The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

In this episode, we're picking up on fantasy weapons and armour and exploring how writers can employ them in fight and battle scenes. We cover some good rules to follow when writing fight scenes, tips on making the most of battle scenes, ways to maintain clarity amid the chaos, and the importance of doing your research.

For more tips and advice on writing battle scenes, check out the guides we referred to in the episode below:

+ How to write fight scenes > https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/how-to-write-fight-scenes/

+ A guide to sieges for fantasy writers > https://richiebilling.com/fantasy-writing/the-siege

To join our virtual party on Saturday 20th February to celebrate the launch of Call of the Guardian, head here > https://fb.me/e/52VuZYect

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.

*Audio Attribution Notes*

All audio effect used with open attribution license.

Sound Effects from Freesound.org:

“Ambient battle noise: swords and shouting”, by Pfranzen, https://freesound.org/s/192072/

“Unsheathing the sword”, by Ihitokage, https://freesound.org/s/395364/

“Laugh 1 pun dad joke”, by Jayfrosting, https://freesound.org/s/333403/

Music from YouTube Audio Library:

“Chariots of War”, by Aakash Gandhi

“Yonder Hill and Dale”, by Aaron Kenny

“Lord Of The Dawn”, by Jesse Gallagher

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In this episode, Richie is talking all things conflict. What is conflict? Why is it important? How do you create it? And he discusses its close relationship with characterisation.

To hammer home everything covered, we're finishing up with a writing exercise. And we're turning it into a competition.

Submit your conflict-filled short stories to us and the winner will be published on the Of Metal and Magic Publishing website, plus they'll receive a bunch of free books! Closing date is Saturday 26th February, and submissions should be emailed to [email protected]. We'll announce the winner next month.

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.

Links mentioned in the episode:

Giveaways

OMAM's LOTR giveaway - https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/2021/01/06/announcing-our-first-giveaway/

Richie Billing's sword & sorcery giveaway - https://richiebilling.com/free-book-competitions-contests-and-giveaways/

Links

Richie's guide on conflict - https://richiebilling.com/2018/09/03/plotting-the-crucible/

Background music and sound effects by BBilling

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In our first episode of 2021, we're diving into fantasy armor and fantasy weapons. We examine why the medieval period is so popular in the fantasy genre. And we look at what that means for writers when it comes to including the likes of swords, bows and plated armor in stories.

We explore medieval history, looking at the development of weapons and armor, discussing insights into their crafting, use and practical applications throughout time. And we discuss a few weapons that you may not have heard of before.

As always, get in touch with your comments, queries and curses by clicking here (https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/get-in-touch/).

To enter our current competitions, just enter your details here (https://mailchi.mp/555959f846a1/join-the-community)

And to check out Richie's guides mentioned in the episode, just click below:

A Fantasy Writer's Guide to Armor (https://richiebilling.com/2017/09/19/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-armor/)

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.

Fantasy and Archery - A Guide (https://richiebilling.com/archery-and-fantasy-a-complete-guide/)

A Fantasy Writer's Guide to Medieval Weapons (https://richiebilling.com/2020/09/16/a-fantasy-writers-guide-to-weaponry/)

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In our first-ever Christmas special, we welcome two guests to the Writers' Toolshed - EA Robins and Douglas WT Smith, two fantastic writers who make up the rest of the Of Metal and Magic Publishing Team.

We reflect on what's been a challenging year for a lot of us, as well as our writing journeys up to this point. And we take a look at what 2021 holds, including the release of JM William's novel, Call Of The Guardian, and Richie Billing's debut epic fantasy, Pariah's Lament.

We also discuss opportunities that OMAM Publishing will have for writers like you!

As always, if you have any questions, queries or curses, please head over to ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/podcast.

And to get some free fantasy books to keep you entertained during the cold winter months, just head here > https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/free-reads/

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.

Learn how to build an author website, use SEO and email marketing, and create a long-term strategy to grow your audience and sell more books.

Book marketing doesn’t have to feel overwhelming—but without the right foundations, it’s easy to waste time on strategies that don’t deliver.

In this episode, we break down the essential building blocks of effective author and book marketing, focusing on how to set yourself up for long-term success.

We cover the key systems every writer should understand, including:

• Why every author needs a website (and when they might not)
• How to structure your website for visibility and conversions
• Using SEO and blogging to attract consistent traffic
• How to build and grow a mailing list that actually converts
• Creating content that supports your books and brand
• Turning your writing into a sustainable income stream

If you want a clear, practical roadmap for marketing your books—without chasing trends or burning out—this episode will show you how to build a system that works over time.

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

Learn how to write natural, engaging dialogue with practical techniques, common mistakes to avoid, and formatting tips used by professional writers.

Dialogue can make or break a story. When it works, it pulls readers straight into the scene. When it doesn’t, it feels forced, unnatural, and flat.

In this episode, we break down exactly how to write dialogue that sounds real, reveals character, and drives your story forward—without falling into the traps that weaken so many manuscripts.

We cover both the fundamentals and the finer details of dialogue writing, including:

• What makes dialogue feel natural and believable
• The biggest dialogue mistakes writers make (and how to fix them)
• How to reveal character through speech patterns and subtext
• When to use “said” and when to avoid over-the-top saidisms
• How to write dialogue that moves the plot forward
• Formatting dialogue correctly (including speech marks and alternatives)
• Techniques to tighten and edit weak or bloated conversations

Whether you’re writing fantasy, literary fiction, or anything in between, this episode will help you write sharper, more immersive dialogue that keeps readers hooked from line to line.

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

In our ninth episode, we're taking a look at TIME magazine's recently published list of the top 100 fantasy books of all time. Click here to see the list.

We take a look at the books on the list, discuss our favourite books, some of our least favourite, the influence some books have had on the genre, and the direction that fantasy is moving toward in the years to come.

As always, we'd love to hear from you. What are your favourite fantasy books? Do you agree with the list, or perhaps you disagree? Write to us and tell us 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.

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Anthology: a collection of selected literary pieces or passages or works of art or music.

In this not-so-mini episode, JM interviews the editors of Transmundane Press, who have made a name for themselves by publishing sci-fi and fantasy anthologies. Their current project is ON TIME, which JM was fortunate enough to get a story in.

Here we discuss the appeal of the anthology, the benefit of writing and reading short stories, and the editors provide their tips for submitting your work to anthology calls.

You can find Transmundane here: https://www.transmundanepress.com/

And you can read one of JM's flash fiction pieces on the Transmundane blog, here: https://transmundanepressblog.wordpre...

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.

Magic systems play an important role in fantasy. Many people associate wizards, witches, magical weapons, creatures and worlds with the genre.

In this episode, we look at what magic systems are and how you can build them and utilise them in your own stories. We look at ways to introduce the background detail for your magic system, the extent to which it's necessary to do so, and also explore magic's relationship with religion, the latter also playing a major role in many fantasy systems. We look at a range of examples of different magic systems found in fantasy too, and debate whether your story needs one at all.

What are your thoughts on magic systems? Drop us an email or a comment. And if you enjoyed this episode, why not follow and subscribe for more?

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.

Learn how to create and profit from audiobooks, including production options, costs, and strategies to turn your novel into a successful audio release.

Audiobooks are one of the fastest-growing markets in publishing—but how do you actually turn your book into an audiobook, and is it worth it?

In this episode, I’m joined by Chris Herron from Tall Tale TV to break down the opportunities in the audiobook space and how authors can take advantage of them.

We explore both the creative and commercial side of audiobooks, including:

• Why audiobooks are growing faster than eBooks
• Different ways to create an audiobook (DIY vs professional production)
• The real costs involved—and how to budget effectively
• Funding options for audiobook production
• How to convert your novel into audio format
• What makes a great audiobook performance
• The future of audiobook platforms and distribution

We also share an exclusive audio snippet from Pariah’s Lament, offering a glimpse into the potential of audio storytelling.

If you’re looking to expand your reach, increase your income, and tap into a booming market, this episode will show you how to get started with audiobooks the right way.

TALL TALE TV

iTunes - http://bit.ly/TTTV_iTunes

Podcast - http://talltaletv.com/subscribe/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/TallTaleTV

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/talltaletv

Website - http://talltaletv.com

LISTEN

Noodlin by Richie Billing, Narrated by Chris Herron - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htu-Q9wNnic&feature=emb_title

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