The Name Crafter

We all know the classic story: a farm boy discovers a legendary sword, leaves his village, defeats a dark lord, and returns as a king. This is the Hero’s Journey , a narrative structure so deeply embedded in our DNA that we recognize its beats instinctively. But in recent years, a different kind of traveller has taken centre stage. They don’t have a shining sword, and their motives are… messy. They are the Anti-Hero . While they follow a similar road, their footsteps sound di

Creating a hero is only half the battle. To truly understand how "bright" your hero’s light is, you need to see it against a dark background, or perhaps a different shade of gray. This is where the Foil  comes in. In literature, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) to highlight particular qualities of that character. Think of it like this: you don’t know how tall a giant is until you see them standing next to a regular person. T

Ever notice how some fictional place names just stick ? Middle-earth , Gotham , Westeros , Hogwarts . These aren't just cool-sounding words; they feel like they’ve existed for a thousand years. When you’re world-building, a place name is your first chance to tell a story without using a single line of dialogue. It’s a vessel for culture, a record of ancient wars, and a psychological anchor for your reader. But how do you move past "Generic Forest #4" and create something that

Fantasy writing is one of the most exciting genres because it allows us to invent entire worlds, characters, and histories! But the true challenge isn’t just in establishing dragons, castles, or ancient spells. It’s in telling a story that feels real and authentic  despite its impossible elements. The best fantasy operates on two levels: the epic scale of the impossible and the intimate scale of the human. Here are a few practical tips we compiled to help inspire your fantas