”…by using a light touch and conversational style Richie Billing has probably produced the seminal work on the subject.” — Charles Remington, Readers Favorite.Inside, you’ll find guidance on the pillars of storytelling as well as aspects of writing that rarely feature in other books, such as writing fight scenes and world-building, and at times the focus shifts away from the technical elements … technical elements and considers the philosophies behind writing, ways to help you maintain focus, and methods of battling the demons of doubt that forever loom over our shoulders.
In section two, the focus turns to the thriving genre of fantasy, the many facets that make it what it is, before exploring the histories of our world that so often inspire fantasy tales.
Lastly, this book examines 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 marketing methods.
By the end, you’ll have a sound foundation upon which to build as well as the tools to venture on alone with courage and confidence. To reach that point, all you need is a commitment to work hard and the determination to overcome the challenges ahead.
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Some of you know, some of you don’t, but I’m currently writing a fantasy novel. So, when Richie Billing contacted me about reviewing A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook, I knew I had to accept, and I’m glad I did!
Richie Billing wrote this in such a conversational, upbeat way, that I didn’t really remember that I was reading a “how-to” book. It was more like have a chat with a friend on writing, and it was really unique.
I love how this flows from chapter to chapter. Sometimes, books like this are dry, but that isn’t the case here. There are lots of topics covered, but it’s well laid out and easy to read. Richie Billing made me think about things I hadn’t thought of before in regards to writing fantasy, and I am going to use some of the things I learned here in my own writing.
I’m super glad I agreed to reading this novel. I found it really compelling, well-written, and extremely useful. I highly recommend checking this out if you’re a writer!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.*
Find this review and more on my blog: https://www.jessicabelmont.wordpress.com
This book is an essential tool for the budding author as well as the seasoned professional. Richie has assembled a “How to” manual for writers, and while it is focused on the building of fantasy worlds, it is also extremely helpful for work in any genre. The first half of the book covers many familiar and not-so-familiar writing craft topics, including a straightforward explanation of active versus passive voice, and the fundamental importance of setting your premise to guide your underlying theme. Written in a humorous manner, the book is packed with facts, tips and references for further reading, all designed to make the reader a better author. When Richie turns to the fantasy section of the book, he covers some topics that new writers often confuse or just plain get wrong, especially the facts of archery, medieval weaponry and building a believable fantasy world. He is clearly an expert in the tropes of the genre and this is a great reference manual for those who seek to build their own worlds and write compelling fiction. I recommend this book!
If you’re in the process of working on your manuscript, A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook is for you. Helpful and thorough, Billing’s tips on premise, how to fully expose your characters, designing your villains, and plotting devices (to name a few) were on point. Perfect if you’re in the revision stage.
The parts about creating tension and using friction and detours were tools I needed to read for my current WIP.
The rest of the book focuses on Fantasy genre specifics. But no matter what type of fiction you write there’s a lot to learn from the world building and sensory writing chapters. There’s also a lot of useful information on book marketing, cover letters, and publishing in general. While geared toward Fantasy writers, anyone can learn from the concepts outlined here. A great read for those looking to improve their work, in addition to next steps.
A Fantasy Writers’ Handbook is out now.