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The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

Dedicated to all things writing, fantasy fiction and helping you build your writing career!

The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshedis dedicated to all things writing, fantasy fiction, and building your author platform, all with the aim of helping you become a better writer. Expect general writing tips, techniques, guides

Latest Episode2/15/2021

Episode 12 - How To Write Fight and Battle Scenes

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

Episode 12 - How To Write Fight and Battle Scenes

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

Episode 11.5 - How To Create Conflict

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 ofmetalandmagicpublishing@gmail.com. We'll announce the winner next month. Links mentioned in the episode:GiveawaysOMAM'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/LinksRichie's guide on conflict - https://richiebilling.com/2018/09/03/plotting-the-crucible/Background music and sound effects by BBilling

Episode 11 - Fantasy Armor and Weapons

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/)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/)

Episode 10.5 - Christmas Special

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/

Episode 10 - Author and Book Marketing - Part 1

In this episode, we're wading into the deep and murky waters of author and book marketing. We tackle every writer's least favourite job—marketing. And in this particular episode, we're dealing with setting yourself up for success—building a website and the debate around doing so, putting content on your website, SEO and blogging, creating and growing a mailing list, and making money from your writing, so you can spend more time doing the thing you love!We'll return to marketing in later episodes, so if you have any questions at all, please get in touch by clicking here.Links mentioned in the episode:Of Metal and Magic Publishing - don't forget to join our reading group to get a free book, Ancient Heritage! > https://ofmetalandmagicpublishing.wordpress.com/Richie's Privacy Policy > https://richiebilling.com/privacy-policy/

Episode 9.5 - Writing Good Dialogue

In this instalment, we're departing from our fantasy focus and getting down and dirty with dialogue—one of the key components of any great story. We tackle the do's and don't's of dialogue, ways you can write effective dialogue, saidisms, and answer the most common formatting questions, such as should you use speech marks or not. As always, we want to hear from you! Drop us an email by clicking here.

Episode 9 - The Best Fantasy Books Of All Time

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.

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