Rephonic
Artwork for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed - Fantasy Writing Craft Advice & Author Interviews

Richie Billing
Fantasy Writing
Email Marketing
Character Development
Writing Process
Creative Writing
Short Stories
Magic Systems
Young Adult Fiction
Fantasy Fiction
Once A Queen
Injuries In Fiction
Worldbuilding
Email Platforms
Open Rates
Click Rates
Patreon
Marketing Automation
The Hunter's Gambit
Self-Publishing
Born Of Blood and Ash

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 fantasy writing craft advice as well as fiction writing advice generally, publishing tips and guidance, and inspiring author interviews with bestsellers, edit... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes107Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToArtsEducationBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

Latest Episodes

For the full video experience, please watch on YouTube > www.youtube.com/@fixingbadwriting

Welcome to Fixing Bad Writing, a new series within The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed podcast, where I take a rubbish story generated by AI and try to make... more

YouTube

Learn how to write a query letter for literary agents, including the correct structure, paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown, submission strategy, and proven techniques to increase your chances of getting representation.

Writing a query letter is one of... more

YouTube

What makes the fae such enduring figures in fantasy? How do you write in the present tense without it feeling awkward? And can a fantasy story work in a confined setting instead of a vast world?

In this episode, I’m joined by author Rym Kechacha to ... more

YouTube

This episode explains how to build a sustainable and profitable author business, focusing on mindset, income streams, and long-term strategy. You’ll learn how to transition from hobbyist to professional writer, market your books effectively, use AI t... 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.

Writing Excuses
Writing ExcusesMary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler
No Write Way with V. E. Schwab
No Write Way with V. E. SchwabV. E. Schwab (Author)
The Shit No One Tells You About Writing
The Shit No One Tells You About WritingBianca Marais, Carly Watters and CeCe Lyra

Recent Guests

Rym Kechacha
Fantasy author known for Dark River and The Apple and the Pearl
Titan Books (publisher of The Apple and the Pearl)
Episode: Writing the Fae, Present Tense Storytelling and Confined Fantasy Worlds | Rym Kechacha on The Apple and the Pearl
RJ Barker
Author known for his fantasy novels including The Boneships and The Age of Assassins.
Self-Published Author
Episode: RJ Barker on Fantasy Writing: Character Depth, Worldbuilding, and the Writing Process
Suzy Vadori
YA author, editor, and writing coach
Episode: The Biggest Mistakes Authors Make (According to a Writing Coach) | Suzy Vadori on Character Creation, Worldbuilding & Author Growth
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: Jim C. Hines on Writing Fantasy: Characters, Short Stories, and the Author Journey
Kel Kade
New York Times bestselling author
Episode: Writing Fresh Fantasy With Kel Kade
HB Reneau
Author, emergency physician, and military officer
Episode: How to Write Realistic Injuries and Wounds in Fantasy (With an ER Doctor)
Brianna Summers
Literary Assistant at Holloway Literary Agency
Holloway Literary Agency
Episode: Why Agents Reject Your Book (And How to Get a Literary Agent Instead)
Dan Coxon
Award-winning writer and editor
Episode: How to Write Fantasy Short Stories That Get Published (With Editor Dan Coxon)

Host

Richie Billing
Host of The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 306 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
    Australiaa year 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
    a year ago
  • Love it

    Great content. Very easy to listen:)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    3kittensgames
    Canada4 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.

Guests are insightful and the conversations help with writer motivation and craft.
The host speaks with authority and can be inspiring and informative.
Shows practical, actionable advice for fantasy writers.
Audio levels can vary between episodes, but content is generally strong and engaging.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#246
United Kingdom/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How To Write A Query Letter Literary Agents Will Love (With Stephen Aryan)
Q: Where can listeners find sample edits or templates?
There are resources like the agent's own site and services that provide sample edits or query-package assessments, such as the right advice website, Mushens Entertainment blogs, and Stephen Aryan's own blog post detailing his query journey.
How To Write A Query Letter Literary Agents Will Love (With Stephen Aryan)
Q: What about competition and market timing?
Market timing matters; agents want works that fit current demand. Comparables must be recent, and the letter should acknowledge market shifts since older classics, so you're not asking the agent to pitch something that's no longer in demand.
How To Write A Query Letter Literary Agents Will Love (With Stephen Aryan)
Q: How do you handle the synopsis in relation to the query letter?
The synopsis is a separate document that outlines the full arc of the story without spoilers in a way that helps editors understand the narrative architecture and character journeys, whereas the query letter is a teaser designed to secure a read of the manuscript.
How To Write A Query Letter Literary Agents Will Love (With Stephen Aryan)
Q: What should the first paragraph include?
The first paragraph should include the essential information: who the audience is, how long the book is, what genre it fits into, whether it's standalone or part of a series, and a couple of current comp titles that illustrate its market position.
How To Write A Query Letter Literary Agents Will Love (With Stephen Aryan)
Q: Can you tell us a bit about what a query letter is?
A query letter is the initial pitch to a literary agent that summarizes the book, defines the audience and market, and shows that the author has done their homework. It's not about showing off personality but about presenting the book in a way an agent canSell it, including clear evidence of fit and current market relevance.

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?

A practical, writer-focused show that blends actionable craft advice with expert interviews. Topics frequently center on worldbuilding, character development, and marketing for authors, including strategies for email outreach, social media, and building an author platform. Guests range from bestselling fantasy authors to editors and agents, offering behind-the-scenes insights into publishing, series planning, and navigating the evolving fantasy market. A hallmark is ample real-world ways to grow readership, improve writing processes, and market books without losing sight of storytelling quality. The format typically combines practical guidance with candid reflections on the writing life, making it useful for both new and experienced writers... 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. The Fantasy Writing Show with Jed Herne
2. Writing Excuses
3. No Write Way with V. E. Schwab
4. Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips
5. The Shit No One Tells You About Writing

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

The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed launched 6 years ago and published 107 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. Rym Kechacha
2. RJ Barker
3. Suzy Vadori
4. Professor Charles Li
5. Jim C. Hines
6. Kel Kade
7. HB Reneau
8. Brianna Summers

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