Shows / Fantasy Footnotes
Fantasy Footnotes
Fantasy Footnotes is a craft-and-creativity series for writers who love dark fantasy, gothic stories, and the how-to behind the stories. Each episode digs into a different footnote of the writing life — from worldbuilding and morally complex characters to the realities of indie publishing and co-authorship. (Powered by Jellypod)
Episodes
- Fantasy Footnotes
Why Dark Fantasy Feels So Powerful
This episode explores what makes dark fantasy so compelling, from morally compromised heroes and corrupting magic to ruined worlds that reflect inner trauma…
- Fantasy Footnotes
How Unreliable Narrators Build Gothic Worlds
This episode explores how gothic fiction uses unreliable narration not as a twist, but as the engine of the entire world. Drawing on classic and modern…
- Fantasy Footnotes
How Coauthors Keep Fantasy Voices Distinct
This episode breaks down how coauthors can preserve distinct voices in fantasy by using perspective ownership, a shared style and magic bible, and a…
- Fantasy Footnotes
Ruins That Reveal Grief
This episode explores how dark fantasy settings can embody trauma, guilt, and shattered faith through decaying castles, haunted ruins, and cursed landscapes…
- Fantasy Footnotes
The Three Roles of Dark Fantasy Villains
This episode explores how dark fantasy villains do more than threaten the hero—they act as mirrors, consequences, and truth tellers that expose a world’s…
- Fantasy Footnotes
Spotting Vanity Publishers Before They Spot You
Learn how to identify vanity publishers, from unsolicited offers and upfront fees to unfair contracts and too-good-to-be-true promises. The episode also covers…
- Fantasy Footnotes
How to Blend Romance and Adventure in One Story
Charmain Kading breaks down how to weave romance and adventure into one cohesive story, with practical tips for making every scene serve both arcs and avoiding…
- Fantasy Footnotes
Why Romantasy Is Reshaping Fantasy
This episode explores the explosive rise of romantasy, from blockbuster sales and BookTok-fueled discovery to the genre’s core promise: emotional…
- Fantasy Footnotes
Reclaiming the Monster in Gothic Storytelling
This episode explores how gothic fiction uses decaying settings, liminal spaces, and chiaroscuro to externalize fear, madness, and desire. It also examines how…
- Fantasy Footnotes
Longing and Dread: Writing Gothic Romance That Hurts
This episode explores how to build genuine gothic themes through the clash of longing and dread, plus crafting morally grey characters whose choices feel…
- Fantasy Footnotes
Dark Fantasy’s Real Battle: The Enemy Within
This episode explores how dark fantasy uses world-scale conflict, bleak settings, and moral ambiguity to create relentless stakes. It also digs into the…