How to name your fantasy characters

Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, I tackle one of the most fun—and challenging—aspects of crafting a fantasy world: naming your characters. Whether you’re conjuring a brave hero, a sinister villain, or a mysterious supporting character, the right name can add depth, cultural significance, an…

S4E13 – 'Tomorrowland'

Why put off today when we can podcast about Tomorrowland? That's right, in the Season 4 finale of Mad Men (titled "Tomorrowland"), Don Draper faces a turning point both personally and professionally. Big surprise. As Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce struggles to secure its future, Don takes a bold step…

One Piece 1132 Manga Recap: 'Adventure in Elbaph'

This week on Rookie Pirate Radio, Jon Negroni and Travis Hymas discuss the latest chapter of the One Piece manga, titled “Adventure in Elbaph.” One Piece 1132 is currently available to read for free on Viz. And you can read an edited transcript of our conversation right here! We want your feedback…

How to title your fantasy novel

Coming up with a title for your fantasy novel can be a lot of fun, but also a lot of STRESS. So today on the show, I tell some of my own stories about how I've titled my work over the years, exploring tips and tricks and industry trends that can help you figure out the how and why of your title bef…

Reading your comments! Uh oh!

Conventional wisdom says to never read the comments, but today on a special Thanksgiving episode of the podcast, we're breaking the rules in ways only the fantasy genre can. That's right, we've gotten a fair number of comments and feedback on the show recently, so to give our wonderful producers a …

How to make an outline that works for you

Some people think that they don't need outlines. Or that their outline should be this massively intricate, chapter-by-chapter blueprint that has to be all figured out before you start writing a single word. Well, it turns out that the "right outline" is going to be a little different for every kind…

First Page Critique: Interiority is your friend

Your first few sentences are the most crucial words of your entire story. So today on the show, I’m doing something a little different: critiquing an opening page from a writer seeking feedback on their high fantasy novel. I talk about the need for interiority (a character's internal thoughts and v…

How to write overpowered protagonists

If your main character is "overpowered," that's not necessarily a bad thing. The key is to make sure you find weaknesses that complement both the character and the story they're driving. So today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, I take a look at a prompt asking for feedback on a particularly over…

How to write female protagonists

Let's be real. A lot of authors (especially men like me) tend to fall short when writing female characters, let alone protagonists. There are all kinds of stereotypes, cliches, and blindspots that we're told to avoid. But at a certain point, it can all start to feel like we're fulfilling a checklis…

One Piece 1131 Manga Recap: 'Loki in the Underworld'

This week, Jon Negroni and Travis Hymas discuss the latest chapter of the One Piece manga, titled “Loki in the Underworld.” One Piece 1131 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, you can ei…