Quill&Steel Blog

J.D. Evans didn’t set out to become one of the most beloved self-published romantasy authors. Before her award-winning novel, Reign and Ruin, from the Mages of the Wheel series, she...

When I was trying to figure out how to create a magic system for my WIP, I got completely lost in the details. I spent weeks inventing rules and power...

Worldbuilding can get overwhelming fast. I’ve definitely gone down rabbit holes I did not need, and I know how easy it is to stay in planning mode instead of actually...

The enemies to lovers trope is the gold standard for tension, banter, and that sweet, sweet emotional payoff when two people who can’t stand each other finally give in. But...

Writing heroes is usually the easy part. You give them flaws, a goal, and a reason to fight for something. Learning how to write a good villain, though, is a...

Notion vs. Obsidian is one of the biggest debates among worldbuilders and fantasy writers who want to keep their worlds and stories organized. Both apps are powerful, but they approach...

Knowing how to write romantasy isn't about sprinkling a dragon here and a passionate kiss there and calling it a day (although those can definitely be woven into your story)....

Every fantasy writer hits this wall sooner or later: you’ve built a sprawling, fascinating world, but how do you actually show it to readers without boring them to death? You...

Worldbuilding is thrilling, but it’s also a notorious time sink. You build kingdoms, invent languages, design religions, and suddenly realize you’ve spent three weeks on a trade system for a...