The Fantasy Writing Show with Jed Herne

Today's episode is a deep dive to help you write more immersive, realistic, and unique fantasy cities. Before I became a full-time author, I was an architect. So as you can probably imagine, I've got a LOT to say on this topic - including some ideas you might not have heard before. Enjoy!Get 'The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization' with a 10% discount: https://jedherne.com/rebuild (then use code JED10 before May 25th)Thanks to Hungry Minds Publishing for sponsoring this podcast!PS: I'd highly suggest watching the video version of this on my YouTube channel, because there's a lot of maps, artwork, and other graphics I use throughout. Click here to watch the video. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever found yourself writing a scene in your fantasy novel that just felt a little boring?Well, there’s a simple approach you can use to fix that and make any scene more exciting.I call this the SLED method.And it’s a technique I’ve used again and again through the last 12 years of my writing career, in which time I’ve published four fantasy novels and a video game.It hasn’t just worked for me. I’ve taught 150+ fantasy writers in my different classes and programs, and this has given me a lot of experience of using the SLED method to troubleshoot scenes and help to improve them.So today, I’ll show you how to use it to make any scene more exciting, because knowing how to write great scenes is the foundation of writing a great novel.***Get my free 5-day character development course: www.jedherne.com/character-course Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New fantasy writers often stumble over common dialogue mistakes that can hamper their storytelling. Key pitfalls include failing to create distinct character voices and overloading conversations with unnecessary information. The importance of reading dialogue aloud to catch awkward phrasing is emphasized, along with the need for engaged, purposeful, and immersive exchanges that propel the story forward. With practical examples and actionable tips, this discussion aims to transform dialogue into a powerful tool for character development and narrative momentum.

Writing your fantasy novel can be hard. But after publishing four of my own fantasy novels, and after helping lots of other writers finish their books, I’ve found 10 simple cheat codes that make the process easier and more enjoyable — while also helping you craft better stories. ***Join the Fantasy Writer's Guild: my community where fantasy writers get weekly accountability, peer feedback, and my direct support - so that you can write a better book and have more fun along the way:www.jedherne.com/guild Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Explore the fascinating world of mentor archetypes that enhance fantasy narratives. Discover how broken mentors, like Hamish and Geralt, add emotional depth and moral ambiguity to stories. Learn about the transformative learning mentor, who evolves alongside their apprentice, creating a rich bond that highlights hope and redemption. These character dynamics not only drive character growth but also elevate the overall storytelling experience. Dive into how well-crafted mentors can leave a lasting impression on readers long after they're gone.

In the last two years, I’ve coached over 170 fantasy writers in my various programs, passing on everything I’ve learned from publishing my own four fantasy novels.This has helped a lot of writers finish their first drafts, achieve major breakthroughs with their stories, and some of them — like Peter Christensen and Michael Johnson — are even planning to publish their debut novels in the next few months.I recently surveyed these 170 writers to ask:What’s the most useful writing lesson you gained from working with me?And today, I’ll be sharing their top 10 most impactful lessons……some of which actually surprised me.***Join the Fantasy Writer's Guild: my community where fantasy writers get weekly accountability, peer feedback, and my direct support - so that you can write a better book and have more fun along the way: www.jedherne.com/guild Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you’re writing a fantasy novel, there’s a good chance you’re making one of these nine critical worldbuilding mistakes — and the problem is that any one of these could ruin your story. I know that because after working with over 90 fantasy writers in my coaching programs, I see the same worldbuilding mistakes come up again and again — and from my own experience as an author, I’ve had to learn about these mistakes the hard way. But the good news is that once you know how to avoid them, you can instead craft a world that feels utterly captivating and immersive for your readers.***Get 'The Ultimate Guide to Rebuilding a Civilization' with a 10% discount: https://jedherne.com/rebuild (then use code JEDBOOK10). Thanks to Hungry Minds Publishing for sponsoring this podcast! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I share my full step-by-step process for writing a great fantasy novel. After publishing four fantasy books (and after helping many other writers finish their own stories), I've got a lot of share when it comes to the craft of storytelling. This podcast compresses the most critical lessons I've learned from 12 years of experience so far. Enjoy!Join my accountability & support community for fantasy writers: https://bit.ly/fantasy-guildTimestamps:00:00:00 - Introduction00:00:45 - 1: PICKING YOUR IDEA00:01:23 - Finding inspiration00:04:34 - Trope brainstorm00:06:49 - Narrowing down to 1 idea00:08:34 - A harsh truth00:12:03 - Choosing your scope00:14:03 - Originality doesn’t exist00:15:28 - Ideas are cheap00:16:32 - 2: OUTLINING00:21:03 - The purpose of outlining00:23:38 - The Hourglass Method00:24:12 - Exploring the suburb00:26:01 - Finding your core (premise, theme)00:39:47 - Guiding principles document00:41:00 - Building character arcs00:51:36 - 9-Point Story Structure01:17:01 - Final thoughts on structure01:18:06 - 3: WRITING YOUR 1st DRAFT01:19:36 - The goal of a 1st draft01:24:10 - Building good writing habits01:29:23 - Track your word counts01:32:12 - Do this when you get stuck01:40:00 - More tips to make the 1st draft easier01:47:37 - 4: EDITING01:50:25 - Make notes on your 1st draft01:53:15 - The 2nd draft (big changes)01:54:43 - 3rd draft (specific passes)01:58:17 - Working with early readers02:04:29 - 4th draft (incorporate reader comments)02:05:19 - Hire a pro editor02:08:17 - The final draft02:10:54 - ‘Finishing’ a book Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I share a 7-step framework for writing interesting character relationships in your fantasy novel. If you would like my personal help to write a great fantasy novel, check out my Fantasy Outlining Bootcamp: https://jedherne.com/outline Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Jed Herne shares five principles to write better antagonists in your fantasy novel. Want to write better characters? Check out Jed's free 5-day course: https://jedherne.com/5-day-course Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.