Explore every episode of the podcast The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer L. Armentrout: On Writing And Born Of Blood And Ash | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:46:13 | |
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 RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| How To Write Young Adult Fiction With Sarah Arthur | 14 Jul 2024 | 00:49:21 | |
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/ ONCE A QUEEN https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707440/once-a-queen-by-sarah-arthur/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| Indie Publishing Success With Michael R Miller | 14 Oct 2023 | 00:46:40 | |
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/
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| Audiobooks: How To Get Started | 27 Sep 2023 | 00:39:03 | |
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) 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 | |||
| Book Marketing Advice You Need To Hear | 13 Sep 2023 | 00:46:21 | |
Book marketing is a thorn in many a writer's side, but here with a fine set ot tweezers is marketing whiz, Nicky Pecone. 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 | 27 Aug 2023 | 01:01:45 | |
For our latest community panel, we had the pleasure of welcoming award-winning literary fantasy author Karen Healuer as our special guest. 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 | 13 Aug 2023 | 00:40:47 | |
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.
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 | |||
| Religion And Belief Systems With Norse Shaman, Mark Weisman | 27 Jul 2023 | 00:45:49 | |
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. 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 | |||
| The Writing Process With Daniel Polansky | 13 Jul 2023 | 00:31:41 | |
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 | 27 Jun 2023 | 00:52:35 | |
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 | 13 Jun 2023 | 00:46:33 | |
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 | 27 May 2023 | 01:07:39 | |
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: 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. | |||
| How To Sell Books On Amazon With Kindlepreneur's Dave Chesson | 14 Jun 2024 | 00:46:23 | |
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 | |||
| The Power Of Writing Groups | 13 May 2023 | 00:50:20 | |
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 | 27 Apr 2023 | 00:32:39 | |
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 | 13 Apr 2023 | 00:32:01 | |
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 | 27 Mar 2023 | 00:59:35 | |
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 | 14 Mar 2023 | 00:53:48 | |
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 | 28 Feb 2023 | 00:43:29 | |
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 | 14 Feb 2023 | 00:32:35 | |
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 | 28 Jan 2023 | 00:39:42 | |
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 | 14 Jan 2023 | 01:00:22 | |
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: 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 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 | 28 Dec 2022 | 00:51:10 | |
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 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 Free Worldbuilding Template And Guide Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Can We Change The World With Our Writing? An Interview With Manda Scott | 28 May 2024 | 00:45:22 | |
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 ANY HUMAN POWER https://septemberpublishing.org/product/any-human-power-hb/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| The Writing Process With Denise Crittendon | 14 Dec 2022 | 00:50:31 | |
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 | 27 Nov 2022 | 00:44:17 | |
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 | 15 Nov 2022 | 00:32:14 | |
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 | 28 Oct 2022 | 00:37:17 | |
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 | 27 Sep 2022 | 00:36:07 | |
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 | 13 Sep 2022 | 00:25:47 | |
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:
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:
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 | 28 Aug 2022 | 00:44:50 | |
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 | 13 Aug 2022 | 00:44:30 | |
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
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 | 27 Jul 2022 | 00:35:26 | |
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 | 13 Jul 2022 | 00:51:06 | |
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. | |||
| The Writing Process With Gabriela Houston | 13 May 2024 | 00:42:09 | |
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 | |||
| Kickstarter For Writers And Insights From Publishers On Submissions | 27 Jun 2022 | 00:34:26 | |
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 | 14 Jun 2022 | 00:26:03 | |
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 | 27 May 2022 | 00:21:25 | |
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 | 13 May 2022 | 00:25:49 | |
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 | 27 Apr 2022 | 00:37:19 | |
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 | 13 Apr 2022 | 00:23:46 | |
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 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 | 27 Mar 2022 | 00:28:06 | |
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 | 28 Feb 2022 | 00:49:53 | |
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 | 13 Feb 2022 | 00:53:41 | |
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 | 28 Jan 2022 | 00:54:17 | |
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 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 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. | |||
| The Writing Process With Salinee Goldenberg | 28 Apr 2024 | 00:42:05 | |
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 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 | |||
| Evolution and Worldbuilding, Using Short Stories, and Greek Mythology | 13 Jan 2022 | 00:57:05 | |
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 | 14 Dec 2021 | 00:56:54 | |
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 | 28 Nov 2021 | 00:59:39 | |
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 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 | 14 Nov 2021 | 01:10:46 | |
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. | |||