Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we're trying something new...video! That's right, you can see me talking for once by checking out this episode on our YouTube channel.

As for the episode itself, I answer a listener's burning question: What makes a story maximally marketable? Drawing from examples like Harry Potter, Star Wars, Hunger Games, and more, I break down the patterns and elements that make iconic stories resonate. We'll explore high stakes, unique magic systems, vivid world-building, and crafting stories that feel fresh yet familiar. Plus, I’ll share some personal insights on balancing creativity with commercial appeal and how to inject emotional depth into your writing.

Email your show feedback and/or advice prompts to [email protected] or join our Discord.

Fantasy Writing for Barbarians‘ host is Jon Negroni, author of The Pixar Theory, Killerjoy, and more. Our producers are Natalia Emmons and Bridget Serdock. You can find all our episodes and various podcast app options here.

Intro music: "Adventures in Adventureland" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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