creation to worldbuilding so it's a comprehensive chat packed with tips, advice and inspiration for writers at every stage of their careers.If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSMary E. Pearson - https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250868350/morrighan | https://www.marypearson.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/maryepearson/Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the latest episode of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed podcast, I welcome author Nandi Taylor who's achieved remarkable things on Wattpad.As someone who's never used the platform before, I invited Nandi along to tell us how she managed to accrue nearly 2 million reads of her novel, Given.Nandi explains her methods, how Wattpad works, and the opportunities that are out there for other writers.If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast REGISTER FOR THE EMAIL MARKETING CLASShttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/email-marketing-for-authors-tickets-428073548507JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSNandi Taylor - https://twitter.com/nandi_taylorSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this instalment, Janina and Lucy from The Fey Fellowes podcast return for a chat about the age-old tales of Beowulf and King Arthur. We look at the story behind these two tales and how they've endured for so long. We also explore the influence that they've had on the founders of the fantasy genre, such as Tolkien and CS Lewis. And we consider what writers can learn from these classic epics. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast REGISTER FOR THE EMAIL MARKETING CLASShttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/email-marketing-for-authors-tickets-428073548507JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSJanina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson - The Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/ / https://anchor.fm/fey-fellows-podcastSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm joined by science fiction and fantasy literary agent Laura Bennett of the Liverpool Literary Agency. Laura talks us through what it's like to be an agent, telling us about reviewing queries, signing writers, contracts, pitching to publishers and editors, and current market trends (you'll never guess what's making a comeback).If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSLaura Bennett - https://twitter.com/LosbennettThe Liverpool Literary Agency - https://www.liverpool-literary.agency/Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we look at four of the most essential worldbuilding tips, but ones that you may not have heard before. These tips have been learned through hard experiences and some come from the best fantasy authors and worldbuilders currently around (some of whom have been on this show). If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast RESOURCESWorldbuilding Resources - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/worldbuilding-resourcesWorldbuilding Template - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuildingThe Best Books On Worldbuilding - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/books-on-worldbuildingr/Worldbuilding - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/r-worldbuildingJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Enn Burke for a fascinating discussion about sociology and villainous and deviant characters. We discuss how societal influences like upbringing, peer groups, and oppressive policies like the drug war can impact and shape society. And ultimately, how that influences your characters.If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast RESOURCESTips On Writing A Villain - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/thebadguysWhat Is Characterization? - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/what-is-characterizationMichel Foucault - Discipline & PunishThe House I Live In - Film JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSEnn Burke of Ripped From The Headlines - rippedheadlinespod.comSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you like to write fantasy or perhaps historical fiction, then you may have encountered the idea of the medieval knight. They were walking tanks back in their day and held a significant amount of societal influence. But being so powerful, they were also prone to corruptive behaviours, particularly seen in the Hundred Year War between England and France. In this latest episode of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed podcast, our oracle of history, Aidan Mattis of The Lore Lodge podcast, joins me for a chat about knights of the middle ages.We look at how they developed, their roles and lives, the code of chivalry that was designed to help keep them in check, and how writers can apply all of this to their stories. Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesFANTASY WRITING RESOURCESMedieval Armor and Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-armorMedieval Weapons and Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-weaponryWorldbuilding and Religion - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/worldbuilding-religionJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSAidan Mattis - The Lore Lodge Podcast - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/thelorelodgeSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we march forth with our series on creating three-dimensional characters.Political psychologist and YouTuber Abby returns to discuss the psychology of villains and heroes.We dive into the types of psychological traits that villains and heroes have, how they develop those traits and how we can use this psychological insight to create and get into the minds of our protagonists and antagonists. This is just the first episode of a duology on villains and heroes; in an episode to come soon, sociologist Dr Enn Burke returns to look at the sociological considerations behind our villainous and heroic characters. Be sure to subscribe or follow us on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and the like so you don't miss an episode!Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesFANTASY WRITING RESOURCESHow To Write Bad Guys And Villains - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/thebadguysThe Ultimate List Of Worldbuilding Resources - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/worldbuilding-resourcesA Guide To Character Development - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/character-developmentJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSAbby from Political Psych With Abby - https://www.youtube.com/c/PoliticalPsychwithAbby / Latest ep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8_O1reY3qcSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We're both thrilled and honoured to welcome to the Toolshed award-winning author of many incredible Science Fiction and Fantasy books, Adrian Tchaikovsky.In this special episode, we discuss how to come up with ideas and develop them into stories. We dive into worldbuilding, character creation, plotting and theme. And we go beyond the writing process to discuss the publishing industry and working with the likes of editors and agents. It's an episode packed with insights and writing advice and guidance, provided by one of the genre's leaders and a master of the craft. Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesFANTASY WRITING RESOURCESA guide to fantasy armor - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-armorExamples of the 5 senses in writing - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/using-the-5-senses-in-writingDemon name generator tool - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/fantasy-name-generator/demon-name-generator-female-maleDownload a free worldbuilding template - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuildingJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSAdrian Tchaikovsky - https://adriantchaikovsky.com/books.html / https://amzn.to/3z2B2HTSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.