Myth and Magic

Folklore and fantasy themes aimed at creative writers: to start writing stories and challenge your brain with exciting ideas, dip into this kitbag. Learn how fantasy worlds draw on real world history, mythology, and folklore. And there's weekly news from the world of fantasy fiction too, plus fabulous creatures, studies on folk tales, nature fables and lots more mythical, magical fun.

Myth & Magic Episode 76 04/07/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 76 Building beliefs: the nature of belief and how to establish unshakable belief in your plots, in your characters, and even in your author brand /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/18634907

Myth & Magic Episode 75 03/31/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 75 Useful tips on audiobook narration + helpful advice on choreographing sword fighting scenes with Krista Wallace. Krista is an actor & vocalist (from Coquitlam, British Columbia) — and a successful author / storyteller. She narrates all her own work. More recently, she became an avid podcaster. Check out Neil's exciting interview with Krista here... /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/18451286

Myth & Magic Episode 74 03/24/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 74 How to create unique exotic senses for your fantasy characters. Also, supernaturalism in ceramics: what are demon bowls? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/18449069

Myth & Magic Episode 73 03/17/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 73 Give your project a Nowruz spring-clean shake up! Six ways to revive a novel. Also, do your characters eat fear? How to use the hormonal cascade to convey a real sense of fear in your characters. Plus, genomic storytelling and how the syntony of recital will help give your story vitality... /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/18361250

Myth & Magic Episode 72 03/10/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 72 What is fluxus? How can authors use the principles of fluxus to revitalize writing? Four tips to help you breathe new life into your project. Also, what is the dark triad and how can it help you write compelling megalomaniacs? Discover the dark triad traits — and the fourth that makes the tetrad — to describe truly reprehensible evildoers! /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/18250832

Myth & Magic Episode 71 03/03/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 71 What makes a good quest? What is transelemence? Can ghosts be seen in mirrors? Do mirrors act as portals to other dimensions? Definition of scyring. In addition, tips for collecting magic items during heroic quests. /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/18139001

Myth & Magic Episode 70 02/24/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 70 Manage your expectations as an author; What do you want from an author's life? Where are you in the antholoxia? Are you the struggler? The dabbler? The disorientated? Here's how to make the most of your creative potential /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/18041123

Myth & Magic Episode 69 02/17/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 69 Is this a dystopia right now? Are we living in a period of dystopia? Here is a useful list of dystopian essentials. Also, where is your when? At what (historical) time should you set your fantasy? Plus, what is a Ceffyl Dŵr? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17982074

Myth & Magic Episode 68 02/10/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 68 Who was the real Saint Valentine? What does he have to do with lovers? What do wolves have to do with Valentine's Day? What are Februa? And what is the essential ingredient of fantasy? Poppins' paradox explored... /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17867513

Myth & Magic Episode 67 02/03/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 67 How insanely inventive can your monsters be? Be like Bosch in creating monsters and think surreal. Also, what is the curse of exoticism? How can you make your fantasy compelling and relevant without resorting to exoticism? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17802743

Myth & Magic Episode 66 01/27/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 66 In search of the true phoenix. Also, what does your protagonist worship? Why is documenting worship important for character development? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17709335

Myth & Magic Episode 65 01/20/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 65 What is the glad game and how do you play along? How the Pollyanna principle might help you develop more authentic characters. Also, committing yourself to authorship in the New Year. And, what is a wryneck? What has a wryneck got to do with bad luck? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17622299

Myth & Magic Episode 64 01/13/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 64 Who is January? Is sacrifice about giving? How sacrifice can help your writing. Also, what is it like to be old? And how to use magical thinking in your novel /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17531153

Myth & Magic Episode 63 01/07/2021

Myth & Magic Episode 63 Six ways to boost your writing in the New Year. How to deal with criticism, negative feedback + the dreaded 2-Star review & regain your confidence to write! Also, the Amazon warrior women, did they really exist? Is Wonder Woman based on a real-life warrior? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17459639

Myth & Magic Episode 62 12/23/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 62 Where is Christmas? Strange overlaps of religions in Bethlehem. Also, the true story of Cinderella /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17310137

Myth & Magic Episode 61 12/16/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 61 Why does fantasy fiction focus on a theoretical "Disneyfied" medieval Europe? Also, what is the most magical castle in Europe? And the true story of Little Red Riding Hood /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17215505

Myth & Magic Episode 60 12/09/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 60 How to deal with insomnia as a writer. Also, the true story of Snow White. And what are snow trolls? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/17124140

Myth & Magic Episode 59 11/11/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 59 Fairy doors are in the news. Why? What are spriggans? How could green spriggans be related to King Arthur's Green Knight? Plus, keep your imagination healthy during NaNoWriMo — here are seven useful tips to help you overcome creative block /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16771886

Myth & Magic Episode 58 11/04/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 58 Five exciting ways you can over-deliver on your next novel. Also, work on your applied writing with cause & effect /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16679348

Myth & Magic Episode 57 10/28/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 57 In preparation for National Novel Writing Month, we discuss building a basic framework for your new novel. And how to avoid using the orphan protagonist trope in fantasy fiction /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16583924

Myth & Magic Episode 56 10/21/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 56 The Myth & Magic podcast show talks to fantasy writer Jean Lee from Wisconsin, author of the young adult novel series: Fallen Princeborn. Jean is a busy mom, so how does she find time to write? What can she tell us about magical portals? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16439045

Myth & Magic Episode 55 10/14/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 55 Will goddess Freyja help you create new things in October? How does a storyteller write acoustically? How will acoustic writing help in the development of your novel? How does a novelist compare to a recording artist? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16398203

Myth & Magic Episode 54 10/07/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 54 The staleness of Dark Lord tropes and why you should use the "banality of evil" to create an antagonist for your next fantasy fiction project. Plus a helpful list of dark lord flaws and a list of traits associated with true psychopaths /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16307114

Myth & Magic Episode 53 10/01/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 53 What is a chronicle? What makes a good chronicler? How to write a chronicle and why you should be careful when choosing to write a dead chronicle. Also, what are cup and ring markings? How are cup markings related to cosmic worlds? Visit the Badger Stone to study cup marks and think about cyclical time. /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16229402

Myth & Magic Episode 52 09/23/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 52 How did the Phoenician port of Lepitis Magna come to be in a grassy garden in Surrey, England, known as the Folly of Augustus? Rathlin Island is in the news — but where is it? Why would Rathlin be an excellent choice of location for your next fantasy title? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16124609

Myth & Magic Episode 51 09/16/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 51 What is Hecate's Supper? Why should we celebrate the triple-bodied goddess of boundaries on the liminal night of September 16th? Plus, twenty things that people *hate* about fantasy fiction! /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/16030298

Myth & Magic Episode 50 09/09/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 50 What is adult contemporary fantasy? Interview with Amanda Fleet, author of the Guardians of The Realm series /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/15940619

Myth & Magic Episode 49 09/02/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 49 What is a clootie well? Where is Albion? So, you want to write fantasy? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/15852494

Myth & Magic Episode 48 08/19/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 48 Who were the Fir Bolg and Fomorians? What are the 13 treasures of Island Britain? Also, what are celestial skyfish? Are they an undiscovered species or lifeforms from another dimension? /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/15673730

Myth & Magic Episode 47 08/12/2020

Myth & Magic Episode 47 A visit to Snailbeach, the Stiperstones, and the Diafol. Also, ABCs such as the Beast of Exmoor; and why Catholic monks are associated with witch thimbles /episode/index/show/mythandmagic/id/15583760

Myth and Magic

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