The Changing Face(s) of Fantasy – Guest Blog by Adam Dalton
Adam Dalton
It’s obviously blasphemy to criticise Tolkien, even indirectly, but for me his work is more important in historico-cultural terms than modern literary terms. Before you send me a load of…
writing advice
Five Reasons To Cast Your Novel
Adrian Faulkner
At the heart of every great novel are great characters. Love them or hate them, their escapades propel the narrative forward. Readers empathise with them, cheer them on and cry…
The Philosophy of Writing and Reading
Shanothaine
phi·los·o·phy, n: The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence, especially when considered as an academic discipline. The word philosophy derives from the Greek philo (“loving”) and…
Worldbuilding A Religion – Part One: Religion vs. Cult
Rebekah Loper
Those of you who have followed Fantasy-Faction for a couple of years (or pretty much since the beginning) will probably remember the Creating God series of articles by Amy Rose…
Fantasy Medicine – Part Two: Pretty as a Bairnwort
B. Pine
Disclaimer: If you stumbled upon this post while looking for medical advice or information, please note that this article was NOT written for this purpose. Please do not take any…
But I Just Want to be Normal!
Victoria Hooper
“Why me?” the protagonist cries as she throws an angry lightning bolt at the sky. Ever since she discovered her superpowers and incredible strength, being a hero has been such…
Is It Time To Rethink Your Bio?
“Jonny Author has been writing since he was a boy. His deep love of the elven language together with a slightly unnerving interest in all things undead saw his High…
Different Worlds
Aaron Miles
One of the many draws of the fantasy genre is the variety of strange and wonderful worlds that the stories take place in. A reader can enter an amazing new…
Keeping Characters Realistic In A Fantasy Setting
The fantasy genre is about the imagination, so it might seem strange to talk about realism in your work, but hear me out. Your characters are what sell your story,…
Writing Is Like LEGO and It’s Awesome
Somewhere out there, in the aether of time and space, is a scientific report waiting to be written about the links between writers and LEGO. Just about every writer I…
Combat in Fantasy – Part Two: Top Ten Tips for Wearing Armour
Danie Ware
Armour. Often the subject of heavily debated book covers. Rule of thumb? The heavier it is, the more protection it offers, but the more it slows you down. You need…
Elements of Structure
The Hero’s Journey or ‘Monomyth’ is one of the most pervasive and well known formulas in fiction, yet many writers have never even heard of it. The Hero’s Journey is…