Rephonic
Artwork for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed
Writing Process
Short Stories
Fantasy Fiction
Character Development
Born Of Blood and Ash
The Hunter's Gambit
Grimdark
Writing
Editing
Self-Publishing
Bigfoot
The Mothman
Inkarnate
Romantasy
Once A Queen
NIGHTBIRDS
Fyrebirds
Fantasy Literature
Dungeons & Dragons
Cartography

The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed is a podcast for aspiring and experienced fantasy writers who want to master storytelling, creative writing, worldbuilding and character creation. Hosted by author Richie Billing, each episode features practical writing advice and tips, publishing guidance, and inspiring interviews with bestselling authors, editors, historians, psychologists and even an FBI Special Ag... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes99Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

Latest Episodes

I'm delighted to be joined by bestselling fantasy authors Lucy Holland and Dan Coxon for an all-encompassing discussion on writing fantasy.

Dan has curated and co-edited a brilliant new craft book called Writing The Magic, published by Dead Ink, an... more

YouTube

In this episode, I'm delighted to be joined by Professor Charles Li, author of the brilliant new historical fiction novel, Lord Guan.

We chat all about Professor Li's expertise in languages and linguistics, and I pick his brain for worldbuilding ti... more

YouTube

I'm thrilled to be joined by bestselling fantasy author, Jim C. Hines for an extended interview about his two new books, Kitemaster and the relaunch of the beloved classic, Goblin Quest.

Jim opens up about his writing journey, what it's like to be ... more

YouTube

In this episode, I’m joined by New York Times Best Selling fantasy author, Kel Kade.

Kel’s new book, Sanctum of the Soul, was published by Tor in February 2025 and completes her brilliant new trilogy. As well as discussing the new book, we also div... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Professor Charles Li
Author and linguist specializing in Chinese history and languages
Episode: Linguistics and Historical Fiction with Professor Charles Li
Jim C. Hines
Bestselling fantasy author
Episode: Writing Fantasy With Jim C. Hines
Kel Kade
New York Times bestselling author
Episode: Writing Fresh Fantasy With Kel Kade
Sarah Arthur
Best-selling author known for her YA novels.
Episode: Theme, Premise and Writing YA In 2025 with Sarah Arthur
HB Reneau
Author, emergency physician, and military officer
Episode: Writing About Injuries and Wounds
Brianna Summers
Literary Assistant at Holloway Literary Agency
Holloway Literary Agency
Episode: How To Get A Literary Agent
Dan Coxon
Award-winning writer and editor
Episode: How To Write Short Stories With Dan Coxon
Anna Smith Spark
Queen of Grimdark and author known for her intricate fantasy worlds.
Episode: How To Write Grimdark With Anna Smith Spark
Ciel Pierlot
Award-nominated author known for her upcoming book 'The Hunter's Gambit'
Angry Robot
Episode: Ciel Pierlot On Writing Fantasy And Queer Fiction

Host

Richie Billing
Host with experience in creative writing and a focus on fantasy fiction, engaging with various writers and professionals to provide valuable insights and discussions on writing.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 298 ratings
  • Fantastic practical advice and information about how fantasy writing is done

    I’m currently working on a fantasy story and am so pleased to have found this podcast! There’s some wonderfully practical advice from the host and guests about how to create a compelling fantasy story (characters, world building and magic systems). Thank you so much, Richie!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Elena-A
    Australia5 months ago
  • Love listening to Richie's voice when he talks about the intricacies of world building or other fantasy writing challenges. He also has excellent guests and interesting topics.

    Podchaser
    5
    yhoniyoung
    10 months ago
  • Love it

    Great content. Very easy to listen:)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3kittensgames
    Canada3 years ago
  • Audio

    I would give this podcast a five star based on the content that I could hear and understand but the audio from the gentleman‘s voice who is from the UK is so low I can’t hear what he saying in the audio from the gentleman‘s voice from the US is so loud but I have to constantly lower and raise the volume just to hear what’s going on. Which is super annoying. But from what I can hear and understand I’ve been enjoying the series even though I just started. So hopefully I can change my rating to a f... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    MobRain
    United States4 years ago
  • Perfect!

    This podcast is so good. These guys speak with a humble authority. I find myself happy, inspired, motivated and informed after every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Horse-noceros
    United Kingdom5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some feedback indicates audio quality issues, affecting ease of listening for some listeners, but overall enjoyment remains high.
The laid-back style of the host makes for an enjoyable listening experience, with many feeling inspired and informed after each episode.
Listeners appreciate the practical advice and insights on writing fantasy stories, noting the valuable discussions around character development and world-building.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#150
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#249
United Kingdom/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#159
Italy/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#5
Mexico/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#117
Brazil/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#207
New Zealand/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Linguistics and Historical Fiction with Professor Charles Li
Q: Did you find any challenges? Or did you run into any challenges when you were writing it?
The only challenge was managing my impatience during the revision process.
Linguistics and Historical Fiction with Professor Charles Li
Q: What was it like for you, sort of transitioning and all the change in your life?
It was traumatic and eye-opening as I transitioned from Hong Kong to the United States.
Theme, Premise and Writing YA In 2025 with Sarah Arthur
Q: What trends have you noticed in YA fiction as we move into 2025?
One trend is the focus on producing high-design, collectible editions of best-selling books, reminiscent of the desire for tangible, beautifully crafted literary art.
Theme, Premise and Writing YA In 2025 with Sarah Arthur
Q: What do you think the biggest challenge was writing the second book compared to the first?
The challenge was probably the time crunch, as Once A Castle had a much shorter timeline for completion.
Writing About Injuries and Wounds
Q: How can authors depict mental trauma resulting from injuries realistically?
Authors can show the physical reactions to trauma within characters, including establishing coping mechanisms both good and bad, along with the importance of social support systems.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

What is The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Focused on creative writing and fantasy fiction, this content offers a rich tapestry of insights, interviews, and practical tips aimed primarily at writers in the genre. Listeners can expect engaging discussions with a variety of guests, including bestselling authors, historians, and other specialists, all of whom share their unique perspectives on writing, storytelling, and the intricacies of fantasy literature. Episodes often explore topics such as character development, world-building, and the publishing landscape, alongside practical guidance for aspiring writers on obtaining literary representation and enhancing their craft. Notably, the community aspect is emphasized, inviting listeners to connect through platforms like Discord and ac... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed:

1. Writing Excuses
2. Fantasy Writing for Barbarians
3. Essential Guide to Writing a Novel
4. Helping Writers Become Authors
5. Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

How many episodes of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed are there?

The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed launched 6 years ago and published 99 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed?

Recent guests on The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed include:

1. Professor Charles Li
2. Jim C. Hines
3. Kel Kade
4. Sarah Arthur
5. HB Reneau
6. Brianna Summers
7. Dan Coxon
8. Anna Smith Spark

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days