I have something a little bit different for you today, something that may be of interest to those of you who fancy having a go at writing fantasy…..

They say write the book you want to read. When I first started writing fiction, with nothing but ideas and enthusiasm and an ignorance of the elements of storytelling, this is the book I would have wanted as my guide.

Over the years I’ve spent countless hours studying the craft of writing and practising and honing that craft. I’ve learned many lessons, often in the harshest of ways, and the product of those lessons is this book: a guide to everything I’ve learned about writing, the fantasy genre, and the things that come when the writing is finished, if indeed it ever is.

The aim is to save you the long hours I’ve spent trawling through textbooks, sitting through lectures, seminars, workshops and scouring the web for every useful little morsel that can be found. It’s by no means a complete guide, but it’ll set you on the right path.

In the pages that follow you’ll find guidance on aspects of writing I find rarely feature in other books, and at times the focus will shift away from the technical elements and consider the philosophies behind writing, ways to help you maintain focus, and methods of battling the demons of doubt that forever loom over our shoulders.

We’ll look at the thriving genre of fantasy, the many facets that make it what it is, before turning to the histories of our world that so often inspire fantasy tales.

Lastly, this book will look at the things that come after you’ve finished your story—formatting, peer reviewing, finding publishers—and other things the contemporary writer can do to enhance their careers, such as making and maintaining a website, blogging, and promoting your work.

By the end, you’ll have a sound foundation upon which to build and the tools to venture out alone with courage and confidence. To help you reach that point, all you need is a commitment to work hard and the determination to overcome the challenges ahead.

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Why not sample before buying? Check out a few chapters by clicking the links below…

Click here to read ‘The Wheels of Change’

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Click here to read ‘Dialogue’

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Click here to read ‘Blogging’

 

Reviews…..

“I found myself binge reading A Fantasy Writer’s Handbook in the same way I would a great thriller. Written in a friendly, uncluttered style, Richard Billing has managed to accumulate and present a huge amount of useful information in a way that perhaps a favourite lecturer might do.” Charles Remington, Readers Favorite

“What a fantastic read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s really well structured, informative and engaging and for those who enjoy writing and want to hone the craft it’s an incredible tool to have in your arsenal, full of techniques and theories to help inform your writing. Enjoyed the fascinating addition of the surveys in discussing the opinions of writers in terms of “the rules”. Some real gems of insight and lots of humour along the way. A fun guide and a good time!” Emma Bolland

“There’s so much insight into writing fantasy contained within these pages. I’ve been a follower of Billing’s blog for a while now because his articles have impressed me time and again, and his book is just how I hoped–full of gems and his signature humour.” Sara

“The sections are well thought out, research is explained, shared and credited and overall is written in a way that is straightforward and makes sense. Whilst reading I have made notes to apply to my own work in progress and will be referring to this handbook many times in the future. Having been fortunate enough to be provided with an advance copy in exchange for a review, I will definitely be ordering a hard copy to have on my bookshelf for instant referral. I would encourage all aspiring writers to do the same.” Chris

“Richie Billing has found a way to communicate a vast amount of information in a way that is easy to understand.” — Eric Wirsing.

Check out more reviews on Goodreads.

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A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook is available in eBook in the vast majority of countries worldwide (see Amazon), and in paperback in the countries listed below—the links also work for buying the eBook. If you can’t buy the book in your territory, please email me.

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.ca

Amazon.de

Amazon.fr

Amazon.es

Amazon.it

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happy reading & writing 🙂