How to bring a fresh twist to old tropes
One of the great things about fantasy writing is that it feels comfortable and familiar, while at the same time offering worlds of untapped potential. We often come across the same distinctive character archetypes and greet them like old friends. But what happens when...
30 top fantasy and science fiction literary agents
Hoping to be traditionally published? Being represented by a literary agent can greatly increase your chances. Agents use their extensive contacts to pitch your manuscript to the most suitable publishers, present it in the most appealing light, and negotiate the best...
Villainy for fun and profit: 5 keys to a ‘dark lord’ antagonist
Now, just to clarify: we’re not talking about your garden-variety bandit or some misunderstood, tragic, brooding type. We’re after genuine bastards your readers will love to hate. This article is about crafting a Villain (note the capital V) worthy of the title....
The two things to know about your protagonist – and why they might actually be the same thing
You may have heard that there are two things you absolutely need to know about your protagonist to bring them to life on the page: What they want. What they fear. This makes sense. Desire and fear are the two big drivers of story conflict, especially when desire...
How to create the perfect monsters for your worldbuilding
The monster is a staple of fantasy and science-fiction worldbuilding, from Tolkien’s dragons and Balrogs to Hyperion’s Shrike. It is something other and strange, often terrifying, and normally far beyond the capability or experience of normal humans – a monster is not...
15 top fantasy and science fiction publishers
If you’re considering publication for your finished novel or work-in-progress, you’ve probably learned a thing or two about your options. That might include the two most commonly discussed paths: (1) self-publishing or (2) securing a literary agent, who, for a...
This prologue welcomes you absolutely
‘Come inside and meet the prologue,’ begins Catherynne M. Valente’s science-fiction novel Radiance, from which this article takes its title. ‘The prologue is patient. She has been told often that she is wholly unnecessary, a growth upon the story that the wise doctor...
The 5 biggest challenges of writing fantasy and science fiction (and how to overcome them)
Whether you’re working on your first fantasy or science fiction story or have multiple under your belt, you’ve likely started to realise that there’s no ‘easy’ or ‘difficult’ stage of the process. Every step of conceiving, constructing, and completing a story has its...