

Ep 12 Interview with Howard Andrew Jones
Aug 30, 2021
Howard Andrew Jones, author of the Ring-Sworn trilogy and editor of Tales of the Magician's Skull, shares his insights about the sword and sorcery genre. He defines S&S and discusses the balance between character development and pacing in fantasy stories. The conversation dives into the richness of diverse reading for enhancing writing skills, as well as the relevance of origin stories. Howard also highlights the impactful narratives of authors like Robert E. Howard, encouraging a broader interpretation of heroism in storytelling.
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Start With Action, Not Backstory
- Avoid front-loading backstory and start stories with immediate action to grab readers quickly.
- Let backstory emerge naturally to maintain pacing and reader engagement.
Maintain Pace in Longer Works
- Keep longer novels tight and avoid padding to maintain reader interest and momentum.
- Consider serial novel formats with episodic short stories for sustained engagement.
Sword and Sorcery's Subtle Depth
- Sword and sorcery can convey deep social issues, but subtlety is key to avoid being preachy.
- The genre's core message inspires bravery in the face of horror, blending empowerment with entertainment.