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://duotrope.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!

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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/

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

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ABOUT ETHAN FIFIELD

https://www.audible.com/search?searchNarrator=Ethan+Fifield

GET THE PARIAH'S LAMENT

https://mybook.to/PariahsLament

GET IN TOUCH

[email protected]

⁠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/

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

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ABOUT CIEL PIERLOT

https://cielpierlot.com/

GET THE HUNTER'S GAMBIT

https://angryrobotbooks.com/books/the-hunters-gambit/

GET IN TOUCH

[email protected]

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/

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

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ABOUT STEPHEN ARYAN

https://stephen-aryan.com/

GET NEW YORK MINUTE

https://stephen-aryan.com/2024/08/01/new-york-minute/

https://amzn.to/3YlqP65

GET IN TOUCH

[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠⁠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/

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

[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠⁠ here

And learn more about ⁠⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠⁠ here

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

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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

[email protected]

⁠⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠⁠writing tips⁠ and guides⁠ here

And learn more about ⁠⁠writing fantasy⁠⁠ here

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

[email protected]

⁠www.richiebilling.com⁠

RESOURCES

Discover more ⁠writing tips⁠ and guides here

And learn more about ⁠writing fantasy⁠ here

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 [email protected]

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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

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

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ABOUT MANDA SCOTT

https://mandascott.co.uk/

ANY HUMAN POWER

https://septemberpublishing.org/product/any-human-power-hb/

GET IN TOUCH

[email protected]

www.richiebilling.com

Discover more writing tips and guides here

And learn more about writing fantasy here

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