The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed - Fantasy Writing Craft Advice & Author Interviews

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.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesFANTASY WRITING RESOURCESWorldbuilding Template and Guide - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuildingFree Book Description Generator For Amazon And Goodreads - https://richiebilling.com/amazon-goodreads-book-description-generatorHow To Find Podcasts For Writers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast/how-to-find-podcasts-for-writersJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSWillow 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.

Discover how people entertained themselves in the Middle Ages, from taverns and bards to games and feasts, and how to use these details to build richer, more immersive fantasy worlds.Entertainment in the Middle Ages wasn’t just a luxury. It was a vital part of daily life, shaping culture, community, and storytelling across every level of society.In this episode, I’m joined by Aidan Mattis, creator of The Lore Lodge Podcast, to explore the real ways people found fun, meaning, and escape in medieval times.We break down the reality behind medieval entertainment and how you can use it in your writing, including:The role of bards, troubadours, and storytellersWhat taverns were really like (and why they mattered)Popular medieval games, hobbies, and pastimesFeasts, festivals, and social gatheringsHow entertainment reveals class, culture, and characterIf you want to bring your fantasy worlds to life with authentic detail, this episode will show you how entertainment can add depth, realism, and texture to your setting.ABOUT AIDAN MATTISAidan Mattis - The Lore Lodge Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/c/thelorelodgeJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITINGTo join our writing community, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more, head over to our ⁠Patreon⁠ page - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠

Learn how to write compelling ghost stories, including key techniques for atmosphere, tension, and how the genre influences fantasy storytelling.Ghost stories are one of the oldest and most enduring forms of storytelling—but writing one that truly unsettles and lingers with readers takes skill.In this episode, I’m joined by Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from The Fey Fellows Podcast to explore what makes ghost stories work—and how they connect to the wider fantasy genre.We break down both the craft and the tradition of ghost storytelling, including:What defines a ghost story and its core featuresHow to build atmosphere, tension, and dreadTechniques for writing haunting, memorable scenesClassic and modern examples—and why they workThe influence of ghost stories on fantasy storytellingCommon mistakes to avoid when writing supernatural fictionIf you want to write ghost stories that genuinely unsettle readers and add depth to your fantasy writing, this episode will show you how to do it right.OUR GUESTSJanina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson - The Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/ / https://anchor.fm/fey-fellows-podcastJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITINGTo join our writing community, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more, head over to our ⁠Patreon⁠ page - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠

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.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesRESOURCESThe Life Of A Medival Lord - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-life-of-the-medieval-lordThe Pesky Peasantry Of The Middle Ages - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/lives-of-medieval-peasantsJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSAidan 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.

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.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesRESOURCESA guide to character development - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/character-developmentHow to carry out character plotting - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/character-plottingWhat is characterization? - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/what-is-characterizationFantasy name generator - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/fantasy-name-generatorJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSAbby from Political Psych With Abby - https://www.youtube.com/c/PoliticalPsychwithAbby / Latest ep - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8_O1reY3qcSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discover how Dungeons & Dragons influenced modern fantasy, from iconic tropes to worldbuilding techniques and storytelling styles used by writers today.Few things have shaped modern fantasy as much as Dungeons & Dragons. From character archetypes to entire worldbuilding systems, its impact runs deep across books, games, and storytelling as a whole.In this episode, I’m joined by Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from The Fey Fellows Podcast to explore exactly how DnD has influenced the fantasy genre—and what writers can learn from it.We break down the key ways DnD has shaped fantasy storytelling, including:How DnD influenced modern fantasy tropes and archetypesThe impact of role-playing on character creation and storytellingWorldbuilding lessons writers can take from DnD systemsWhy DnD inspires so many writers to create their own storiesThe crossover between tabletop gaming and fantasy fictionHow to use DnD-style thinking to improve your writingIf you write fantasy—or want to understand the genre more deeply—this episode reveals how one game helped shape the stories we tell today.OUR GUESTSJanina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from the Fey Fellows Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/feyfellowspodcast/JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYhttps://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITINGTo join our writing community, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more, head over to our ⁠Patreon⁠ page - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠

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.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesRESOURCESFantasy Weapons Guide - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-weaponryFantasy Armor Guide - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-armorCheck out our fantasy name generator - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/fantasy-name-generator JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSAidan Mattis of The Lore Lodge Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/c/TheLoreLodgeSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the fantasy writing podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast RESOURCESView the list of fantasy novel publishers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/writing-tools/list-of-fantasy-publishersWhat Is Characterization? - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/writing-tips/what-is-characterizationJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://bit.ly/join-our-writing-groupOUR GUESTSEnn Burke of Ripped From The Headlines - rippedheadlinespod.comSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast RESOURCESThe Life Of A Medieval Lord - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-life-of-the-medieval-lordThe Knight Of Chivalry - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/knight-of-chivalryHow To Make A Fantasy Map - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/how-to-make-a-fantasy-mapThe Different Subgenres Of Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-many-sub-genres-of-fantasyJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSJanina 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/TheLoreLodgeSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.comTo access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed If you're interested in some of my quick, easy-to-understand fantasy writing classes, head here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesLearn more about the podcast - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast RESOURCESTools Writes Can Use To Build Suspense - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/tools-writers-can-use-to-build-suspenseA Guide To Writing Prose - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/what-is-prose-writingFantasy Names Generator - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/fantasy-name-generator/humanForeshadowing In A Story - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/what-is-foreshadowing-in-a-story-definition-examplesJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSAbby from Political Psych With Abby - https://www.youtube.com/c/PoliticalPsychwithAbbySounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.