Fantasy Writing for Barbarians
Episodes
How to Know if Your Fantasy is Young Adult, Adult, or New Adult
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we're answering a pretty thorny question. When it comes to young adult and adult fantasy, what are the real d...
How to Know When Horror Counts as Fantasy
22 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering a spooky-good question! Does horror count as fantasy? Jon dives into how genres overlap...
How to Avoid Chapters Where Characters Just Talk
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering a hot-button question from the fantasy writing subreddit: is it bad if most of your nov...
How to Reveal Backstories without Boring Flashbacks
22 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re tackling a listener email about how writers can unfold a character’s past without overwhelm...
How to Write Travel Montages
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering a listener email about one of the trickiest parts of writing epic fantasy: the dreaded ...
When to Give Up on Your Fantasy Novel and When to Start Over
04 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering a heartfelt listener email about knowing when to walk away from a draft and when to dou...
10 Things Fantasy Writers Can Learn From James Gunn's 'Superman'
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re looking at what fantasy writers can learn from James Gunn’s Superman. Yes, really. Turns ou...
How to Write Time Magic Without Breaking Your Story
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering an email from a listener wrestling with the cosmic chaos of time magic. They're draftin...
How to Edit Your Own Work (and Someone Else's)
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering an email from a listener looking to break into the world of editing. Put simply, how do...
How to Write Dark Fantasy that Doesn't Feel Hopeless
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering an email from a listener deep in the weeds of writing their dark, grimdark high fantasy...
3 Signs You Wrote an Unlikable Character – Fantasy Edition
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re reacting to Carl Duncan’s video, “5 Signs You Wrote an Unlikable Character” thr...
How to Plot Fantasy Heists Readers Will Obsess Over
26 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re pulling off a full breakdown of how to write a fantasy heist (Victorian steampunk edition). One o...
Oblivion Is a Masterclass in Fantasy Writing. Here's Why.
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re doing something a little unorthodox: I’m diving into what The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion&md...
I Break Down the First Lines of My Own Fantasy Story (Here’s What Worked and What Didn’t)
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re doing something different: I'm breaking down the opening lines of my own fantasy short story, &ld...
How to Write Slow Burn Romances
16 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering a heartfelt question from a fantasy author: how do you write a slow-burn romance in fan...
The WORST Writing Advice on the Internet – Fantasy Edition
12 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re reacting to video from popular YouTuber Alyssa Matesic about the worst writing advice on the inte...
How to Create Your Own Mythologies
08 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re diving into the timeless question at the heart of all epic fantasy: how do you create your own my...
How to Write Immortal Characters
02 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering a deceptively simple question from a listener: how do you write an immortal character? ...
How to Make Healing Magic Work Without Killing the Stakes
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering a classic worldbuilding dilemma: how do you preserve tension in a fantasy story when he...
How to Read like a Writer and Write like a Reader
04 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re answering a big question from a new writer: do you need to read a ton of books before you can wri...
How to Turn a Dream Scene into a Real Story Hook
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re diving deep into one of the most controversial ways to open your fantasy novel: the dream sequenc...
How to Avoid the Biggest Prologue Mistakes
08 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re diving into the brutal art of the prologue—how to do it right, how to do it wrong, and why ...
Write for the Market or Write What you Love?
07 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re tackling the age-old question: Should you write for the market or write what you love? A listener...
How to Avoid Cliché Monarchies in Fantasy (Without Overthinking It)
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re taking a hard look at hierarchies in fantasy worldbuilding. An author asks whether they should in...
How to Make Third-Person Close Feel Immersive and Natural
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re sharpening our axes and hacking into one of the most powerful storytelling tools: third-person cl...
How to Write Dangerous Trials and Competitions Without Combat
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re diving into one of the most intriguing challenges in fantasy storytelling: crafting trials and co...
How to nail first-person voice on the first page (Critique!)
21 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re diving into another first-page critique, breaking down what makes an opening scene compelling, im...
How to decide if your chapter is too long
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re tackling a crucial question for fantasy writers: How long is too long for a chapter? We start by ...
How to make your story’s empire feel real and threatening
17 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re tackling a classic worldbuilding challenge: How do you create a dominant, world-spanning empire w...
The worst writing advice I've ever received
31 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re confronting one of the most misleading pieces of writing advice out there: “Just Write.&rdq...
How research can help you build believable fantasy worlds
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re tackling one of the most crucial questions for fantasy writers: How much research is necessary to...
How to create prologues that hook readers (Critique!)
18 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re revisiting a controversial topic: prologues. Are they essential world-building tools or unnecessa...
How to write sci-fantasy (w/ special guest Bridget Serdock!)
18 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re blasting off into the hybrid world of science fantasy (or sci-fantasy, speculative fantasy, etc)!...
How to avoid boring travel sequences
16 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re hitting the road—literally! I dive into an all-too common question: How do you write engagi...
How to maximize your story's marketability
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we're trying something new...video! That's right, you can see me talking for once by checking out this episod...
How much description is too much?
09 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we dive into the delicate balance of description in fantasy writing. How much is too much? And how can you ma...
How to make sure your word count is just right
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, I tackle one of the most daunting aspects of writing fantasy: word count. Whether you're an aspiring writer w...
How to get atmosphere right on page one (Critique)
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we’re kicking off the new year with a live critique! I take a close look at an excerpt from an aspiring...
How to write captivating dialogue
03 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, we're diving into one of the trickiest (and most rewarding) parts of writing fantasy: crafting great dialogue...
How to name your fantasy characters
07 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Today on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, I tackle one of the most fun—and challenging—aspects of crafting a fantasy world: naming your characters....
How to title your fantasy novel
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Reading your comments! Uh oh!
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How to make an outline that works for you
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
First Page Critique: Interiority is your friend
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
How to write overpowered protagonists
21 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 char...
How to write female protagonists
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 kind...
Why you shouldn't write your novel like it's a movie
13 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Your novel is a novel, not a movie or TV show. And that's not a bad thing! We can do a ton with novels that won't work nearly as well in a screenplay ...
Writing Advice from Literary Agent/Editor Brenna English-Loeb
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Our special guest today is Brenna English-Loeb, a literary agent for Transatlantic Literary Agency and the founder of BEL Tower Editorial, a developme...
When prologues work and when they don't
11 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 (...
How to master your magic system
07 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 g...
How to unlock your fantasy writing potential
31 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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?...
How to write love interests who aren't one-dimensional
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How to make your fantasy map feel true-to-life
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
How to find original ideas with Kate Brauning
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Special guest Kate Brauning (creator of the Breakthrough Writers' Bootcamp) joins me today to answer a particularly dicey question about original idea...
How to make your inciting incident make sense
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 B...
How to create fantastical worlds that aren't overwhelming
16 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
We all want our stories to be fantastical and original. But when does a novel have "too many things?" Balancing fantastical elements with simple, effi...
How to hook readers in the first scene with Craig Hanks
14 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Special guest Craig Hanks (host of The Legendarium Podcast) joins me today as our first official guest here on Fantasy Writing for Barbarians to talk ...
How to develop smart themes without even trying
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
First of all, what even are themes? In this episode of Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, Jon Negroni takes a look at the intricacies of themes and how w...
How to craft a believable fantasy setting with nuance
10 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode of Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, Jon Negroni discusses the intricacies of crafting compelling in-world societies, focusing on the...
How to make your worldbuilding more efficient and meaningful
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Balancing effective worldbuilding with efficient plot progression can be a true challenge when writing fantasy. You want your readers to immerse thems...
The risks and rewards of having multiple POV characters
07 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Fantasy Writing for Barbarians, Jon Negroni discusses the complexities of switching points of view (POVs) in fantasy writing. He ex...
How to turn a good fantasy idea into an actual story
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have an interesting fantasy idea for your novel? A lot of us do! The problem comes when you try to write the dang thing into an actual story with well...
How to avoid writing clichéd main characters
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Email your show feedback to [email protected] or join our Discord. Our prompt this week can be found here. Fantasy Writing for Ba...