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!

Writing Better Young Adult Fantasy: Part 3 – Memorable Characters

This third video in my Writing Better YA Fantasy series is a comprehensive guide to creating characters readers will love and remember...

Writing Better Young Adult Fantasy: Part 2 – Big-Picture Elements

This second video in my three-part Writing Better YA Fantasy series explores writing tips for creating a high-concept premise, vivid...

Writing Better Young Adult Fantasy: Part 1 – Defining the Genre

This first video in my three-part Writing Better YA Fantasy series seeks to answer all your questions about how to define Young Adult...

3 Tips for Writing Original Fairy Tales

How to craft a story that feels magical: read my tips for writing original fairy tales on Medium.

7 Lessons Writers Can Learn from Harry Potter

Here are seven lessons that writers can take to heart from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. SPOILERS AHEAD: PROCEED WITH CAUTION....