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Writing a Visual Novel—Game Dev Challenge
One of the wilder things I’ve done so far this year is participate in a GAME DEV CHALLENGE over on @Blackthornprod ’s channel! I helped...


Quotidian Writer Episode 3: Worldbuilding
Podcas t Episode Medium Transcript This episode is a companion piece to my video on Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worldbuilding Fundamentals, with...


Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worldbuilding Fundamentals
These fantasy and sci-fi worldbuilding fundamentals can act as the foundation of your story so you can start writing sooner rather than...


Fantasy and Sci-Fi Worldbuilding Shenanigans
Head honcho Jordan Riley Swan and Editor Extraordinaire Diane Callahan test out their own fantasy and sci-fi worldbuilding fundamentals...


Genre Writing Challenge - No Bad Ideas!
Join Jordan Riley Swan, Diane Callahan, and Caroline the Henchman at the Story Garden Publishing office as we randomly mix genres to...


How to Write an Alternate History Novel
Alternate history is a subgenre of fiction where historical events happen differently than they did in real life. For Story Garden’s...


Tackling Real-World Issues in Fantasy
In my interview with author K.C. Norton, we discuss how to tackle real-world issues when writing fantasy. K.C. Norton’s high-fantasy...


Curio Fiction: Showcasing the Fantastic in Our World
Curio fiction as a subgenre places the fantastic alongside the mundane, yet the story’s speculative elements feel subtle compared to...


Talking Nerdy about Fantasy Books
On the Story Garden channel, I chat with author Marie McCue about fantasy books, including our favorite reads in recent memory, what’s on...


Writing a Novel with Multiple Points of View
Writing a novel with multiple points of view can be challenging, but in this interview on the Story Garden YouTube channel, author Marie...


Behind the Scenes: The Writing Process for UNBOUND LIFE
Can you imagine stitching three novellas into one novel?! That’s what author Marie McCue did in co-writing the fun, high-stakes fantasy...


Why My Love for Pushing Daisies Hasn’t Died, 15 Years Later
Read my love letter to Pushing Daisies over on Tor! Okay, so this isn't a writing advice article per se, but it is a testament to the...


What Is “Curio Fiction”? Finding a Name for a Fantastical Subgenre
I took the "in this essay, I will..." meme a little too seriously and wrote an actual essay inspired by a Twitter discussion about...


25+ Magical Book Covers That Will Ignite Your Imagination
We're told not to judge a book by its cover, but the cover design is a reader's gateway into the story. Here, I wax poetic about 25+...


What All Writers Can Learn from Folktales (Writing Exercise)
Folktales ignite our imaginations and reveal facets of human nature. In any story, writers design challenges that force their characters...


Five Life Lessons From Ella Enchanted on the Novel’s 25th Anniversary
My article over on Tor about Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted indirectly teaches writers how to imbue their stories with emotional...


Eight SFF Books That Echo Famous Works of Art
In this Tor article, I’ve paired eight fantasy and science fiction books with works by famed artists that echo the thoughts and emotions...


Weird as Hell: Falling in Love With Speculative Poetry
Reading poetry sometimes feels like battling a giant squid: overwhelming, disorienting, and more than a little slippery. Poems can be...


Writing Urban Fantasy: How to Be Original in a Popular Genre
It can be hard to have a truly “original” idea in any genre of fiction, but it’s especially difficult in urban fantasy where all the best...


“Kissing Can Ruin Lives”: How Laini Taylor Weaves Real Magic Into Fantasy Romance
Head over to Tor.com to read this original essay about Laini Taylor's fantasy romance novels and short stories!
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