The Dark Lord and Politics Political power is the most misunderstood force in worldbuilding. We often treat it like a static object—something you "seize" or "hold"—but power is actually more like electricity. It is dynamic, it flows through specific channels, and it can be directed, stored, or short-circuited. My Sovereign Circuit Model treats political power as a flow of energy that can be pooled, siphoned, or even short-circuited. To see how this works, let’s look at one of

This has been an insane year. And I mean that quite literally. I've published a non-fiction book, I've launched a Kickstarter, I've started a shop on my website, I've made the short list for a novel competition (This one: https://flash500.com/short-list-novel-opening-2025/ My entry is Blood and Bloom in Las Vegas) And it's that last event (Blood and Bloom making the short list) that inspired this blog post. Urban fantasy lives at a fascinating crossroads. It is fantasy that

How to create a successful (non-fiction) publishing Kickstarter campaign.

Learn four valuable lessons about book cover design for self published authors.

How to write interiority in fiction, lessons I've learned Donald Maass' book The Emotional Craft of Fiction and more!

Why divisibility in currency denominations developed and how to apply that to fantasy worldbuilding and the creation of currencies.

Create an immersive reader experience by avoiding excessive time words in your prose.

Keeper of the Gate Cue the applause! I’m thrilled to announce that Sangwheel Chronicles , my four-book epic saga, is now complete!...

How to master the art of punctuating dialogue.

This method of outlining a novel focuses on character growth arcs using the story circles of Dan Harmon of Rick and Morty fame.

"How long should a chapter be?" is a question I often get asked, and my answer is usually, "As long as it needs to be." But let’s be...

Do readers love or hate the use of common tropes in fantasy?

I'm not normally a huge Arthurian fan, but this was well done. Rodriguez brings a fresh perspective by focusing on the coming-of-age...

The Epic Third Installment in the Sangwheel Chronicles Greetings, dear readers and fellow fantasy enthusiasts! The Empire of Lumiaron...

In defense of the Evil Overlord trope in fantasy

The Chosen One trope is a familiar and oft-debated narrative device in the world of fantasy literature. The trope centers on a central...

Magic is the lifeblood of any fantasy story, the mysterious force that can captivate readers and transport them to worlds beyond their...

An exploration of character archetypes in fantasy.

Filtering in prose writing and how to remove it.

One of the most crucial lessons I've learned along my writing journey is the importance of showing, not telling, how my characters are...