CritRPG - A Podcast about LitRPG, Progression Fantasy, and their authors

#94 - Bloody Cozy Curses with Spencer Walther

May 18, 2025

Spencer Walther, the creative mind behind 'Blood Curse Academia,' shares valuable writing insights in this engaging conversation. He discusses the significance of character desires and how they drive conflict and drama. The whimsical concept of a quirky turkey professor teaching elemental magic sparks laughter. He also reflects on the evolution of fantasy archetypes, contrasting the everyman with the chosen one. Lastly, Spencer emphasizes the importance of community in a writer's journey, from facing rejection to finding joy in storytelling.

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ADVICE

Character Desires Drive Conflict

Understand each character's desires to establish motivation and create conflict.
Use conflicting desires between characters to drive tension and drama in your story.

ADVICE

Value Finishing and Editing

Finishing your first book is the most important milestone as a writer.
Editing and foreshadowing improve your story's depth and reader engagement.

ADVICE

Maintain Protagonist's Progression

Avoid hurting your protagonist too much to keep progression fantasy readers engaged.
Prioritize steady progression and reduce regression in your story arcs.

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A Wizard of Earthsea

Ursula K. Le Guin

The novel is a bildungsroman that explores Ged's process of learning to cope with power and come to terms with death. It is set in the fictional archipelago of Earthsea, where magic is based on a delicate balance maintained by wizards. Ged's story involves his education at a school of wizardry, his struggles with a shadow he inadvertently summons, and his journey to confront and merge with this shadow. The book is renowned for its philosophical themes, including the power of names and the balance of the universe, and is part of the six-volume Earthsea Cycle.

Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling, follows the journey of Harry Potter, an orphan boy who discovers he is a wizard. The series spans seven novels, each corresponding to one year of Harry's life at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry, along with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, navigates the magical world, confronts various challenges, and ultimately faces off against the dark wizard Lord Voldemort, who murdered Harry's parents and seeks to dominate the wizarding world. The series explores themes of friendship, love, and the struggle between good and evil.

The Wheel of Time Series

None

Robert Jordan

Brandon Sanderson

The Wheel of Time series is a sprawling epic fantasy that spans 14 main books, plus a prequel. It follows a diverse cast of characters as they navigate a world where magic is real and an ancient evil threatens to destroy everything. The series was begun by Robert Jordan and completed by Brandon Sanderson after Jordan's passing.

AI superpowers

China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order

Kai-Fu Lee

In this book, Kai-Fu Lee argues that China is poised to become the next tech-innovation superpower due to its unique advantages in AI development, such as abundant data, fewer data protection regulations, and aggressive tech startup culture. Lee discusses the potential economic upheaval caused by AI, the impact on employment, and proposes a social contract to forge a new synergy between AI and human society. The book emphasizes the need for both the US and China to accept and embrace the responsibilities that come with significant technological power.

A Song of Ice and Fire

George R.R. Martin

A Song of Ice and Fire is a series of high fantasy novels that takes place in a fictional world where seasons last for years. The story is set primarily in the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros and follows multiple plotlines, including a civil war for the Iron Throne among several competing families, the threat of the supernatural Others beyond the Wall, and the rise of dragons in the east. The series is known for its complex characters, intricate plots, and detailed world-building, drawing comparisons to J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings[2][4][5].

Primal Hunter

Zogarth

Mother of Learning

Domagoi

Blood Curse Academia

Spencer Walther

Virtuous Sons

Striker

Bog Standard Isekai

Miles

Unsouled

Will Wight

In 'Unsouled,' Lindon, born without a sacred core, embarks on a journey to defy his fate and become a powerful sacred artist. The story explores themes of perseverance and self-discovery in a world where magical abilities are tied to one's innate talents. The series follows Lindon's path as he forges his own way in a society that does not expect him to succeed.