The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

by Richie Billing
BooksHow To
Season 2

The Power Of Wattpad

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.
S2 · E23
Nov 15, 2022
32:14

The Origins Of The Fantasy Genre - Beowulf And King Arthur

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.
S2 · E22
Oct 28, 2022
37:17

The Lowdown On Literary Agents With Laura Bennett

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.
S2 · E21
Sep 27, 2022
36:07

Worldbuilding Tips: 4 Techniques to Make Your Fantasy World Feel Alive

Ready to take your worldbuilding to the next level? In this episode of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, Richie Billing shares four essential worldbuilding tips for building a fantasy world that feels alive — techniques drawn from years of trial and error and from some of the best fantasy authors and worldbuilders in the genre, many of whom have appeared on this podcast. Worldbuilding can be exhilarating and overwhelming in equal measure. Maps, histories, religions, languages, politics — but which details actually matter? Richie distils the chaos into four clear, actionable principles that help you focus on what truly brings a fictional world to life. This episode answers the questions writers wrestle with most: which worldbuilding details are worth your time, how to balance imagination with realism, and how to tie your setting directly to plot and character. In this episode you'll learn: The most overlooked rule of effective worldbuilding — and how it transforms your storytelling How to balance imagination and realism so readers never feel lost Why purposeful detail beats encyclopaedic exposition every time How to connect your setting directly to plot and character motivation How to use sensory description and emotion to make a world feel lived-in Why consistency is the secret weapon of great fantasy settings Whether you're building a sprawling epic world or a single village, this episode gives you the tools and the mindset to make your fictional world feel authentic and compelling. 🗺️ Download a free worldbuilding template: https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding ✍️ Fantasy writing books, classes & tools: https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed
S2 · E20
Sep 13, 2022
25:47

How to Write Believable Villains: The Sociology of Bad Guys (with Dr Enn Burke)

Want to write villains readers actually believe in? In this episode of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, host Richie Billing is joined by Dr Enn Burke for a fascinating deep dive into the sociology of villains — how real social forces shape the deviant and villainous characters in your fiction. The most convincing antagonists aren't simply born evil. They're shaped by their world. Richie and Dr Burke explore how upbringing, peer groups, and oppressive systems and policies — like the war on drugs — influence who a person becomes, and how you can use those same forces to create believable, three-dimensional villains on the page. Along the way they draw on Michel Foucault's Discipline & Punish and the documentary The House I Live In to unpack how power, punishment and society manufacture "deviance." This episode explores questions like: What really makes someone a villain — their nature, or their environment? How do upbringing and peer groups shape deviant behaviour? How do oppressive systems and policies (like the drug war) create villains? What can Foucault's Discipline & Punish teach writers about power and punishment? How do you turn these ideas into believable antagonists in your story? Whether you're writing an epic fantasy dark lord, a morally grey antagonist, or a quiet everyday villain, this conversation gives you a sociological toolkit for making them land. In this episode, you'll learn: Why the most believable villains are products of their world How upbringing, peer groups and social pressure shape deviance How systems of power and policy create "villains" What sociology and Foucault can teach fiction writers about evil How to apply these ideas to your own antagonists About Dr Enn Burke: Dr Enn Burke is the host of the Ripped From The Headlines podcast, which examines crime, society and the forces that shape human behaviour. ✍️ Fantasy writing classes: https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classes 💬 Join our writing community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed
S2 · E19
Aug 28, 2022
44:50

Medieval Knights And Fantasy

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 Medieval Armor and Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-armor Medieval Weapons and Fantasy - https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-weaponry Worldbuilding and Religion - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/worldbuilding-religion 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.
S2 · E18
Aug 13, 2022
44:30

The Psychology Of Villains And Heroes

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 How To Write Bad Guys And Villains - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/thebadguys The Ultimate List Of Worldbuilding Resources - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding/worldbuilding-resources A Guide To Character Development - https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/character-development 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.
S2 · E17
Jul 27, 2022
35:26

Adrian Tchaikovsky on Worldbuilding, Character Creation & the Writing Process | Children of Time Author

Adrian Tchaikovsky — the Arthur C. Clarke Award and Hugo Award-winning author of Children of Time and Shadows of the Apt — joins host Richie Billing for a deep dive into worldbuilding, character creation and the writing process. One of the most acclaimed and prolific voices in modern science fiction and fantasy shares how he turns a spark of an idea into a fully realised novel. In this conversation, Adrian breaks down how he generates story ideas and develops them into complete stories, then goes deep on the craft fundamentals every fantasy and sci-fi writer wrestles with — worldbuilding, character creation, plotting and theme. He also goes beyond the page to talk about the publishing industry itself, including what it's really like to work with editors and literary agents. This episode answers questions like: How do you come up with story ideas — and develop them into a full novel? How does an award-winning author approach worldbuilding? How do you create believable, memorable characters (including non-human ones)? How do plot and theme work together to hold a story up? What's it actually like working with editors and agents in traditional publishing? Whether you write epic fantasy, science fiction, or anything in between, this is a masterclass in storytelling craft from a genuine master of the genre. In this episode you'll learn: A working method for generating and developing story ideas How to build immersive, believable worlds Approaches to creating characters readers care about How plotting and theme support each other How traditional publishing, editors and agents fit into a writing career About Adrian Tchaikovsky: Adrian Tchaikovsky is a British science fiction and fantasy author known for his vast worldbuilding and bold ideas around evolution, artificial intelligence and non-human life. He won the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 2016 for Children of Time and the Hugo Award for Best Series in 2023 for the Children of Time series. His other work includes the ten-book epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt and The Final Architecture trilogy. A former legal executive trained in zoology, he became a full-time writer in 2018 and now publishes at a famously prolific pace. 🕸️ Adrian Tchaikovsky's books: https://adriantchaikovsky.com/books.html 🗺️ Free worldbuilding template: https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding ✍️ Fantasy writing classes: https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing-classes 💬 Join our writing community on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed
S2 · E16
Jul 13, 2022
51:06

Kickstarter For Writers And Insights From Publishers On Submissions

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 Worldbuilding Template and Guide - https://richiebilling.com/worldbuilding Free Book Description Generator For Amazon And Goodreads - https://richiebilling.com/amazon-goodreads-book-description-generator How To Find Podcasts For Writers - https://richiebilling.com/welcome/the-fantasy-writers-toolshed-podcast/how-to-find-podcasts-for-writers 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.
S2 · E15
Jun 27, 2022
34:26

Medieval Entertainment Explained: Taverns, Bards, Games and Daily Life (With Aidan Mattis)

Discover how people entertained themselves in the Middle Ages, from taverns and bards to games and feasts, and how to use these details to build richer, more immersive fantasy worlds. Entertainment in the Middle Ages wasn’t just a luxury. It was a vital part of daily life, shaping culture, community, and storytelling across every level of society. In this episode, I’m joined by Aidan Mattis, creator of The Lore Lodge Podcast, to explore the real ways people found fun, meaning, and escape in medieval times. We break down the reality behind medieval entertainment and how you can use it in your writing, including: The role of bards, troubadours, and storytellers What taverns were really like (and why they mattered) Popular medieval games, hobbies, and pastimes Feasts, festivals, and social gatherings How entertainment reveals class, culture, and character If you want to bring your fantasy worlds to life with authentic detail, this episode will show you how entertainment can add depth, realism, and texture to your setting. ABOUT AIDAN MATTIS Aidan Mattis - The Lore Lodge Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/c/thelorelodge 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
S2 · E14
Jun 14, 2022
26:03
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