Quill&Steel Blog

Let me paint you a picture. You're 40,000 words into your fantasy novel. You're in the zone. Your protagonist just ran into a side character you introduced in chapter two....

Memory magic isn’t something that I see very often in fantasy. I can count on one hand the books that use this type of system, and that includes Harry Potter...

I used to think reading journals were for a very specific type of person. An eloquent person who finishes a book and immediately analyzes all the symbolism and themes within...

In this interview with Kaylie Smith, author of the paranormal romance series Wicked Games, we dive into how she builds gothic stories where romance and fantasy are deeply intertwined. She’s...

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...

When I started planning out my fantasy novel, I knew one of the most important aspects would be my magic system. Aside from the rules and consequences, I first had...

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 dead-end subplots and worldbuilding...

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...