Antonio del Drago 
Here in the United States we just celebrated the holiday known as Thanksgiving. It’s a time to gather with family and friends and count our many blessings. This year my wife and I traveled to my parent’s house, along with our precious 16 month old daughter. This was a wonderful time for our little one. … Read more
One of the most important – and difficult – tasks is to make writing a priority. There are so many other things in life that can distract you from your work, including family and career responsibilities. On November 11, a new distraction arrived on my doorstep: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. I’ve been waiting for this … Read more
Ten years ago I began writing a fantasy epic. I spent months building my own world, complete with fresh mythologies and exotic cultures. I had a great villain and an original plot. Everything appeared to be in place for me to write a first class novel. Sadly, a quarter of the way through a terrible … Read more
Music has the power to conjure emotions and spark the imagination. When I’m at my writing desk, nothing makes the work go smoother than listening to just the right music. Over the years I’ve put together a collection of fantasy music which I use for inspiration. Some of these albums are derived from my favorite … Read more
Upon the publication of my first book, other authors asked me how I accomplished this feat. As it turns out, many writers see getting published as a herculean, almost insurmountable goal. But as with any major undertaking, breaking it down into manageable steps makes the process far less daunting. For this reason, I drew up … Read more
The Haanta Series is the longest ongoing fantasy series on the internet. As of September 2011, the series covers twenty-nine books and over nine-hundred short stories. I recently had the pleasure of chatting with its author, Michelle Franklin, about the joys and challenges of writing an online series. How did the Haanta series get its start? … Read more
During my teenage years I discovered the thrill of role-playing. My friends and I became enamored with White Wolf’s World of Darkness games, along with Middle-Earth Role Playing and Dungeons and Dragons. These games opened new worlds to us, and provided us with opportunities to explore the darker side of human nature. As an aspiring … Read more
So you want to write a really bad fantasy novel, eh? You’ve come to the right place. After years of practice, I’ve mastered five ancient techniques for writing shitty fantasy. These methods were pioneered by the elves of the Ethereal Empire during the reign of Xerxian Rhafstorr the Sword-Breaker (in the Twelfth Age), so you … Read more
Some authors scoff at the idea of using software to help write a novel. As a technology geek, I take a contrary view. If software can make the writing process easier, why not use it? I’ve been experimenting with novel writing software, and have found some success. What I’m wondering, though, is which programs are … Read more
Brian Wood’s first novel, Dreamworld, has been described as witty, clever and humorous. I recently chatted with Brian about his novel, as well as the challenge of balancing humor and drama in a fantasy story. How did you become interested in writing fantasy? In the sixth grade my brother Drew gave me a copy of … Read more