The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

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. Bu...

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 epi...

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...

Learn the fantasy writing process from idea to publication, with practical insights on drafting, editing, and improving your writing from a bestselling author. What does a successful fantasy writing process actually look like—from first idea to finished, published novel? In this episode, I’m joined by bestselling author Stephen Aryan , whose novels with major publishers like Orbit and Angry Robot...

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 ar...

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,...

Learn the fantasy writing process from bestselling author Mary E. Pearson, including character creation, worldbuilding, and how she crafts her YA novels. What can writers learn from one of the most successful voices in YA fantasy? In this episode, I’m joined by Mary E. Pearson , New York Times bestselling author and creator of the Remnant Universe, to explore her approach to storytelling and the f...

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. I...

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...

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...

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 exhilara...

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...

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 Writ...

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...

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 conversatio...

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...

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 , crea...

Learn how to write compelling ghost stories, including key techniques for atmosphere, tension, and how the genre influences fantasy storytelling. Ghost stories are one of the oldest and most enduring forms of storytelling—but writing one that truly unsettles and lingers with readers takes skill. In this episode, I’m joined by Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson from The Fey Fellows Podcast to explore w...

In this episode, we take a look at the jobs and occupations we often see in the fantasy genre. From bards to blacksmiths, a lot of these roles take inspiration from those carried out by people in the medieval period. So to enlighten us on the subject, history whizz Aidan Mattis from The Lore Lodge podcast joins me for an in-depth chat on the subject. Get in touch: thefantasywriterstoolshed@gmail.c...

In part three of our series on creating lifelike characters, we welcome political psychologist, Abby, back to the Toolshed for a discussion on moral psychology. We discuss human morality, specifically looking at what makes people tick, how people justify their actions, and how we decide what’s right and what’s wrong. If you're looking for writing advice on creating villains of all types—from the m...

Discover how Dungeons & Dragons influenced modern fantasy, from iconic tropes to worldbuilding techniques and storytelling styles used by writers today. Few things have shaped modern fantasy as much as Dungeons & Dragons. From character archetypes to entire worldbuilding systems, its impact runs deep across books, games, and storytelling as a whole. In this episode, I’m joined by Janina Ar...

You can find all manner of weapons in the fantasy genre. From giant swords to magical axes, writers have conjured all manner of deadly devices over the years. In this episode, we take a look at the inspiration for fantasy weapons, exploring their medieval roots. We discuss the practicalities of using weapons--how heavy are swords and how to pierce plate armour--to the reasons why they were designe...

In this episode of the podcast, I welcome sociologist and fantasy book lover Dr Enn Burke to the Toolshed to teach us how sociological factors can help shape our characters. It's the ideal episode to learn more about how to create fictional characters that almost feel as alive as real people. Sociology plays a huge part in how we're made up. It relates to everything ranging from our childhood, lik...

In this edition, I'm joined by our oracle of medieval history, Aidan Mattis, for a chat about the food and cuisines of the Middle Ages—something I think is definitely skipped by writers. Folklorists Janina Arndt and Lucy Atkinson also join me for an in-depth chat about fairytales—what are they, what can we learn from them, and how to write your own. You can also find a bunch of calls for submissio...

In this episode, we dive into the process of creating lifelike characters by examining psychology—what makes people who they are? What drives them and why? Political psychologist and YouTuber Abby explains all in our illuminating discussion that's bound to inspire some ideas for your fantasy characters. I also share a very simple yet very effective method of creating suspense. And there are some i...