The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

by Richie Billing
BooksHow To
Season 1

Writing 'Rules'

So-called writing rules have been a touchy subject in the writing world of late. It all exploded after a list of rules by Jonathan Franzen re-surfaced, provoking a wave of ire not just against Franzen, but against so-called writing 'rules', the do's and don't's of the craft. Around the same time, Richie conducted some research on the rules that writers hate most of all, and in this episode, we chat about some of them, namely passive voice, showing instead of telling and using adjectives and adverbs. This is a topic in which people aren't short of an opinion, and as always we want to hear from you. Get in touch by emailing thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com! Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E13
May 25, 2020
51:48

A Conversation with Cover Artists

JM goes solo in this episode, which is a continuation of our previous topic: book covers. JM interviews a couple of artists to ask them why they think covers are important, and how to develop a good working relationship with your artist. Niels can be found here: https://www.ncartbox.net/?fbclid=IwAR... If you'd like a sample of his work, he did the cover for my short-story-novel, In the Valley of Magic, which is available here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9ZPXMR/ E. Rachael Hardcastle has a website for her book label: https://www.curiouscatbooks.co.uk/ A massive thank you to both Niels and Rachael for visiting the Toolshed! It was lovely to have you on and we hope you all enjoyed it too. In our next episode, we'll be looking at writing 'rules'. Should you really never use the passive voice? Must you always show instead of tell? Is there even such a thing as a writing 'rule'? What so-called rules do you hate most? Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E12
May 5, 2020
27:48

A Guide to Book Covers

In this instalment we're tackling book covers. We delve into everything you need to know, from the science behind typography and imagery to artist fees and designing them for free! Links to some of the resources mentioned: www.canva.com How cover design can increase book visibility by 50% (or more) Revealed: The Real Marketing Value of a Professional Book Cover Book Smugglers - COVER MATTERS: THE SURVEY RESULTS Data Analytics and Practical Theory for Books Holly Rollins - A Conjoint Analysis of the Value of Book Covers in E-Book Buying Decisions Both Richie and JM have just gone through the process of designing book covers in recent weeks. Richie's new book, Thoughts On Writing, is available to purchase by clicking here. All of the money raised from book sales is being used to help those impacted by Covid-19, from food banks to care homes. As always we'd love to hear from you with your comments and requests. Drop us an email at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com! Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E11
Apr 13, 2020
53:14

Flash and Nano Fiction with Charles Remington

Writer and editor Charles Remington joins Richie in the Writers' Toolshed to talk about nano fiction, a niche of flash fiction. How do you write nano fiction? Where do you find ideas? Why should you try it? Uncover the answers to all in this episode. Plus, we discuss marketing books, and Richie tells us about his meeting with Raymond E. Feist. The book, Nano Nightmares, edited by Charles and featuring stories by Richie, is available now on Amazon. You can get it by clicking here. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E10
Mar 28, 2020
28:53

Making the Most of Self-Isolation

Coronavirus craziness has gripped the globe. How can writers make the most of all this free time? In this episode, Richie discusses a few ways writers can help people in this time of great need, as well as a few ways you can make the most of this abundance of time. Richie mentions a few books you may find helpful, which are: The Art of Dramatic Writing - Lajos Egri Stein on Writing - Sol Stein The Art of Fiction - John Gardner Letters to a Young Writer - Colum McCann The First Five Pages - Noah Lukeman On Writing - Stephen King A Fantasy Writers' Handbook - Richie Billing As always, we want to hear from you! If you have any topics or questions you want us to tackle, drop us an email at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com. Stay safe everyone! Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E9
Mar 21, 2020
14:33

How to Write Short Stories and Get Them Published

In this episode, Richie struggles to say hello, JM’s cats make a few guest appearances, and somewhere in between, we talk about short stories—why you should write them, how to write them, and how to get them published. As always, we want to hear from you! Drop us an email at thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.com, or message us on Facebook. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E8
Feb 29, 2020
55:39

Historical Fiction with Paul Cunningham

In this episode, JM interviews historical fiction author Paul Cunningham. Paul is the author of the book "Contention," which details "the most chaotic year in Roman history" following the death of Nero. Following our previous episode on fantasy world-building, it seemed a good idea to talk to someone who has to deal with the same issue in a different way. Paul is a master at rolling back time, bringing the reader right into a foreign world from our shared past. As always, leave your comments and questions below or look us up on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/fantasywrite... And you can grab a copy of Paul's last book at: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O6URLUW/ Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E7
Feb 1, 2020
20:59

Overwhelmed by Worldbuilding? Discover How To Create Immersive Worlds Without Overloading Your Reader

Struggling to build a believable fantasy world without drowning your reader in detail? Learn the secrets of natural worldbuilding from writers who’ve been there. In this episode of The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed, Richie Billing and J.M. Williams explore one of the most exciting and challenging parts of writing fantasy: worldbuilding. It’s every author’s playground, and sometimes their biggest headache. How much detail is too much? When should you explain, and when should you imply? And how do you make your world feel real without resorting to exposition dumps? Richie and J.M. share their favourite fantasy writing tips for building vivid, believable worlds that draw readers in from page one. They talk about the most effective ways to weave world details naturally into your narrative, how to balance information with storytelling, and how to decide what’s essential to your plot versus what’s better left to the imagination. In this episode, you’ll learn: How to avoid worldbuilding overload and keep your story focused. The best times to introduce world details for maximum impact. Techniques for showing your world through character and conflict. How to use setting to shape tone, mood, and theme. Common worldbuilding mistakes that break immersion — and how to fix them. How to build depth using culture, politics, language, and history without confusing readers. Why consistency and logic are the most important worldbuilding tools. Throughout the episode, Richie and J.M. share examples from classic and modern fantasy novels, analysing how authors like Tolkien, Sanderson, and Le Guin build worlds that feel alive and immersive. You’ll come away with practical advice you can apply immediately to your own story or novel. Key takeaways: Discover how to create worlds that feel lived-in and authentic. Learn the storytelling techniques that make worldbuilding invisible but powerful. Get actionable fantasy writing tips on integrating lore, geography, and culture naturally. Understand how great worldbuilding supports theme and character rather than overwhelming them. Whether you’re outlining your first fantasy book or refining a complex series, this episode will help you master one of the cornerstones of the genre. FANTASY WRITING BOOKS, CLASSES AND TOOLS ⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed ⁠⁠⁠ JOIN OUR DISCORD COMMUNITY ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mailchi.mp/395aa89d6ec0/join-richie-billings-community-of-writers⁠⁠⁠
S1 · E6
Jan 19, 2020
1:06:25

Is The Novel Dead?

A few weeks back, Richie carried out a bit of research inspired by the comments of a professional book reviewer named Damien Walter. Walter argued that the novel is dead, that the decline in quality and the saturation of the market has strangled the enjoyment out of it, and as a result, fewer people are reading. Richie explores whether or not this is the case, before considering whether or not reading as a whole is facing an existential crisis. Please consider supporting us on Patreon! (https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed). You can join our community of writers, get access to exclusive fantasy writing workshops, and copies of acclaimed books on how to write fantasy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S1 · E5
Jan 4, 2020
17:36

Fantasy Tropes Explained: How to Subvert Clichés and Write Original Stories

Learn how to use and subvert fantasy tropes to create original, compelling stories while avoiding clichés and predictable storytelling. Fantasy tropes are the backbone of the genre—but rely on them too heavily, and your story risks feeling predictable and overdone. In this episode, I’m joined by J.M. Williams to explore how to take classic fantasy tropes and transform them into something fresh, original, and engaging. We break down the craft of working with tropes, not against them, including: How to identify overused fantasy tropes that weaken your story Why readers love familiar conventions—and when to challenge them Techniques for subverting tropes without losing their appeal How to combine and reinvent tropes to create unique concepts Common mistakes when “twisting” tropes (and how to avoid them) Using theme, voice, and structure to add originality We also explore examples from fantasy books and film, showing how successful writers play with expectations—and why some trope subversions fall flat. If you want to write fantasy that feels both familiar and original, this episode will show you how to turn tropes into powerful storytelling tools instead of creative limitations. JOIN OUR WRITING COMMUNITY https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠ LEARN MORE ABOUT FANTASY WRITING To join our writing community, access exclusive interviews, discussions, fantasy writing classes, books and more, head over to our ⁠Patreon⁠ page - ⁠https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed⁠
S1 · E4
Dec 13, 2019
30:55
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