The Pros and Cons of Worldbuilding Using Unfamiliar Cultures
Jay Kristoff
When I decided I wanted to try my hand at writing a steampunk novel, I gave myself a few provisos. The first was that I’d avoid the rose-colored goggles point…
writing advice
How Clichés Can Help You Create Great Characters
Marc Davies
“Avoid character clichés.” Like me, you’ve probably heard this advice many times. It comes in a number of guises, from make your characters unique and interesting, or try to create…
Writer’s Den: Inspiration’s Inspiration
Thomas A. Knight
I tried to figure out what to write about this month, but couldn’t find the inspiration. Usually something comes to me, but not this time. And then it came to…
One King To Rule Them All
A. J. Zaethe
Founding Fathers Or Mothers Hope you have been practicing your John Hancocks, because you are about to become a founding father or mother. I am certain that most of you…
Hybrid Fantasy
Eric Christensen
Once upon a time, fantasy stories had a relatively simple format. Typically, a hero fought a monster, and there was often some magic involved. This format goes as far back…
The Last Hurrah: A Farewell to Fantasy Faction
Amy Rose Davis
It is with a heavy heart that I write this, my final post for Fantasy-Faction. After much deliberation and consideration, I’ve come to the realization that in order to properly…
It’s Only Words
Sandra Norval
After being held back by the deliciously curvaceous Wendy I was finally back on the trail up Mount Publication, trudging up the gravelly path, fighting hard against the gale that…
When Nice Girls Write Dark Fantasy
Ashley Barnard
I’m a nice girl. A very nice girl. I’ve been told many times that I am the nicest person so-and-so has ever met. And happy too! I sing Broadway show…
Something Is Wrong In Fantasy
Lady Rosalie Skinner
Something is blurring the focus in Fantasy. Did that get your attention? Fantasy is great. There is nothing wrong with the genre, but as aspiring authors, we need to realize…
The Fantasy Feminist – Part 4
A comment from AE Marling on one of my recent blog posts about feminism in fantasy triggered some thoughts about another approach to bringing a feminist touch to our works—namely,…
Why World Build?
Keeping It Real There is no wrong way to build a world, but there are factors of believability. A world should always be built to be believable, unless of course…
Why Fantasy?
Dan Hanks
For a writer of fantasy, I’ve written remarkably little about fantasy. I can slip it on like a second skin, but never really stopped to think just how easy it…