Writing Advice from Literary Agent/Editor Brenna English-Loeb

Our special guest today is Brenna English-Loeb, a literary agent for Transatlantic Literary Agency and the founder of BEL Tower Editorial, a developmental editing business where she helps authors craft rich, compelling stories across multiple genres, including of course fantasy. Brenna English-Loe…

When prologues work and when they don't

Just say no to prologues. Right? Well, usually, yes. But there's a reason a lot of the most famous fantasy novels of all time just so happen to have (you guessed it) prologues. Even though a prologue or prelude or "chapter 0" is most likely unnecessary and maybe even detrimental to your own novel, …

How to master your magic system

Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, I critique a magic system from an author who worries their idea might put them in a corner down the road. I get into the differences between hard and soft magic systems, some positive indicators that you're developing a good one, and ultimately how to make s…

One Piece 1130 Manga Recap: 'The Accursed Prince'

This week on the show, Jon Negroni and Travis Hymas discuss the latest chapter of the One Piece manga, titled “The Accursed Prince." One Piece 1130 is currently available to read for free on Viz. We want your feedback! If you have any questions, corrections, or your own theories and speculation, y…

How to unlock your fantasy writing potential

One of the hardest things about writing a fantasy novel (or any novel) is starting. Where do you even begin? And how do you know if you're even ready? Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, I talk all about overcoming those creative blocks that can mess up our writing process. Especially if you'…

How to write love interests who aren't one-dimensional

If you're writing a fantasy romance — or maybe just a fantasy with some romance — then at some point you're probably going to wonder if your love interest is compelling enough. Readers typically bemoan one-dimensional love interests who don't really have their own character arcs. When they're just …

How to make your fantasy map feel true-to-life

Most fantasy stories benefit from a great map. But is it really ok to draw upon real-world geography as inspiration? Well, yeah! There are certainly some do's and don'ts when it comes to mirroring real locations, but it usually comes down to when and how you start thinking about your setting as a l…

How to find original ideas with Kate Brauning

Special guest Kate Brauning (creator of the Breakthrough Writers' Bootcamp) joins me today to answer a particularly dicey question about original ideas. What if your concept for a new fantasy story has already been done before? Kate and I discuss the current landscape of publishing in the fantasy g…

How to make your inciting incident make sense

Your inciting incident is going to be one of the most crucial moments in your entire story. No pressure, of course. So today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, I take a look at a prompt from a fantasy writer who's having trouble making logical and emotional sense out of their inciting incident. Plu…

How to create fantastical worlds that aren't overwhelming

We all want our stories to be fantastical and original. But when does a novel have "too many things?" Balancing fantastical elements with simple, efficient storytelling is a serious challenge, but that's where this podcast comes in. Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, I dig into a prompt from …