Quill&Steel Blog

Kaylie Smith writes the kind of gothic, dark fantasy romance that makes you want to light a candle, shut the curtains, sit on a cozy sofa, and ignore your responsibilities....

Creating fantasy characters who leap off the page is one of the most rewarding (and challenging) parts of writing a fantasy novel. Whether you're crafting a reluctant hero, a cunning...

Magic is the lifeblood of fantasy—it’s the pulse that makes worlds feel alive. It shapes kingdoms, turns the ordinary into the extraordinary, and adds that spark of wonder readers can’t...

What is a beat sheet? It’s a plotting tool that helps you map out the key moments in your story—so you don’t end up lost in a swamp of subplots and...

When I think about how to write romantasy, I always come back to the same thing: the romance and the fantasy can’t be separated. The love story has to matter...

I used to think writing a villain was simple. Then I actually started plotting a novel and realized… villains are some of the hardest characters to get right.  Heroes will...

If you’re a fantasy writer—whether you’re just getting your feet wet or you’ve been weaving intricate worlds for years—you’ve probably stumbled upon the idea of fantasy writing classes.  And maybe...

Worldbuilding is one of the most exciting parts of writing fantasy. It’s also one of the easiest places to get stuck. This fantasy worldbuilding guide is for writers who want...

Most new authors assume they need to finish their book before they can start building an audience. I get why... it feels safer to wait until you have something “real”...