Explore every episode of the podcast The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Biggest Mistakes Authors Make (According to a Writing Coach) | Suzy Vadori on Character Creation, Worldbuilding & Author Growth | 14 nov. 2025 | 00:44:28 | |
Are you repeating the same writing mistakes without realising it? In this episode, writing coach and author Suzy Vadori reveals the biggest errors she sees in authors, and how to avoid them. Join Richie Billing and Suzy Vadori as they explore Suzy’s journey from businesswoman to bestselling YA fantasy author and coach. We dive into her unique approach to character creation, immersive world-building, and the crucial missteps that hold writers back. In this episode, you’ll learn:
Whether you’re working on your first novel or deep into your series, you’ll walk away with actionable advice. ✍️ More from Suzy Vadori: Website: https://suzyvadori.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suzyvadori/?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/suzyvadoriauthor/ ✍️ Join our community & writing tools: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed Website and writing classes: https://richiebilling.com/ | |||
| Writing Series, Branding, and Book Launch Secrets from Jami Albright & Sara Rosett | 14 oct. 2025 | 00:44:06 | |
Discover what makes romance and cozy mysteries two of the most successful and reader-loved genres in publishing. In this episode of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, host Richie Billing sits down with bestselling authors Jami Albright and Sara Rosett to uncover what all writers can learn from these powerfully engaging genres. Jami Albright is an acclaimed romance author known for her laugh-out-loud romantic comedies and bestselling indie success stories. Sara Rosett is a prolific cozy mystery writer whose books are filled with charm, suspense, and unforgettable characters. Together, they share a wealth of knowledge on writing craft, book marketing, and building a long-term career as an independent author. We explore:
This conversation goes beyond genre to deliver universal lessons for storytellers. Whether you write fantasy, science fiction, romance, or thrillers, you’ll gain actionable advice on how to design stories that hook readers, market your books effectively, and build a lasting author career. Key takeaways:
If you’ve ever wondered how to write a romance novel, how to start a cozy mystery series, or simply how to build a loyal readership, this episode is packed with real-world experience and practical strategies. FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT JAMI ALBRIGHT https://wishidknownforwriters.com/ ABOUT SARA ROSETT GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com www.richiebilling.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| Writing The Magic With Lucy Holland and Dan Coxon | 14 sept. 2025 | 00:55:12 | |
I'm delighted to be joined by bestselling fantasy authors Lucy Holland and Dan Coxon for an all-encompassing discussion on writing fantasy. Dan has curated and co-edited a brilliant new craft book called Writing The Magic, published by Dead Ink, and Lucy has contributed an excellent chapter on Ursula Le Guin's magic system in Earthsea. We delve into worldbuilding, creating magic systems, explore Ursula Le Guin's Earthsea series and Michael Moorcock's stories, and discuss why we all love the genre so much. You're bound to learn something new! FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers BUY WRITING THE MAGIC https://deadinkbooks.com/product/writing-the-magic/ ABOUT DAN COXON https://www.instagram.com/dan.coxon.author/ ABOUT LUCY HOLLAND https://www.instagram.com/silvanhistorian/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com www.richiebilling.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| Linguistics and Historical Fiction with Professor Charles Li | 14 août 2025 | 01:00:35 | |
In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Professor Charles Li, author of the brilliant new historical fiction novel, Lord Guan. We chat all about Professor Li's expertise in languages and linguistics, and I pick his brain for worldbuilding tips and advice to help you craft your own languages for your fantasy stories. We also dive into Chinese history and culture, looking specifically at the life story of Lord Guan and the legend surrounding him, before diving into the writing and researching of the book. And at 90 years old, Professor Li shares lots of brilliant pieces of wisdom we can all benefit and learn from. FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT PROFESSOR CHARLES LI https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Lord-Guan/Charles-N-Li/9781682452325 https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/authors/Charles-N-Li/185995596 GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com www.richiebilling.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| Writing Fantasy With Jim C. Hines | 14 juil. 2025 | 00:58:17 | |
I'm thrilled to be joined by bestselling fantasy author, Jim C. Hines for an extended interview about his two new books, Kitemaster and the relaunch of the beloved classic, Goblin Quest. Jim opens up about his writing journey, what it's like to be a writer—even down to the earnings—and shares some of his best advice for writing short stories, crafting lovable characters, and writing stories that you're passionate about. It's fantastic to learn from such a seasoned and decorated pro. I learned an awful lot, and I hope you do too! FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT JIM C. HINES Goblin Quest (direct from author) - https://payhip.com/b/XBK0D Kitemaster - https://bookshop.org/p/books/kitemaster/21588658?aid=25009 GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| Writing Fresh Fantasy With Kel Kade | 14 juin 2025 | 00:29:31 | |
In this episode, I’m joined by New York Times Best Selling fantasy author, Kel Kade. Kel’s new book, Sanctum of the Soul, was published by Tor in February 2025 and completes her brilliant new trilogy. As well as discussing the new book, we also dive into the character creation process and how to create fantasy worlds, discussing techniques and methods to ensure we don’t info dump! Kel also shares her favourite and least favourite fantasy tropes, and we discuss some newer and more shocking tropes that writers should think about before including. And Kel also discusses her amazing journey through the world of writing, starting out as a popular indie author with The King's Dark Tidings, before getting snapped up by Tor. FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT KEL CADE https://torpublishinggroup.com/sanctum-of-the-soul/?isbn=9781250293893&format=hardback https://www.goodreads.com/series/172856-king-s-dark-tidings GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here | |||
| Theme, Premise and Writing YA In 2025 with Sarah Arthur | 14 mai 2025 | 00:47:13 | |
Award-winning YA author Sarah Arthur returns to the Toolshed to discuss her brilliant new book, Once A Castle. Sarah also shares her experiences following the release of her debut YA novel (Once A Queen), what it was like writing book two, and how theme has played such an important role in the writing of both. We also discuss Artificial Intelligence (AI) creeping into the writing world, and Sarah provides her expert insights into what 2025 holds for the world of Young Adult fantasy fiction. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT SARAH ARTHUR https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2216828/sarah-arthur/ www.saraharthur.com ONCE A CASTLE https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/213618161-once-a-castle https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707441/once-a-castle-by-sarah-arthur/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com www.richiebilling.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| Writing About Injuries and Wounds | 10 avr. 2025 | 00:39:20 | |
In this episode, I'm joined by fantasy author and ER doctor, HB Reneau. HB talks all about injuries we commonly see in fantasy worlds--usually inflicted by swords and magic, and explains how we can best portray things like wounds and infections. We also talk about the impact of injuries and trauma and mental health too. HB also tells us all about her new book, The Revenant, and how she's used Kickstarter to fund a pretty awesome project. You can find out more here - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theremnant/the-remnant-ya-fantasy-adventure-collectors-edition GET BOOKS AND CLASSES ON WRITING FANTASY https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT HB RENEAU GET IN TOUCH https://richiebilling.com/ RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here -https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about writing fantasy here -https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/ https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th | |||
| How To Get A Literary Agent | 14 mars 2025 | 00:32:08 | |
In this episode, I'm joined by Brianna Summers, literary agent assistant with Holloway Literary. Brianna also works as an editor with Of Metal and Magic Publishing. Brianna shares her wisdom after spending several years working in the literary agency field. She tells us what it's like for agents on a day-to-day basis and the main reasons she rejects submissions. We also take a deep dive into query letters and Brianna shares her ideal structure for what a query letter should contain. If you're thinking about querying literary agents or want to learn more about it, this episode is a must-listen! GET BOOKS AND CLASSES ON WRITING FANTASY https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT BRIANNA SUMMERS https://www.instagram.com/brianna.summers.338/ https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/ GET IN TOUCH https://richiebilling.com/ RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here -https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about writing fantasy here -https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/ https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th | |||
| How To Write Short Stories With Dan Coxon | 14 févr. 2025 | 00:53:23 | |
In this episode, award-winning short story writer and editor Dan Coxon joins me for an in-depth chat about writing short fiction. We look at the definition of a short story, the different structures they can have, the pitfalls to avoid, and best practices for editing. Dan also shares his best tips on getting short stories published, sharing vital insights on what it's like to be an editor with a publisher. You can also find a very helpful explanation for writing cover letters. It's a must-listen for anyone keen to learn more about writing short stories and getting them published. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT DAN COXON https://www.instagram.com/dan.coxon.author/ GET DAN'S BOOKS Writing The Uncanny -https://deadinkbooks.com/product/writing-the-uncanny/ https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034PDEYM GET IN TOUCH https://richiebilling.com/ RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here -https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about writing fantasy here -https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/ https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th | |||
| How To Write Grimdark With Anna Smith Spark | 14 janv. 2025 | 00:52:18 | |
In this episode, I’m delighted to be joined by the Queen of Grimdark, Anna Smith Spark! Anna joins me for a deep dive into all things writing. We look at Anna’s process, how she wrote her brilliant books, A Court of Broken Knives, A Woman Of The Sword, and A Sword Of Bronze and Ashes, and how she approaches pantsing. Anna also shares her fantastic wisdom on Grimdark, explaining what it is and what the key features are for writers. We also discuss character creation, worldbuilding, and dealing with writing challenges. You’re bound to learn something new! JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT ANNA SMITH SPARK https://britishfantasysociety.org/meet-anna-smith-spark/ https://www.instagram.com/annasmithspark/ https://www.facebook.com/queenofgrimdark/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15935255.Anna_Smith_Spark GET A SWORD OF BRONZE AND ASHES https://www.flametreepublishing.com/a-sword-of-bronze-and-ashes-isbn-9781787588400.html GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about writing fantasy here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/ | |||
| The Best Writing Tips Of 2024 - Short Stories, Ian Rankin and more | 14 déc. 2024 | 00:21:34 | |
In this final episode of 2024, I discuss all of the best writing tips I've come across in the past year, as well as the most helpful things I've learned. In particular, I dive into writing short stories and getting them published, amazing pieces of wisdom from legendary author Ian Rankin, and the most important thing I learned over the past 12 months. Here are some useful links I referred to in the ep. https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/ https://richiebilling.com/writing-tools/list-of-fantasy-magazines Thank you as always for listening and for your fantastic support. I sincerely appreciate it and can't wait to create more helpful things for you in 2025! JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com https://richiebilling.com/ RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about writing fantasy here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/ https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/adjectives-that-start-with-th | |||
| How To Make An Audiobook | 14 nov. 2024 | 00:39:37 | |
In this episode, I'm joined by voice over artist and audiobook producer, Ethan Fifield, for an explainer on how to make an audiobook. Ethan offers a fantastic insight into the process of making audiobooks, explaining what it's like to be a producer and what it's like to work with publishers and authors. Ethan also offers practical advice on how to make an audiobook, using platforms like ACX to create projects that narrators can pitch for. He also explains how different contracts can be arranged, like royalty splits, meaning you can make an audiobook with the help of a narrator today without paying a penny! If you're keen to learn more about audiobooks, this episode is guaranteed to help. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT ETHAN FIFIELD https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Ethan+Fifield GET THE PARIAH'S LAMENT https://mybook.to/PariahsLament GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about writing fantasy here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/ | |||
| Ciel Pierlot On Writing Fantasy And Queer Fiction | 14 oct. 2024 | 00:33:06 | |
In this episode, award-nominated author Ciel Pierlot joins me in the Toolshed for a fascinating chat about writing fantasy and writing queer fiction. Ciel's new book, The Hunter's Gambit, was published by Angry Robot earlier this year. We chat all about the writing of the story, Ciel's writing process as a whole, and crafting characters who are interesting and engaging. Ciel also discusses her experience of the query trenches and how she found a literary agent. As always, you're bound to learn something new! JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT CIEL PIERLOT GET THE HUNTER'S GAMBIT https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/the-hunters-gambit/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about writing fantasy here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/ | |||
| Special Episode: Stephen Aryan On Writing Novellas And Self Publishing | 28 sept. 2024 | 00:38:31 | |
In this special episode, I'm delighted to be joined by returning guest and bestselling author, Stephen Aryan. Stephen has just released his latest fantasy novel, The Blood Dimmed Tide, and on 1st October, he's releasing his first-ever crime novella, New York Minute. We chat all about New York Minute, writing novellas, mixing fantasy and other genres together, crafting characters readers love, and navigating the world of self-publishing. It's an interview packed with advice and insights—you're bound to learn something new. And if you enjoy it, why not check out Stephen's awesome new novella? You can find the link below. JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT STEPHEN ARYAN GET NEW YORK MINUTE https://stephen-aryan.com/2024/08/01/new-york-minute/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com www.richiebilling.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ And learn more about writing fantasy here - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/ | |||
| The Writing Process With Kate J. Armstrong | 14 sept. 2024 | 00:41:08 | |
In this episode I'm delighted to be joined by fantasy author, Kate J. Armstrong. Kate's new book Fyrebirds recently hit the shelves and in this episode we talk all about it. We also dive into Kate's journey through the world of writing, how she found inspiration when it left her, and the crafty questions we love so much, such as how to create characters, magic systems readers love, and worlds people want to escape into.
JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers ABOUT KATE J. ARMSTRONG https://www.katejarmstrong.com/ https://podcasts.apple.com/podcast/pub-dates/id1589892622 https://www.theexploresspodcast.com/ GET FYREBIRDS https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/697069/fyrebirds-by-kate-j-armstrong/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com www.richiebilling.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| Jennifer L. Armentrout: On Writing And Born Of Blood And Ash | 14 août 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 www.richiebilling.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| How To Write Young Adult Fiction With Sarah Arthur | 14 juil. 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/ www.saraharthur.com ONCE A QUEEN https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707440/once-a-queen-by-sarah-arthur/ GET IN TOUCH thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com www.richiebilling.com RESOURCES Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| How To Sell Books On Amazon With Kindlepreneur's Dave Chesson | 14 juin 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 www.richiebilling.com | |||
| Can We Change The World With Our Writing? An Interview With Manda Scott | 28 mai 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 www.richiebilling.com Discover more writing tips and guides here And learn more about writing fantasy here | |||
| The Writing Process With Gabriela Houston | 13 mai 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 | |||
| The Writing Process With Salinee Goldenberg | 28 avr. 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 | |||
| How To Write A Children's Fantasy Book | 14 avr. 2024 | 00:53:06 | |
In this episode, award-winning author and leader in the world of children's literature and children's books, Meredith Davis, shares many a pearl of wisdom. Not only is Meredith a leading author of children's books, she's the founder of the Austin Chapter of the Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators, and also has an MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. A specialist if ever there was one. We talk all about Meredith's new book, The Minor Miracle (Waterbrook/Penguin Random House), how to write a children's fantasy book, and advice for authors navigating the world of querying agents and submitting to publishers. Learn More About Our Sponsor, Fictionary Join Our Discord Community Join our writing community on Discord and get involved in the conversation Head here to join us on Discord - https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers Resources Creative Writing Tips For Beginners - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ Advice On Writing Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing About The Guests Meredith Davis - https://meredithldavis.com/books/ Buy The Minor Miracle - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/721051/the-minor-miracle-by-meredith-davis-illustrated-by-billy-yong/ Richie Billing: www.richiebilling.com | |||
| How To Write Romantasy | 28 mars 2024 | 00:46:15 | |
In this episode, we cover a very hot topic right now (in more ways than one)—romantasy. With the help of editor Jennia D'Lima and author Lara Buckheit, we look at what romantasy is, its surge in popularity, the reasons behind why, and how you can write your own fantastically romantic stories. What do you think of the romantasy phenomenon? Do you write/read in this genre or are you thinking of giving it a go? Join our Discord community and get involved in the conversation! Join Our Discord CommunityHead here to join us on Discord - https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers Learn More About Our Sponsor, Fictionary Resources Creative Writing Tips For Beginners - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/ Advice On Writing Romance Scenes - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/how-to-write-romance-scenes About The Guests Jennia D'Lima: www.jenniaedits.com Lara Buckheit: www.larabuckheit.com Richie Billing: www.richiebilling.com | |||
| How To Make Fantasy Maps | An Interview With Inkarnate's Finest, Dread Maps and Tyndall Doodle | 14 mars 2024 | 00:45:58 | |
In this episode of the podcast, we take a comprehensive look at fantasy maps: how to make them, tips on designs and how to draw them both freehand and with the help of digital tools and websites. Helping me do that are two of the best cartographers around, Tyndall Doodle and Dread Maps. Both are talented artists and inspirational users of the fantasy map making website, Inkarnate. We enjoy a comprehensive chat about the magic of maps and cartography, best practices for creating your own world maps and battle maps for DnD and tabletop campaigns, and how you can use Inkarnate to bring your imaginings to life. It's a brilliant discussion featuring two passionate and talented individuals, and with the beauty of video, you can see examples of their work throughout. And that's not all. If you head over to Patreon and sign up for a free or paid account, you will qualify for the draw for a year's subscription to Inkarnate Premium. Head here to enter today - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed Learn More About Our Sponsor, Fictionary Join The Community! Head here to join us on Discord - https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers Resources A Complete Guide On How To Make A Fantasy Map - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/how-to-make-a-fantasy-map About The Guests Tyndall Doodle: https://twitter.com/tyndalldoodle | https://www.instagram.com/tyndall_doodle Dread Maps: https://www.patreon.com/dreadmaps | https://twitter.com/dreadmaps About Inkarnate Inkarnate is a free digital mapmaking platform that's designed to make cartography easy and fun. You can check it out here - https://inkarnate.com/ About Richie Billing Richie Billing writes all kinds of stories, but mostly fantasy fiction. His tales tend to explore real-world issues, zooming in on the characters, their troubles and their efforts to overcome them. You can check out his acclaimed book on writing fantasy fiction, A Fantasy Writers' Handbook, here - https://mybook.to/AFWH And head here to check out his debut epic fantasy novel, Pariah's Lament - https://mybook.to/PariahsLament. And you can learn more at www.richiebilling.com #podcast #fantasywriter #writingtips | |||
| Halloween Special - Making Monsters | 28 oct. 2023 | 00:37:29 | |
With Halloween just around the corner we wanted to tackle something spooky. In this episode—our last in series 2—we're diving into all things monstrous. If you have any questions or requests, please write to us at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com GET A TOOLSHED TSHIRT https://tinyurl.com/ToolshedTshirt JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community and access our Panels feature, as well as join a weekly writing group, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more head over to our Patreon page - https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ABOUT MEGHAN MARTIN https://www.instagram.com/hellomeghanmartin/ ABOUT RICHIE BILLING www.richiebilling.com | |||
| Indie Publishing Success With Michael R Miller | 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 sept. 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 sept. 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 août 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 août 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 juil. 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 juil. 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 juin 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 juin 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 mai 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. | |||
| The Power Of Writing Groups | 13 mai 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 avr. 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 avr. 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 mars 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 mars 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 févr. 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 févr. 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 janv. 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 janv. 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 déc. 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. | |||
| The Writing Process With Denise Crittendon | 14 déc. 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. | |||