The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

Writing Series, Branding, and Book Launch Secrets from Jami Albright & Sara Rosett Oct 14, 2025

Discover what makes romance and cozy mysteries two of the most successful and reader-loved genres in publishing.

In this episode of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, host Richie Billing sits down with bestselling authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett to uncover what all writers can learn from these powerfully engaging genres.

Jami Albright is an acclaimed romance author known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies and bestselling indie success stories. Sara Rosett is a prolific cozy mystery writer whose books are filled with charm, suspense, and unforgettable characters.

Together, they share a wealth of knowledge on writing craft, book marketing, and building a long-term career as an independent author.

We explore:

How to write a book series that keeps readers coming back — from character arcs to emotional payoffs.
The secrets of romance and cozy mystery writing, including reader expectations, tone, pacing, and genre tropes that build loyal audiences.
Worldbuilding techniques that keep continuity consistent across multiple novels.
How to plan a successful book launch and make your release stand out in a crowded market.
Developing an author brand that feels authentic and memorable.
Book marketing strategies that actually work — from mailing lists and newsletters to podcast appearances, social media engagement, and creative promotions.
Writing productivity and mindset tips to help authors finish series and sustain momentum.

This conversation goes beyond genre to deliver universal lessons for storytellers. Whether you write fantasy, science fiction, romance, or thrillers, you’ll gain actionable advice on how to design stories that hook readers, market your books effectively, and build a lasting author career.

Key takeaways:

Learn how romance and cozy mystery writers use structure, reader satisfaction, and emotional beats to keep fans invested.
Understand why character-driven plots and series planning can transform your writing into a sustainable career.
Discover how to create a strong author identity that readers instantly recognise.
Find out how Jami and Sara approach marketing, launches, and branding from a professional and personal perspective.

If you’ve ever wondered how to write a romance novel, how to start a cozy mystery series, or simply how to build a loyal readership, this episode is packed with real-world experience and practical strategies.

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

ABOUT JAMI ALBRIGHT

https://wishidknownforwriters.com/

https://www.jamialbright.com/

ABOUT SARA ROSETT

https://www.sararosett.com/

GET IN TOUCH

thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here

And learn more about⁠⁠⁠ writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here

Writing The Magic With Lucy Holland and Dan Coxon Sep 14, 2025

I'm delighted to be joined by bestselling fantasy authors Lucy Holland and Dan Coxon for an all-encompassing discussion on writing fantasy.

Dan has curated and co-edited a brilliant new craft book called Writing The Magic, published by Dead Ink, and Lucy has contributed an excellent chapter on Ursula Le Guin's magic system in Earthsea.

We delve into worldbuilding, creating magic systems, explore Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea series and Michael Moorcock's stories, and discuss why we all love the genre so much.

You're bound to learn something new!

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

BUY WRITING THE MAGIC

https://deadinkbooks.com/product/writing-the-magic/

ABOUT DAN COXON

https://www.dancoxon.com/⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/dan.coxon.author/

ABOUT LUCY HOLLAND

https://lucyhounsom.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/silvanhistorian/

GET IN TOUCH

thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠⁠ here

And learn more about⁠⁠ writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here

Linguistics and Historical Fiction with Professor Charles Li Aug 14, 2025

In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Professor Charles Li, author of the brilliant new historical fiction novel, Lord Guan.

We chat all about Professor Li's expertise in languages and linguistics, and I pick his brain for worldbuilding tips and advice to help you craft your own languages for your fantasy stories.

We also dive into Chinese history and culture, looking specifically at the life story of Lord Guan and the legend surrounding him, before diving into the writing and researching of the book.

And at 90 years old, Professor Li shares lots of brilliant pieces of wisdom we can all benefit and learn from.

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

ABOUT PROFESSOR CHARLES LI

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lord-Guan/Charles-N-Li/9781682452325

https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/authors/Charles-N-Li/185995596

GET IN TOUCH

thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠⁠ here

And learn more about⁠⁠ writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ here

Writing Fantasy With Jim C. Hines Jul 14, 2025

I'm thrilled to be joined by bestselling fantasy author, Jim C. Hines for an extended interview about his two new books, Kitemaster and the relaunch of the beloved classic, Goblin Quest.

Jim opens up about his writing journey, what it's like to be a writer—even down to the earnings—and shares some of his best advice for writing short stories, crafting lovable characters, and writing stories that you're passionate about.

It's fantastic to learn from such a seasoned and decorated pro. I learned an awful lot, and I hope you do too!

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠ ⁠⁠

ABOUT JIM C. HINES

https://www.jimchines.com/

Goblin Quest (direct from author) - https://payhip.com/b/XBK0D

Kitemaster - https://bookshop.org/p/books/kitemaster/21588658?aid=25009

GET IN TOUCH

thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

⁠⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠⁠ here

And learn more about⁠ writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠⁠ here

Writing Fresh Fantasy With Kel Kade Jun 14, 2025

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 TOOLS

https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ⁠⁠

ABOUT KEL CADE

https://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 TOUCH

thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠ here
And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠ here

Theme, Premise and Writing YA In 2025 with Sarah Arthur May 14, 2025

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 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 CASTLE

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213618161-once-a-castle

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707441/once-a-castle-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

Writing About Injuries and Wounds Apr 10, 2025

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-edition

GET BOOKS AND CLASSES ON WRITING FANTASY

⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠⁠

ABOUT HB RENEAU

https://hbreneau.com/

GET IN TOUCH

⁠⁠⁠⁠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/⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th⁠

How To Get A Literary Agent Mar 14, 2025

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 FANTASY

https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠

ABOUT BRIANNA SUMMERS

https://www.instagram.com/brianna.summers.338/

https://hollowayliterary.com/

https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/

GET IN TOUCH

⁠⁠⁠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/⁠⁠

⁠⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th

How To Write Short Stories With Dan Coxon Feb 14, 2025

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 COMMUNITY

⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠

ABOUT DAN COXON

https://www.dancoxon.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dan.coxon.author/

GET DAN'S BOOKS

Writing The Uncanny -https://deadinkbooks.com/product/writing-the-uncanny/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034PDEYM

GET IN TOUCH

⁠⁠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/⁠

⁠https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th⁠

How To Write Grimdark With Anna Smith Spark Jan 14, 2025

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/⁠

The Best Writing Tips Of 2024 - Short Stories, Ian Rankin and more Dec 14, 2024

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/

https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th

How To Make An Audiobook Nov 14, 2024

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/

Ciel Pierlot On Writing Fantasy And Queer Fiction Oct 14, 2024

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/

Special Episode: Stephen Aryan On Writing Novellas And Self Publishing Sep 28, 2024

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/3YlqP65

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/

The Writing Process With Kate J. Armstrong Sep 14, 2024

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: On Writing And Born Of Blood And Ash Aug 14, 2024

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

How To Write Young Adult Fiction With Sarah Arthur Jul 14, 2024

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

How To Sell Books On Amazon With Kindlepreneur's Dave Chesson Jun 14, 2024

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

Can We Change The World With Our Writing? An Interview With Manda Scott May 28, 2024

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

The Writing Process With Gabriela Houston May 13, 2024

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

The Writing Process With Salinee Goldenberg Apr 28, 2024

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

How To Write A Children's Fantasy Book Apr 14, 2024

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.

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

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

How To Write Romantasy Mar 28, 2024

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 Community⁠Head here to join us on Discord⁠ - ⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠

Learn More About Our Sponsor, Fictionary

⁠https://fictionary.co/fwt⁠

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

How To Make Fantasy Maps | An Interview With Inkarnate's Finest, Dread Maps and Tyndall Doodle Mar 14, 2024

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

Learn More About Our Sponsor, Fictionary

https://fictionary.co/fwt

Join The Community!

Head here to join us on Discord - https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers

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

Halloween Special - Making Monsters Oct 28, 2023

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

Indie Publishing Success With Michael R Miller Oct 14, 2023

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/

Audiobooks: How To Get Started Sep 27, 2023

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 Advice You Need To Hear Sep 13, 2023

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/

[Panel] Creating And Developing Characters With Karen Heuler Aug 27, 2023

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

Essential Advice On Editing Aug 13, 2023

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 And Belief Systems With Norse Shaman, Mark Weisman Jul 27, 2023

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/

The Writing Process With Daniel Polansky Jul 13, 2023

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

[Panel] Query Letters, Writing A Synopsis, And Finding A Literary Agent Jun 27, 2023

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/

Writing Literary Fantasy And Pantsing With Karen Heuler Jun 13, 2023

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.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/

Sounds and editing by 3D Sound Studio - https://www.youtube.com/@3DSoundStudio

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Worldbuilding 101 With Stephen Aryan May 27, 2023

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.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

ABOUT ANGRY ROBOT BOOKS

This 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 BLOSSOM

https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/judas-blossom/

OUR GUESTS

Stephen Aryan - https://stephen-aryan.com/ | Stephen's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZlaVQ9rks4GaN-x3Jkos0A

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/@3DSoundStudio

RESOURCES

Get a free worldbuilding template - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding

Learn how to start worldbuilding - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/how-to-start-worldbuilding

Check out the best books on worldbuilding - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/books-on-worldbuilding

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Power Of Writing Groups May 13, 2023

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-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

Jonny Altair - Twitter - @JonnyLeeAltair

Isa Ottoni - https://www.instagram.com/isa.ottoni.writes/

Josh Parker - Ontheedgebusiness.wordpress.com

Sounds and editing by 3D Sound Studio (ASMR Specialists) - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

NEW RESOURCES

Worldbuilding tips and advice - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding

Sensory language examples - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/sensory-language-examples

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Create Your Own Magic System Apr 27, 2023

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.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

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson - The Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/ / https://anchor.fm/fey-fellows-podcast

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

RESOURCES

UPDATED - Passive Voice Detector And Converter - https://richiebilling.com/passive-voice-checker

NEW - Wizards In Fantasy, With A Name Generator Tool - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-name-generator/wizard-name-generator

NEW - Tips On Creating A Fantasy Castle - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/fantasy-castle

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hard And Soft Magic Systems Apr 13, 2023

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.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

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson - The Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/ / https://anchor.fm/fey-fellows-podcast

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

LEARN MORE

UPDATED - List Of Fantasy Publishers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/writing-tools/list-of-fantasy-publishers

UPDATED - List Of Fantasy Short Story Publishers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/writing-tools/list-of-fantasy-magazines

NEW - How To Create A Literary Theme - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/how-to-create-literary-theme

NEW - How To Write Dialogue - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/how-to-write-dialogue

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Writing Process With Juliet E. McKenna Mar 27, 2023

I'm delighted to share with you an insightful interview with legendary fantasy author, Juliet E. McKenna

In 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.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

Juliet E. McKenna - https://www.julietemckenna.com/ | Buy The Cleaving - https://amzn.to/3FWVCgd

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Writing Process With Amish Tripathi Mar 14, 2023

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.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

Amish Tripathi - https://www.authoramish.com/ | The War Of Lanka - https://amzn.to/3TaCyQW

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mastering Body Language With Former FBI Agent Joe Navarro Feb 28, 2023

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.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

Joe Navarro - https://www.jnforensics.com/ | Buy The Dictionary Of Body Language - https://amzn.to/3Y2VNMZ

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

UPDATED - How To Write A Flashback Scene - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/how-to-write-a-flashback

NEW - Books On Worldbuilding - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/books-on-worldbuilding

NEW - How To Plot A Story - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/how-to-plot-a-story

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Lawyer's Perspective On Writing Fantasy Feb 14, 2023

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.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

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An Honest Chat About Book Reviews Jan 28, 2023

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.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

Blaise Ancona of Under The Radar SFF Books - https://undertheradarsffbooks.com/ | https://twitter.com/undertheradarb2

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Writing Process With Stephen Aryan Jan 14, 2023

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.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

ABOUT ANGRY ROBOT BOOKS

This 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 BLOSSOM

https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/judas-blossom/

OUR GUESTS

Stephen Aryan - https://stephen-aryan.com/ | Stephen's YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZlaVQ9rks4GaN-x3Jkos0A

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

OTHER RESOURCES

How to write a villain

How to write a battle scene in a book

The many races found in the fantasy genre

What is a creative writing class?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Deconstructing Fantasy Tropes Dec 28, 2022

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.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

Vickie Lan - https://vickielan.com/podcast | https://www.instagram.com/speculativesandbox

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

OTHER RESOURCES

Character Plotting

Avoiding Tropes And Cliches When Writing Fantasy

How To Write A Battle Scene In A Book

Men Writing Women Characters - Things To Watch Out For

Examples Of Sensory Language

Free Worldbuilding Template And Guide

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Writing Process With Denise Crittendon Dec 14, 2022

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.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

Denise Crittendon - https://denisecrittendon.blog/ | https://twitter.com/denicrittendon

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

OTHER RESOURCES

The Best Podcasts About Writing - https://richiebilling.com/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast/best-podcasts-about-writing

A 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.

The Writing Process With Mary E. Pearson Nov 27, 2022

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.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

Mary 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.

The Power Of Wattpad Nov 15, 2022

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.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

Nandi Taylor - https://twitter.com/nandi_taylor

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Origins Of The Fantasy Genre - Beowulf And King Arthur Oct 28, 2022

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.com

To 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-classes

Learn more about the fantasy writing podcast here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

REGISTER FOR THE EMAIL MARKETING CLASS

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/email-marketing-for-authors-tickets-428073548507

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-group

OUR GUESTS

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson - The Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/ / https://anchor.fm/fey-fellows-podcast

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Lowdown On Literary Agents With Laura Bennett Sep 27, 2022

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.com

To 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-classes

Learn more about the fantasy writing podcast here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-group

OUR GUESTS

Laura Bennett - https://twitter.com/Losbennett

The 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.

Think You Know Worldbuilding? Here Are 4 Game-Changing Tips Sep 13, 2022

Ready to take your worldbuilding to the next level? Discover four powerful techniques used by today’s top fantasy authors to create worlds that feel alive.

In this episode of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, Richie Billing shares four essential worldbuilding tips that go far beyond the basics. These lessons come from years of trial and error, personal experience, and insights from some of the best fantasy writers and worldbuilders in the industry — many of whom have appeared on this very podcast.

Worldbuilding can be both exhilarating and overwhelming. You’ve got maps, histories, religions, languages, and politics to think about — but which details truly matter? Richie distils the chaos into four clear, actionable principles that help writers focus on what really brings a fictional world to life.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The most overlooked rule of effective worldbuilding — and how it transforms your storytelling.
How to balance imagination and realism so readers never feel lost.
Why purposeful detail beats encyclopaedic exposition every time.
How to connect your setting directly to plot and character motivation.
Ways to use sensory description and emotion to make worlds feel tangible and lived in.
Why consistency is the secret weapon of great fantasy settings.

Richie also reveals his favourite fantasy worldbuilding resources, including templates, reading lists, and examples of how top authors structure their fictional worlds. You’ll find links to free tools, worldbuilding exercises, and inspiration from across the fantasy community.

Key takeaways:

Learn 4 essential worldbuilding tips that save time and strengthen your story.
Understand how to weave culture, conflict, and geography seamlessly into your plot.
Discover what separates a good fantasy world from an unforgettable one.
Get fantasy writing advice that helps you plan, write, and refine more confidently.

Whether you’re creating a sprawling epic world or a single village setting, this episode will give you the tools and mindset to make your fictional universe feel authentic and compelling.

RESOURCES

Download A Free Worldbuilding Template - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠

Sociology And Villains Aug 28, 2022

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.com

To 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-classes

Learn more about the fantasy writing podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

Tips On Writing A Villain - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/thebadguys

What Is Characterization? - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/what-is-characterization

Michel Foucault - Discipline & Punish

The House I Live In - Film

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-group

OUR GUESTS

Enn Burke of Ripped From The Headlines - rippedheadlinespod.com

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medieval Knights And Fantasy Aug 13, 2022

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.com

To 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-classes

FANTASY WRITING RESOURCES

Medieval Armor and Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-armor
Medieval Weapons and Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-weaponry
Worldbuilding and Religion - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/worldbuilding-religion

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Aidan Mattis - The Lore Lodge Podcast - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/thelorelodge

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Psychology Of Villains And Heroes Jul 27, 2022

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.com

To 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-classes

FANTASY WRITING RESOURCES

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Abby from Political Psych With Abby - https://www.youtube.com/c/PoliticalPsychwithAbby / Latest ep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8_O1reY3qc

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Writing Process With Adrian Tchaikovsky Jul 13, 2022

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.com

To 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-classes

FANTASY WRITING RESOURCES

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Adrian Tchaikovsky - https://adriantchaikovsky.com/books.html / https://amzn.to/3z2B2HT

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kickstarter For Writers And Insights From Publishers On Submissions Jun 27, 2022

In this episode, we reveal publishing insights and tips on making successful submissions for short stories and novels.

We also take a look at the methods people have used to secure funding for their book projects on Kickstarter.

I welcome Willow Becker and Christi Nogel from Weird Little Worlds Press who have had tremendous success with Kickstarter—their last campaign hit its fundraising target in just 36 hours!

We discuss fantasy author Brandon Sanderson's Kickstarter campaign too, and we go over some do's and don'ts when it comes to submitting stories to publishers.

Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

FANTASY WRITING RESOURCES

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Willow Becker and Christi Nogel - Weird Little Worlds Press - https://weirdlittleworlds.com/

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medieval Entertainment Jun 14, 2022

Entertainment in the Middle Ages was very important in many people's lives. From lords to peasants, everyone needed a bit of downtime and fun and, as we'll hear, not much has changed in the hundreds of years that's passed since.

We'll take a look at medieval entertainers like bards and troubadours. We'll look at banquets, games, alcohol and taverns, other pastimes and hobbies like fishing, and other types of medieval entertainment.

Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

FANTASY WRITING RESOURCES

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Aidan Mattis - The Lore Lodge Podcast - YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/thelorelodge

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ghost Stories And The Fantasy Genre May 27, 2022

In this episode, Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from The Fey Fellows podcast return for a chat about ghost stories.

We discuss what ghost stories are, their core features and how to write them. We also look at a few of our favourite examples and explore the influence they've had on the fantasy genre.

Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

FANTASY WRITING RESOURCES

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson - The Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/ / https://anchor.fm/fey-fellows-podcast

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jobs In Fantasy May 13, 2022

In this episode, we take a look at the jobs and occupations we often see in the fantasy genre.

From bards to blacksmiths, a lot of these roles take inspiration from those carried out by people in the medieval period.

So to enlighten us on the subject, history whizz Aidan Mattis from The Lore Lodge podcast joins me for an in-depth chat on the subject.

Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

RESOURCES

The Life Of A Medival Lord - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-life-of-the-medieval-lord

The Pesky Peasantry Of The Middle Ages - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/lives-of-medieval-peasants

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Aidan Mattis - The Lore Lodge - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodge

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Moral Psychology Of Characters Apr 27, 2022

In part three of our series on creating lifelike characters, we welcome political psychologist, Abby, back to the Toolshed for a discussion on moral psychology.

We discuss human morality, specifically looking at what makes people tick, how people justify their actions, and how we decide what’s right and what’s wrong.

If you're looking for writing advice on creating villains of all types—from the morally grey to the downright evil—as well as heroes driven by moral motivations, then this episode is for you.

Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

RESOURCES

A guide to character development - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/character-development

How to carry out character plotting - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/character-plotting

What is characterization? - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/what-is-characterization

Fantasy name generator - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/fantasy-name-generator

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Abby from Political Psych With Abby - https://www.youtube.com/c/PoliticalPsychwithAbby / Latest ep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8_O1reY3qc

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dungeons And Dragons And The Fantasy Genre Apr 13, 2022

In this episode, we discuss the incredible influence that Dungeons and Dragons (DnD) has had on the fantasy genre. From inspiring people to write their own stories to influencing and developing fantasy tropes, DnD's contribution cannot be denied. And Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from The Fey Fellows podcast are here to explain it all.

Has Dungeons and Dragons inspired your own writing? If so, write in and tell us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com.

HOW TO EDIT A NOVEL WORKSHOP

Sign up for free here - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-to-edit-a-novel-a-free-creative-writing-workshop-tickets-317623208567

To 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-classes

Learn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

How To Avoid Fantasy Tropes and Cliches - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/how-to-avoid-fantasy-tropes-cliches

Overused Cliches In Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/poll-overused-character-tropes-in-fantasy

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from the Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Weapons In Fantasy Mar 27, 2022

You can find all manner of weapons in the fantasy genre. From giant swords to magical axes, writers have conjured all manner of deadly devices over the years. In this episode, we take a look at the inspiration for fantasy weapons, exploring their medieval roots.

We discuss the practicalities of using weapons--how heavy are swords and how to pierce plate armour--to the reasons why they were designed. You'll be sure to find lots of inspiration for your own writing along the way.

If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

RESOURCES

Fantasy Weapons Guide - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-weaponry

Fantasy Armor Guide - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-armor

Check out our fantasy name generator - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/fantasy-name-generator

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-group

OUR GUESTS

Aidan Mattis of The Lore Lodge Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodge

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sociology And Creating Characters Feb 28, 2022

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome sociologist and fantasy book lover Dr Enn Burke to the Toolshed to teach us how sociological factors can help shape our characters.

It's the ideal episode to learn more about how to create fictional characters that almost feel as alive as real people.

Sociology plays a huge part in how we're made up. It relates to everything ranging from our childhood, like how we were raised and the friends we chose to hang around with, all the way to whether or not we're religious, and what job we do.

If you're a writer, you're bound to learn something new to help you create your fictional characters.

You can also find the latest calls for submissions, an update on my lists of fantasy publishers, and our community announcements.

If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

Learn more about the fantasy writing podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

View the list of fantasy novel publishers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/writing-tools/list-of-fantasy-publishers

What Is Characterization? - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/what-is-characterization

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-group

OUR GUESTS

Enn Burke of Ripped From The Headlines - rippedheadlinespod.com

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medieval Food and Fairytales Feb 13, 2022

In this edition, I'm joined by our oracle of medieval history, Aidan Mattis, for a chat about the food and cuisines of the Middle Ages—something I think is definitely skipped by writers.

Folklorists Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson also join me for an in-depth chat about fairytales—what are they, what can we learn from them, and how to write your own.

You can also find a bunch of calls for submissions and all of the latest writing news, such as the takeover of Smashwords by Draft2Digital.

If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

Learn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

The Life Of A Medieval Lord - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-life-of-the-medieval-lord

The Knight Of Chivalry - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/knight-of-chivalry

How To Make A Fantasy Map - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/how-to-make-a-fantasy-map

The Different Subgenres Of Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-many-sub-genres-of-fantasy

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from the Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/

Aidan Mattis from The Lore Lodge - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodge

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Psychology Of Characters, How To Create Suspense, and Some Good and Bad News For Writers Jan 28, 2022

In this episode, we dive into the process of creating lifelike characters by examining psychology—what makes people who they are? What drives them and why? Political psychologist and YouTuber Abby explains all in our illuminating discussion that's bound to inspire some ideas for your fantasy characters.

I also share a very simple yet very effective method of creating suspense. And there are some interesting calls for submissions, as well as a mixed bag of news, but things I think you need to know about.

If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

To 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-classes

Learn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

Tools Writes Can Use To Build Suspense - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/tools-writers-can-use-to-build-suspense

A Guide To Writing Prose - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/what-is-prose-writing

Fantasy Names Generator - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/fantasy-name-generator/human

Foreshadowing In A Story - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/what-is-foreshadowing-in-a-story-definition-examples

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Abby from Political Psych With Abby - https://www.youtube.com/c/PoliticalPsychwithAbby

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evolution and Worldbuilding, Using Short Stories, and Greek Mythology Jan 13, 2022

In our first episode of the new year, I explore evolution and worldbuilding in the fantasy genre with author and YouTuber, Rachel Emma Shaw. We look at how playing around with this particular element can lead to original and exciting ideas.

Lucy Atkinson and Janina Arndt from The Fey Fellowes Podcast also join me for a chat about Greek Mythology and how writers can find inspiration in exploring it.

And I share the results of my little short story experiment which you can try too.

As always, you can listen on every major streaming platform. And if you listen on Spotify, I'd be ever so grateful if you could kindly give the show a rating. It's a new feature and your honest opinion would mean a lot.

Write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon and get fantasy writing books and writing classes, workshops and courses - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed

Learn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

How To Build A Fantasy World - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/natural-worldbuilding-guide

WOMBO Dream - https://www.wombo.art/

A Guide To StoryOrigin - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/5-reasons-why-every-writer-should-use-storyorigin

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from the Fey Fellows podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3fZb25t8f4KdW6x7y5zv6v?si=e74e177759d3422e

Rachel Emma Shaw - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodge

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medieval Warfare, Folklore and AI Book Covers Dec 14, 2021

In this episode, we're donning our helmets and hefting our axes and shields before diving headfirst into battle with a look at medieval warfare. We'll tell you everything you need to know about making your fantasy battles as realistic and gritty as possible, as well as giving you a few neat ideas to use.

We're also looking at folklore, one of the main inspirations for the fantasy genre. We share our favourite folkloric tales and discuss how you can use these as inspiration for your own fantasy stories and worldbuilding.

And we've also got the latest calls for submissions, community announcements, and some very interesting news on creating book covers using artificial intelligence.

Write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon and get fantasy writing books and writing classes, workshops and courses - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed

Learn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

A Guide To Writing Fight and Battle Scenes - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/how-to-write-fight-scenes

Fantasy Writing Classes - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classes

WOMBO Dream - https://www.wombo.art/

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from the Fey Fellows podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3fZb25t8f4KdW6x7y5zv6v?si=e74e177759d3422e

Aidan Mattis from The Lore Lodge podcast - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodge

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Learn more about Richie Billing - http://richiebilling.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Magic And Science, Pitching To Book Reviewers, And Medieval Life Nov 28, 2021

In this episode, we take a look at the interesting relationship between magic systems and science with fantasy author Rachel Emma Shaw.

We also take a look at day to day life in the medieval period to provide you with ideas and inspiration for your worldbuilding and fantasy stories.

And I reveal the early results from my Book Blogger Survey, essential listening for anyone pitching to book reviewers and book bloggers right now.

Plus, I also have some news from the world of writing and our community announcements.

The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed is a bi-weekly fantasy writing podcast with new episodes out on 14th and 28th of each month. Our purpose is to create a show that’s as helpful, interesting and entertaining for fantasy writers as possible.

Write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon and get fantasy writing books and writing courses - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed

Learn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

The Lives Of Medieval Lords - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-life-of-the-medieval-lord

The Pesky Peasantry Of The Middle Ages - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/lives-of-medieval-peasants

The Lives Of Medieval Women - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/maidens-wives-and-widows-the-lives-of-women-during-the-middle-ages

The Book Blogger Survey - https://forms.gle/TC59tvLFEMXTJT776

Article - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/27/a-dirty-secret-you-can-only-be-a-writer-if-you-can-afford-it

List of 250+ Book Reviewers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/writing-tools/list-of-book-reviewers

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Aidan Mattis from The Lore Lodge podcast - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodge

Rachel Emma Shaw from the Science In Fantasy YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelEmmaShaw

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Archery, Science In Fantasy, and Norse Mythology Nov 14, 2021

In this episode, we take a look at worldbuilding, specifically the scientific side, and how writers can make use of the likes of biology to create unique and interesting worlds.

We also take an in-depth look at archery, particularly from the medieval period.

And we also explore Norse mythology, something that's grown in popularity over recent years.

We also share the latest calls for submissions and our community announcements.

The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed is a bi-weekly fantasy writing podcast with new episodes out on 14th and 28th of each month. Our purpose is to create a show that’s as helpful, interesting and entertaining for fantasy writers as possible.

Write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

Support us on Patreon and get fantasy writing books and writing courses - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed

Learn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

Natural Worldbuilding - Richie's comprehensive guide to building a fantasy world - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/natural-worldbuilding-guide

Fantasy and Archery - The Ultimate Guide - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/archery-and-fantasy-a-complete-guide

JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY

Join our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from the Fey Fellows podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3fZb25t8f4KdW6x7y5zv6v?si=e74e177759d3422e

Aidan Mattis from The Lore Lodge podcast - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodge

Rachel Emma Shaw from the Science In Fantasy YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/c/RachelEmmaShaw and check out Rachel's latest book, Sacara Nights - https://amzn.to/3F9eLIJ

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Learn more about Richie Billing - http://richiebilling.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Edit A Novel, Medieval Diseases, and Mythology and Folklore Oct 28, 2021

In this episode, we look at how to edit a novel, the mythologies and folkloric tales that have inspired the fantasy genre, and we take a look at the diseases that ravaged the medieval era.

We also share the latest calls for submissions and our community announcements.

The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed is a bi-weekly podcast with new episodes out on 14th and 28th of each month. Our purpose is to create a show that’s as helpful, interesting and entertaining for fantasy writers as possible.

Write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com

Please consider supporting us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed

Learn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

RESOURCES

[Download] - Step by step guide on how to edit a novel - https://bit.ly/how-to-edit-a-novel

Killer Diseases Of The Middle Ages - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/killer-diseases-of-the-middle-ages

How To Edit A Novel - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/how-to-edit-novel

JOIN OUR WRITING GROUP

Join our community - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed

OUR GUESTS

Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from the Fey Fellows podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/3fZb25t8f4KdW6x7y5zv6v?si=e74e177759d3422e

Aidan Mattis from The Lore Lodge podcast - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodge

Sounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx

Learn more about Richie Billing - http://richiebilling.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Marketing With Creator Of Story Origin, Evan Gow Aug 09, 2021

Today, we're delighted to welcome Evan Gow to the Writer's Toolshed for a very special chat about Story Origin, the book marketing platform Evan's created by hand.

Story Origin brings together a host of different book marketing services, such as group promotions, newsletter swaps, advanced reader copy distribution and book reviews.

Evan has built this all with user feedback and continues to add new features, as well as develop existing ones. He and Richie chat about the creation process, Story Origin's key features, and Richie explains how he utilises its features to grow his mailing list each month.

To learn more about Story Origin head here - https://storyoriginapp.com/

Or to read Richie's guide on 5 reasons why every writer should use Story Origin, go here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/5-reasons-why-every-writer-should-use-story-origin

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Submitting Short Fiction Jul 18, 2021

In this mini-episode, JM gives his editor’s perspective on submissions and short stories in particular.

He provides some quick tips on manuscript format and cover letters, and then he identifies some of the recurring issues he sees in the short fiction submissions he’s been receiving, namely point of view, character arcs, and length.

JM’s tips on short stories: https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/2021/05/30/on-writing-short-fiction-writing-in-short/

Tips on cover letters (for short fiction): https://www.janefriedman.com/perfect-cover-letter-advice-lit-mag-editor/

Richie's tips on writing cover letters: https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/a-quick-guide-to-cover-letters

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Name Fantasy Characters And Places Jun 22, 2021

If you've ever struggled with coming up with names for your fantasy characters, fantasy worlds and towns and cities within those worlds, you can find some answers here. JM Williams and Richie Billing discuss the do's and don't's of names in the fantasy genre, covering everything from overly complex names (including them damn apostrophes!) to good principles and guidelines to keep in mind.

As always, get in touch with us by heading here to share your questions, comments and curses - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast

If you'd like to check out Richie's very own fantasy name generator, head here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/fantasy-name-generator

And to read Richie's guide on creating names in the fantasy genre, click here - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/creating-names-for-fantasy-characters

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Marketing Post-Lockdown with Alex Greenwood Jun 06, 2021

In this episode, Richie is joined by PR guru and award-winning writer, Alex Greenwood, who shares some fantastic marketing tips that writers can utilise as lockdown begins to ease. From book launches to signings, we cover it all.

As well as chatting about marketing, Alex also shares lots of great insights on writing mystery and thriller novels, two genres quite similar to the fantasy genre in some respects.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Links:

Alex Greenwood's website > http://alexgpr.com/

PR After Hours podcast > https://prafterhours.com/

Mysterious Goings On podcast > https://mgopod.com/

Learn more about the John Pilate Mysteries > https://www.amazon.com/gp/kindle/series/B07PQM8HVM/

Richie's guide to growing a mailing list > https://richiebilling.com/book-marketing/fast-way-to-grow-your-mailing-list

Of Metal and Magic Publishing > https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Build A Fantasy World Apr 24, 2021

Richie welcomes fantasy author and real-life world builder, John Tarrow, to the Writer’s Toolshed.

Over the past 25 years, John has converted his 3 bedroom home into a magical fantasy world. We chat about the building of Talliston House and Gardens, how it’s influenced John’s worldbuilding approach when it comes to writing, and John shares his top tips on how to build a fantasy world—in reality and on the page.

Find out more about Talliston House > https://www.talliston.com/

Learn more about John > https://www.tarrow.co.uk/

Check out Richie’s latest worldbuilding guide, Natural Worldbuilding > https://richiebilling.com/welcome/thewriterstoolshed/fantasy-writing/natural-worldbuilding-guide

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tips On Getting Stories Published Mar 10, 2021

In this episode, JM reflects on the first few months in his role as editor-in-chief for Of Metal and Magic Publishing. He discusses upcoming releases, including Pariah's Lament and Call of the Guardian, and provides some crucial tips and advice on when it comes to submitting stories to publishers.

As always, get in touch if you have a question or query by clicking here.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Write Fight and Battle Scenes Feb 15, 2021

In this episode, we're picking up on fantasy weapons and armour and exploring how writers can employ them in fight and battle scenes. We cover some good rules to follow when writing fight scenes, tips on making the most of battle scenes, ways to maintain clarity amid the chaos, and the importance of doing your research.

For more tips and advice on writing battle scenes, check out the guides we referred to in the episode below:

+ How to write fight scenes > https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/how-to-write-fight-scenes/

+ A guide to sieges for fantasy writers > https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-siege

To join our virtual party on Saturday 20th February to celebrate the launch of Call of the Guardian, head here > https://fb.me/e/52VuZYect

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

*Audio Attribution Notes*

All audio effect used with open attribution license.

Sound Effects from Freesound.org:

“Ambient battle noise: swords and shouting”, by Pfranzen, https://freesound.org/s/192072/

“Unsheathing the sword”, by Ihitokage, https://freesound.org/s/395364/

“Laugh 1 pun dad joke”, by Jayfrosting, https://freesound.org/s/333403/

Music from YouTube Audio Library:

“Chariots of War”, by Aakash Gandhi

“Yonder Hill and Dale”, by Aaron Kenny

“Lord Of The Dawn”, by Jesse Gallagher

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Create Conflict Feb 06, 2021

In this episode, Richie is talking all things conflict. What is conflict? Why is it important? How do you create it? And he discusses its close relationship with characterisation.

To hammer home everything covered, we're finishing up with a writing exercise. And we're turning it into a competition.

Submit your conflict-filled short stories to us and the winner will be published on the Of Metal and Magic Publishing website, plus they'll receive a bunch of free books! Closing date is Saturday 26th February, and submissions should be emailed to ofmetalandmagicpublishing@gmail.com. We'll announce the winner next month.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Giveaways

OMAM's LOTR giveaway - https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/2021/01/06/announcing-our-first-giveaway/

Richie Billing's sword & sorcery giveaway - https://richiebilling.com/free-book-competitions-contests-and-giveaways/

Links

Richie's guide on conflict - https://richiebilling.com/2018/09/03/plotting-the-crucible/

Background music and sound effects by BBilling

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fantasy Armor and Weapons Jan 16, 2021

In our first episode of 2021, we're diving into fantasy armor and fantasy weapons. We examine why the medieval period is so popular in the fantasy genre. And we look at what that means for writers when it comes to including the likes of swords, bows and plated armor in stories.

We explore medieval history, looking at the development of weapons and armor, discussing insights into their crafting, use and practical applications throughout time. And we discuss a few weapons that you may not have heard of before.

As always, get in touch with your comments, queries and curses by clicking here (https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/get-in-touch/).

To enter our current competitions, just enter your details here (https://mailchi.mp/555959f846a1/join-the-community)

And to check out Richie's guides mentioned in the episode, just click below:

A Fantasy Writer's Guide to Armor (https://richiebilling.com/2017/09/19/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-armor/)

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Fantasy and Archery - A Guide (https://richiebilling.com/archery-and-fantasy-a-complete-guide/)

A Fantasy Writer's Guide to Medieval Weapons (https://richiebilling.com/2020/09/16/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-weaponry/)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas Special Dec 24, 2020

In our first-ever Christmas special, we welcome two guests to the Writers' Toolshed - EA Robins and Douglas WT Smith, two fantastic writers who make up the rest of the Of Metal and Magic Publishing Team.

We reflect on what's been a challenging year for a lot of us, as well as our writing journeys up to this point. And we take a look at what 2021 holds, including the release of JM William's novel, Call Of The Guardian, and Richie Billing's debut epic fantasy, Pariah's Lament.

We also discuss opportunities that OMAM Publishing will have for writers like you!

As always, if you have any questions, queries or curses, please head over to ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/podcast.

And to get some free fantasy books to keep you entertained during the cold winter months, just head here > https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/free-reads/

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author and Book Marketing Dec 14, 2020

In this episode, we're wading into the deep and murky waters of author and book marketing. We tackle every writer's least favourite job—marketing. And in this particular episode, we're dealing with setting yourself up for success—building a website and the debate around doing so, putting content on your website, SEO and blogging, creating and growing a mailing list, and making money from your writing, so you can spend more time doing the thing you love!

We'll return to marketing in later episodes, so if you have any questions at all, please get in touch by clicking here.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Of Metal and Magic Publishing - don't forget to join our reading group to get a free book, Ancient Heritage! > https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/

Richie's Privacy Policy > https://richiebilling.com/privacy-policy/

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How To Write Good Dialogue Nov 29, 2020

In this instalment, we're departing from our fantasy focus and getting down and dirty with dialogue—one of the key components of any great story.

We tackle the do's and don't's of dialogue, ways you can write effective dialogue, saidisms, and answer the most common formatting questions, such as should you use speech marks or not.

As always, we want to hear from you! Drop us an email by clicking here.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Best Fantasy Books Of All Time Nov 01, 2020

In our ninth episode, we're taking a look at TIME magazine's recently published list of the top 100 fantasy books of all time. Click here to see the list.

We take a look at the books on the list, discuss our favourite books, some of our least favourite, the influence some books have had on the genre, and the direction that fantasy is moving toward in the years to come.

As always, we'd love to hear from you. What are your favourite fantasy books? Do you agree with the list, or perhaps you disagree? Write to us and tell us by clicking here.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Talking Anthologies with Transmundane Press Sep 29, 2020

Anthology: a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music.

In this not-so-mini episode, JM interviews the editors of Transmundane Press, who have made a name for themselves by publishing sci-fi and fantasy anthologies. Their current project is ON TIME, which JM was fortunate enough to get a story in.

Here we discuss the appeal of the anthology, the benefit of writing and reading short stories, and the editors provide their tips for submitting your work to anthology calls.

You can find Transmundane here: https://www.transmundanepress.com/

And you can read one of JM's flash fiction pieces on the Transmundane blog, here: https://transmundanepressblog.wordpre...

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Magic Systems in Fantasy Sep 13, 2020

Magic systems play an important role in fantasy. Many people associate wizards, witches, magical weapons, creatures and worlds with the genre.

In this episode, we look at what magic systems are and how you can build them and utilise them in your own stories. We look at ways to introduce the background detail for your magic system, the extent to which it's necessary to do so, and also explore magic's relationship with religion, the latter also playing a major role in many fantasy systems. We look at a range of examples of different magic systems found in fantasy too, and debate whether your story needs one at all.

What are your thoughts on magic systems? Drop us an email or a comment. And if you enjoyed this episode, why not follow and subscribe for more?

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Audiobooks with Chris Herron of Tall Tale TV Jul 31, 2020

In this episode, we're thrilled to have Chris Herron from Tall Tale TV in the Shed! And we're talking all things audiobooks - trends, how to make your own, how to convert your novels, plus an exclusive audio snippet of Richie's upcoming novel, Pariah's Lament.

There's been massive growth in the audiobook market. Last year they turned over money money than eBooks. We chat about what that could mean for writers, and how you could take advantage of this new lucrative market.

Chris tells us all about making your own audiobooks. He talks us through ways to get your novels turned into audiobooks, discussing prices and all the different ways you could potentially fund a project. Chris also tells us all about Tall Tale TV and what the future has in store for this thriving audiobook platform.

And as a little bonus, Richie previews his exclusive audiobook snippet of the first chapter of Pariah's Lament.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Start listening to Tall Tale TV

iTunes - http://bit.ly/TTTV_iTunes

Podcast - http://talltaletv.com/subscribe/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TallTaleTV

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/c/talltaletv

Website - http://talltaletv.com

Watch the YouTube video of Pariah's Lament, Chapter One

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDydWpyw3fI&t=84s

Listen to some of Richie's and JM's stories narrated by Chris

Noodlin - Richie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htu-Q9wNnic&feature=emb_title

The Adventures of Jaron and Bren - JM - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3v19jC-YyY

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing Humour with Comedian Ant Campbell Jun 27, 2020

In this episode, Richie is joined by the hilarious Scouse comedian, Ant Campbell. Ant has developed a significant following on social media over the past few years, at one point having more followers on Twitter than a small town, and that was all down to his ability to write great content.

Richie and Ant discuss writing humorous stories, scenarios, dialogue and jokes, as well as their experiences of writing their sitcom, "Stalled". Ant also shares some priceless insights into how he built up such an enviable following and how you can do the same.

As always, get in touch with us on Facebook, or drop us an email at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com!

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writing 'Rules' May 25, 2020

So-called writing rules have been a touchy subject in the writing world of late. It all exploded after a list of rules by Jonathan Franzen re-surfaced, provoking a wave of ire not just against Franzen, but against so-called writing 'rules', the do's and don't's of the craft.

Around the same time, Richie conducted some research on the rules that writers hate most of all, and in this episode, we chat about some of them, namely passive voice, showing instead of telling and using adjectives and adverbs.

This is a topic in which people aren't short of an opinion, and as always we want to hear from you. Get in touch by emailing thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com!

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Conversation with Cover Artists May 05, 2020

JM goes solo in this episode, which is a continuation of our previous topic: book covers. JM interviews a couple of artists to ask them why they think covers are important, and how to develop a good working relationship with your artist.

Niels can be found here: https://www.ncartbox.net/?fbclid=IwAR...

If you'd like a sample of his work, he did the cover for my short-story-novel, In the Valley of Magic, which is available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9ZPXMR/

E. Rachael Hardcastle has a website for her book label: https://www.curiouscatbooks.co.uk/

A massive thank you to both Niels and Rachael for visiting the Toolshed! It was lovely to have you on and we hope you all enjoyed it too.

In our next episode, we'll be looking at writing 'rules'. Should you really never use the passive voice? Must you always show instead of tell? Is there even such a thing as a writing 'rule'? What so-called rules do you hate most?

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Guide to Book Covers Apr 13, 2020

In this instalment we're tackling book covers. We delve into everything you need to know, from the science behind typography and imagery to artist fees and designing them for free!

Links to some of the resources mentioned:

www.canva.com

How cover design can increase book visibility by 50% (or more)

Revealed: The Real Marketing Value of a Professional Book Cover

Book Smugglers - COVER MATTERS: THE SURVEY RESULTS

Data Analytics and Practical Theory for Books

Holly Rollins - A Conjoint Analysis of the Value of Book Covers in E-Book Buying Decisions

Both Richie and JM have just gone through the process of designing book covers in recent weeks. Richie's new book, Thoughts On Writing, is available to purchase by clicking here. All of the money raised from book sales is being used to help those impacted by Covid-19, from food banks to care homes.

As always we'd love to hear from you with your comments and requests. Drop us an email at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com!

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flash and Nano Fiction with Charles Remington Mar 28, 2020

Writer and editor Charles Remington joins Richie in the Writers' Toolshed to talk about nano fiction, a niche of flash fiction.

How do you write nano fiction? Where do you find ideas? Why should you try it? Uncover the answers to all in this episode. Plus, we discuss marketing books, and Richie tells us about his meeting with Raymond E. Feist.

The book, Nano Nightmares, edited by Charles and featuring stories by Richie, is available now on Amazon. You can get it by clicking here.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Making the Most of Self-Isolation Mar 21, 2020

Coronavirus craziness has gripped the globe. How can writers make the most of all this free time?

In this episode, Richie discusses a few ways writers can help people in this time of great need, as well as a few ways you can make the most of this abundance of time.

Richie mentions a few books you may find helpful, which are:

The Art of Dramatic Writing - Lajos Egri

Stein on Writing - Sol Stein

The Art of Fiction - John Gardner

Letters to a Young Writer - Colum McCann

The First Five Pages - Noah Lukeman

On Writing - Stephen King

A Fantasy Writers' Handbook - Richie Billing

As always, we want to hear from you! If you have any topics or questions you want us to tackle, drop us an email at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com.

Stay safe everyone!

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published Feb 29, 2020

In this episode, Richie struggles to say hello, JM’s cats make a few guest appearances, and somewhere in between, we talk about short stories—why you should write them, how to write them, and how to get them published.

As always, we want to hear from you! Drop us an email at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com, or message us on Facebook.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Historical Fiction with Paul Cunningham Feb 01, 2020

In this episode, JM interviews historical fiction author Paul Cunningham. Paul is the author of the book "Contention," which details "the most chaotic year in Roman history" following the death of Nero. Following our previous episode on fantasy world-building, it seemed a good idea to talk to someone who has to deal with the same issue in a different way. Paul is a master at rolling back time, bringing the reader right into a foreign world from our shared past.

As always, leave your comments and questions below or look us up on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/fantasywrite...

And you can grab a copy of Paul's last book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O6URLUW/

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Overwhelmed by Worldbuilding? Discover How To Create Immersive Worlds Without Overloading Your Reader Jan 19, 2020

Struggling to build a believable fantasy world without drowning your reader in detail? Learn the secrets of natural worldbuilding from writers who’ve been there.

In this episode of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, Richie Billing and J.M. Williams explore one of the most exciting and challenging parts of writing fantasy: worldbuilding. It’s every author’s playground, and sometimes their biggest headache.

How much detail is too much? When should you explain, and when should you imply? And how do you make your world feel real without resorting to exposition dumps?

Richie and J.M. share their favourite fantasy writing tips for building vivid, believable worlds that draw readers in from page one. They talk about the most effective ways to weave world details naturally into your narrative, how to balance information with storytelling, and how to decide what’s essential to your plot versus what’s better left to the imagination.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to avoid worldbuilding overload and keep your story focused.
The best times to introduce world details for maximum impact.
Techniques for showing your world through character and conflict.
How to use setting to shape tone, mood, and theme.
Common worldbuilding mistakes that break immersion — and how to fix them.
How to build depth using culture, politics, language, and history without confusing readers.
Why consistency and logic are the most important worldbuilding tools.

Throughout the episode, Richie and J.M. share examples from classic and modern fantasy novels, analysing how authors like Tolkien, Sanderson, and Le Guin build worlds that feel alive and immersive. You’ll come away with practical advice you can apply immediately to your own story or novel.

Key takeaways:

Discover how to create worlds that feel lived-in and authentic.
Learn the storytelling techniques that make worldbuilding invisible but powerful.
Get actionable fantasy writing tips on integrating lore, geography, and culture naturally.
Understand how great worldbuilding supports theme and character rather than overwhelming them.

Whether you’re outlining your first fantasy book or refining a complex series, this episode will help you master one of the cornerstones of the genre.

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠

Is The Novel Dead? Jan 04, 2020

A few weeks back, Richie carried out a bit of research inspired by the comments of a professional book reviewer named Damien Walter. Walter argued that the novel is dead, that the decline in quality and the saturation of the market has strangled the enjoyment out of it, and as a result, fewer people are reading. Richie explores whether or not this is the case, before considering whether or not reading as a whole is facing an existential crisis.

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bored Of The Same Old Fantasy Tropes? Discover How to Twist Genre Conventions and Create Something Truly Original Dec 13, 2019

Feeling like every fantasy idea’s been done before? In this episode, learn how to twist classic tropes to create original, unforgettable stories.

Richie Billing and J.M. Williams explore how to take familiar fantasy tropes and turn them on their head. From the noble hero and reluctant chosen one to dark lords and prophecies, these tropes define the genre — but they can also trap writers in predictability.

So how can you keep the spirit of fantasy alive while avoiding clichés? Richie and J.M. share expert fantasy writing tips on subverting expectations, adding fresh angles to old ideas, and crafting stories that feel both familiar and new.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How to identify overused fantasy tropes that weaken your story.
Techniques for twisting or subverting tropes in creative ways.
Why readers love certain conventions — and when to break them.
How to blend multiple tropes to form unique concepts.
What makes a trope work instead of feeling tired or cliché.
How to inject originality through voice, structure, and theme.
The balance between giving readers what they expect and surprising them.

Richie and J.M. also share examples from fantasy literature and film, showing how top writers play with genre expectations. You’ll learn why some trope flips fail and how to avoid those pitfalls in your own work.

Key takeaways:

Learn to use tropes as tools, not traps.
Discover methods to reimagine classic fantasy elements for a modern audience.
Gain insight into worldbuilding and storytelling techniques that make your story stand out.
Find practical fantasy writing advice you can apply immediately to your own projects.

This episode is ideal for writers looking to write original fantasy stories, understand genre expectations, and explore the creative possibilities hidden inside familiar ideas.

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠

Muddy Villages and Stone Castles - Medieval Settings in Fantasy Nov 29, 2019

Are medieval settings holding fantasy back? In this episode, discover how to reinvent classic worlds and build fantasy settings that feel new and alive.

In this episode of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, Richie Billing and J.M. Williams tackle one of the most hotly debated topics in the fantasy genre — the medieval setting cliché. From muddy villages and wooden houses to knights, castles, and swords, medieval Europe has long been the default backdrop for fantasy stories. But is it time to move on?

Richie and J.M. discuss why the medieval world became such a staple of the genre, why it still resonates with readers, and how modern authors can push beyond the cliché to create richer, more original worlds. They explore how to borrow the best parts of medieval inspiration while still giving your setting a unique twist.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why medieval settings dominate fantasy fiction.
How to use historical realism without copying the past.
Fresh worldbuilding approaches to create non-European fantasy cultures.
How geography, technology, and culture shape a world’s tone.
The difference between inspired by and limited by history.
How to balance reader familiarity with creative innovation.
Tips on writing unique societies, cities, and political systems beyond the usual castles and kings.

Whether you love knights and dragons or want to break away from them entirely, this episode gives you fantasy worldbuilding tips to make your setting stand out. Richie and J.M. also share examples of authors who’ve taken inspiration from non-Western and alternative historical models — showing that originality doesn’t mean abandoning authenticity.

Key takeaways:

Learn how to evolve beyond the standard medieval fantasy template.
Discover new cultural and historical inspirations for your worlds.
Understand how to create settings that feel believable, immersive, and distinct.
Gain fantasy writing advice that helps you balance creativity with realism.

This discussion is perfect for fantasy writers who love immersive worldbuilding but want to avoid clichés. You’ll come away inspired to rethink your setting and bring something fresh to the genre.

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠

Are Fantasy Clichés Ruining Your Story? Discover How to Break the Rules and Write Something Fresh Nov 16, 2019

Tired of hearing your story feels “too familiar”? In this episode, we explore how to spot, avoid, and reinvent common fantasy clichés to make your writing truly original.

In the debut episode of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, hosts Richie Billing and JM Williams dive deep into the world of fantasy tropes and clichés. We all know them — the Chosen One, the wise old mentor, the dark lord who’s evil for the sake of it. But why do these familiar elements get such a bad reputation, and how can you use them to your advantage rather than let them drag your story down?

You’ll learn:

What makes a cliché different from a trope — and why not all clichés are bad.
How to identify tired fantasy conventions that weaken your story’s originality.
Practical writing tips to subvert or reinvent classic fantasy elements.
Creative ways to use clichés intentionally to enhance themes or character arcs.
How to turn reader expectations on their head without losing coherence.
Worldbuilding advice to help your fantasy setting feel unique and immersive.

Richie shares insights from years of studying and teaching fantasy writing, offering clear, actionable strategies for elevating your storytelling. Whether you’re outlining your first novel or polishing your tenth, this episode gives you the tools to recognise patterns in fantasy fiction — and transform them into strengths.

We also discuss some of the most overused fantasy tropes in modern storytelling, including:

The Chosen One prophecy
Elves, dwarves, and orcs lifted straight from Tolkien
Evil villains with no real motive
Tavern introductions and ancient prophecies
The wise mentor who always dies

By the end, you’ll understand how to breathe new life into these familiar setups and make them your own.

Key takeaways:

Learn how to transform clichés into original story elements.
Discover why readers still love certain tropes — and how to use that to your advantage.
Gain fantasy writing tips to strengthen your worldbuilding and character development.
Understand how professional writers play with expectation to create powerful moments of surprise and satisfaction.

If you’ve ever wondered how to write fantasy stories that feel fresh, relevant, and emotionally engaging, this episode is packed with useful insights.

FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS

⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠⁠

JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠

The Promo Oct 31, 2019

A brand new monthly podcast looking at all things writing, fantasy fiction, and building your author platform. Hosted by Richie Billing (https://richiebilling.com) and JM Williams (https://jmwilliams.home.blog).

Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.