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

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.comSupport 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 RESOURCESHow To Build A Fantasy World - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/natural-worldbuilding-guideWOMBO 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-storyoriginJOIN 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://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.

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.comSupport 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 RESOURCESA Guide To Writing Fight and Battle Scenes - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/how-to-write-fight-scenesFantasy Writing Classes - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classesWOMBO Dream - https://www.wombo.art/JOIN 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://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/OdysyxLearn more about Richie Billing - http://richiebilling.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.comSupport 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 RESOURCESThe Lives Of Medieval Lords - 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-peasantsThe Lives Of Medieval Women - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/maidens-wives-and-widows-the-lives-of-women-during-the-middle-agesThe Book Blogger Survey - https://forms.gle/TC59tvLFEMXTJT776Article - https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/27/a-dirty-secret-you-can-only-be-a-writer-if-you-can-afford-itList of 250+ Book Reviewers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/writing-tools/list-of-book-reviewersJOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITYJoin our community here - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSAidan 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/RachelEmmaShawSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/Odysyx Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.comSupport 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 RESOURCESNatural Worldbuilding - Richie's comprehensive guide to building a fantasy world - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/natural-worldbuilding-guideFantasy and Archery - The Ultimate Guide - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-writers-toolshed/fantasy-writing/archery-and-fantasy-a-complete-guideJOIN 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://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/3F9eLIJSounds and editing by Odysy - https://www.youtube.com/c/OdysyxLearn more about Richie Billing - http://richiebilling.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.comPlease 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 GROUPJoin our community - https://mailchi.mp/be6082d43b39/the-writers-toolshed OUR GUESTSJanina 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/OdysyxLearn more about Richie Billing - http://richiebilling.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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-originPlease 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.

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.

Learn how to create memorable fantasy names for characters, cities, and worlds, with practical rules to avoid confusion and improve readability.Naming is one of the trickiest parts of fantasy writing. A great name can bring a world to life—while a bad one can confuse readers and pull them out of the story.In this episode, I’m joined by J.M. Williams to break down how to create fantasy names that are clear, immersive, and memorable.We cover the key principles behind effective naming in fantasy, including:How to create names that feel unique without being confusingWhy overly complex names (and too many apostrophes) can hurt your storyNaming conventions for characters, cities, and entire worldsHow culture, language, and history influence believable namesTechniques to make names easier for readers to rememberCommon naming mistakes—and how to avoid themIf you want your fantasy world to feel richer and more cohesive without overwhelming your readers, this episode will give you the tools to name everything with confidence.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

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-listOf Metal and Magic Publishing > https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Learn how to build immersive fantasy worlds with practical techniques from a real-life worldbuilder who transformed his home into a living fantasy setting.Worldbuilding is at the heart of great fantasy—but how do you create a world that truly feels real, lived-in, and immersive?In this episode, I’m joined by John Tarrow, a fantasy author and real-life worldbuilder who has spent over 25 years transforming his home into the extraordinary Talliston House and Gardens.We explore how building a physical fantasy world has shaped John’s approach to writing—and what writers can learn from it.Inside the episode:The core principles of immersive fantasy worldbuildingHow real-world design can improve your fictional settingsCreating history, culture, and depth that readers can feelPractical worldbuilding techniques you can apply immediatelyHow environment shapes character and storyCommon worldbuilding mistakes—and how to avoid themIf you want to create fantasy worlds that feel tangible, believable, and unforgettable, this episode will show you how to bring your setting to life—on the page and beyond.ABOUT JOHN TARROWFind out more about Talliston House > https://www.talliston.com/Learn more about John > https://www.tarrow.co.uk/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