30 Best Fantasy Writing Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

For Fantasy & Science Fiction Storytellers

Have you ever had a story idea you love —a vivid world, compelling characters, big themes—but every time you sit down to write, something just… isn't working? If that sounds familiar, you're in the right place. Welcome to Speculative Fiction Writing Made Simple . In each episode, I tackle one specific problem standing between you and a cohesive, compelling book—whether that's character arc, plot structure, backstory, worldbuilding, magic systems, genre clarity, revision, or the publishing path. Some episodes are focused teaching sessions where I break down craft and process step by step, and others feature in-depth conversations with industry experts—authors, editors, agents, and publishing professionals—who share real-world insight into what actually works. No vague advice. No craft mysticism. Just concrete, actionable strategies you can apply immediately (often with free companion workbooks linked right in the show notes). This podcast is here to help you stop spinning your wheels and start making confident, intentional story choices—so your novel feels grounded, emotionally powerful, and readable all the way through. I'm your host, Heather Davis —Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach, developmental editor, host of the WorldShift Writing Summit , podcaster, and fellow speculative fiction writer. I've spent over a decade helping writers untangle messy drafts, fix stories that almost work, and build novels from the ground up in a way that's sustainable and actually makes sense. And let's be honest: writing a good novel—the kind readers want to finish, recommend, and come back to—is hard. This podcast doesn't promise shortcuts or overnight success. Instead, it embraces the real, messy, challenging work of storytelling—and gives you the tools to do it well. If you've ever found yourself typing questions like these into Google, this show is for you: What is show don't tell? What's the difference between scenes and chapters? How do I use Save the Cat to structure my novel without it feeling formulaic? How do I include backstory without info-dumping? Why isn't my magic system working in my story? How do I revise a novel without getting overwhelmed? How do I write character driven stories? How do I develop my author Voice? How do I write fantasy, romantasy, dystopian, science fiction, magical realism, paranormal, horror, or other speculative genres? How do I develop my protagonist? What is interiority? How do I determine the these and Point of my novel? How do I create a character arc for my protagonist? etc. So if you're ready to write a novel you're proud of—one that holds together, makes readers think, and earns their trust—go ahead and follow or subscribe. It's the easiest way to support the show and make sure you don't miss what's coming next. Next steps: If you want to go deeper, get on my email list so you don't miss my free and paid classes, workshops, and free writing sprints: 👉 https://resources.manyworldswriting.com/U2F1zO Have a question or want to reach out directly? You can email me anytime at ****@manyworldswriting.com Until next time, keep writing, keep dreaming, and remember: the world needs your stories right now. Don't give up on your novel—or yourself. more

This is the official podcast feed for Writing About Dragons and Shit - a podcast about writing with a focus on fantasy and sci-fi. Each week B Dave Walters (A Darkened Wish, Idle Champions Presents), Erin M. Evans (Brimstone Angels, Dungeon Scrawlers), and Treavor Bettis (Difficulty Class, Champions of Psychology). New Episodes go live every Friday. more

Fifteen minutes long, because you're in a hurry, and we're not that smart.

Brandon Sanderson's iconic writing course is back for an updated 2025 edition. Come one, come all, class is in session for aspiring fantasy and science fiction writers! Review your lecture notes here: https://www.brandonsanderson.com/blogs/blog more

The Odyssey Writing Workshops Charitable Trust is a nonprofit with the mission of helping writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror improve their work. To fulfill our mission, we offer Your Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop, an intensive, one-on-one online program, customized for each student. Top authors, editors, and agents serve as guest lecturers and guest critiquers. We also offer five-week online writing classes each winter; webinars, critiques, consultations, and coaching year-round, and many free resources. These podcasts are excerpts from guest lectures at our workshop and from our online classes. For more information on Odyssey, visit odysseyworkshop.org. more

V. E. Schwab here! I'm the author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, the Shades of Magic series, Vicious, and more. Join me here as I chat with fellow successful authors about their origin stories, creative processes, work-life balance, and how they bring the stories you love to life. We'll dive into the many paths from that first spark of an idea to the final page of a book, because there's no one right way to write—just the way that works for you. Whether you're an aspiring writer or simply a lover of stories, join us as we explore the craft (and magic) of story telling. more

A podcast by three fantasy authors who love to overcomplicate their writing lives and want to help you do the same. more

The Fantasy Writers' Toolshed is a podcast for aspiring and experienced fantasy writers who want to master storytelling, creative writing, worldbuilding and character creation. Hosted by author Richie Billing , each episode features practical fantasy writing craft advice as well as fiction writing advice generally, publishing tips and guidance, and inspiring author interviews with bestsellers, editors, historians, literary agents, psychologists and even an FBI Special Agent. Learn how to write, edit and market your fantasy stories with confidence. New episodes are released on the 14th of each month. Join our Discord community of hundreds of writers and gain early access to each episode: www.patreon.com/TheFantasyWritersToolshed Get free dark fantasy books by Richie here: https://richiebilling.com/get-dark-fantasy-books more

Recording the process of writing a fantasy book series. We are currently working on book 3 Club Asylum and just my rambling thoughts throughout the week as a indie writer. more

SFF Addicts is a weekly sci-fi, fantasy and writing craft podcast co-hosted by authors Adrian M. Gibson, M.J. Kuhn and Greta Kelly, bringing you interviews and masterclasses with your favorite SFF authors.The full episode archive, as well as book reviews and essays, can be found at https://fanfiaddict.com. You can also subscribe to the FanFiAddict YouTube channel or follow us on Spotify, where all episodes are available in full video. more

Award-winning fantasy & paranormal romance author Leslye Penelope shares perspectives on the writing life, creativity, inspiration, and this week's best thing. more

Providing writing and illustrating tips and advice from Contest Judges, Winners and industry professionals for writers and artists, along with needed inspiration to keep on going! Based on the world-famous Writers of the Future Contest created in 1983 by L. Ron Hubbard. more

Hi! My name is Jed Herne, and on this podcast, I share the best fantasy writing advice that I've learned from publishing four fantasy novels and coaching 5,000+ writers in my live classes and self-paced courses. My books include Kingdom of Dragons , The Thunder Heist , Across the Broken Stars , and Fires of the Dead . I also wrote Siege of Treboulain, an interactive epic fantasy novel published by Choice of Games. I also created the Wizards, Warriors, & Words, and Novel Analyst podcasts. Expect to learn about plotting, character development, worldbuilding, magic systems, and lots more. *** If you want to take your writing further, then read my book, Plotting Your Fantasy Novel . This book will help you decide exactly what events you should include in your novel. Unlike other methods, you won't follow a rigid template that makes your characters act in a forced way. Instead, you'll use 9-Point Plot Structure to build your characters and plot in unison. This will make your story unfold in an organic, cohesive, and captivating fashion. By using this simple system, you will design clear plot points to work towards when you're writing. You'll also learn how to easily connect the gaps between these major plot points, so that you never get stuck (especially in the middle of your story). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Mythmakers is the podcast for fantasy fans and creatives, brought to you by the Oxford Centre for Fantasy. In each episode, we embark on an exploration of the world of fantasy—both classic and contemporary. From the stories behind your favourite series to expert tips for aspiring writers, we dive into books, films, TV shows, and the creative process behind them. Brought to you from the heart of Oxford—home to literary greats like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Lewis Carroll—we continue the storytelling tradition in the very city where Narnia, Middle-earth, and even Wonderland took shape drawing on the city's magical blend of ancient buildings, labyrinthine libraries, and gentle river meadows. Ready to step into the Wardrobe with us into your next big adventure? Visit https://oxfordcentreforfantasy.org/ to learn more! more

Welcome to the world of creative writing and story mastery with Maxwell Alexander Drake and Marie Mullany, your guides to Releasing Your Inner Dragon. This author podcast is a treasure trove of writing tips and advice, sparking inspiration and ah-ha moments for every stage of an author's career. Drake, an award-winning novelist and creative writing teacher, brings his experience from the gaming world and beyond, while Mullany, author of the Sangwheel Chronicles and YouTuber, shares her expertise in fantasy world-building. Together, they delve into the intricacies of crafting compelling narratives, offering invaluable writing resources and insights. Connect with this dynamic duo and join a community of listeners passionate about storytelling and writing more immersive books.Listen and learn from the podcast and connect with your hosts:  MaxwellAlexanderDrake.comStarvingwriterstudio.com Mariemullany.comyoutube.com/c/JustInTimeWorlds more

For writers, dungeon masters, and anyone else who wants to create rich, immersive settings and story worlds that will draw their audiences back time and time again. James, our host, interviews worldbuilders of every type and draws on their skills and experiences to help you develop key skills and master the craft of world-building. more

Whether you're a beginner fantasy writer or maybe even a barbarian, Fantasy Writing for Barbarians can help take your story to some exciting new worlds. Hosted by Jon Negroni and produced by Natalia Emmons and Bridget Serdock. more

A podcast in which three nerds read sci-fi and fantasy novels, talk about their worldbuilding, and then guide you through building magic systems, monsters, spaceships, and more for your own stories. Whether you're constructing your next novel, RPG setting, or just love speculative fiction, pull up a chair at the tavern! more

Conversations with science fiction and fantasy authors about the creative process

How To Write The Future is a podcast for science fiction and fantasy writers who want to imagine better worlds—and write stories that bring those futures to life. Each episode offers practical craft guidance, creative prompts, and big-picture inspiration to help you draft, revise, and publish with purpose. By science fiction and fantasy author and fiction writing coach, Beth Barany. more

Join author Megan O'Russell in this candid, humor-filled glimpse into the creation of a new book series, starting at page one. You're invited to step into the real-time writing process as Megan weaves fae, shifters, witches, and seers into her latest young adult fantasy novel: Sketchbook of a Wayward Seer. No second drafts allowed. No untwisting love triangles. No bringing characters back to life. meganorussell.substack.com more

Authors J.A. Ironside and M.E. Vaughan talk about books, films and all aspects of speculative fiction, from the nuts and bolts of writing it, to its (occasionally) obscure origins. more

Welcome to Chronscast ! We are the official podcast of SFF Chronicles, the world's largest science-fiction and fantasy community. Each episode your hosts Dan Jones, Christopher Bean, and Peat Long will take a deep dive into some classic science-fiction, fantasy, and horror with a special guest. We'll also discuss the challenges of writing and publishing SFF, and our guests' experiences. Episodes feature specialist advice on writing and publishing from our resident legal beagle Damaris Browne a.k.a The Judge, plus skits from the Irish SFF comic duo An Roinn Ultra. We also feature winners of the writing challenges from SFF Chronicles. To get in touch please email us at ****@gmail.com. more

Step into the world of storytelling with Jon Cronshaw, a legally blind indie fantasy author who refuses to let visual impairment stand in the way of his literary dreams. In his weekly Author Diary podcast, Jon brings raw honesty and infectious enthusiasm to every episode, inviting listeners behind the curtain of his unique writing journey.From the spark of a new idea to the satisfaction of a published novel, Jon shares the unfiltered reality of crafting stories while navigating the publishing landscape with severe visual impairment. Subscribe todaY! more

Welcome! If you want to hear writing tips from the big names, the medium names, and everyone else, look no further.As a blogger, vlogger, and actively querying fantasy author, I am addicted to attending all the writing panels a person could possibly attend at a convention. We're talking about attending upwards of 25 hours of panels in 3 days.Fortunately for you? I love sharing my copious notes.But, I also get real. I share my writerly musings: my struggles, my failures, and... hopefully, my writing successes.Thanks for listening.Morgan Hazelwood more

Play. Discover. Be discovered. Join award-winning fantasy and dreampunk author, Anna Tizard, in a journey into the imagination using the surrealist word game of Exquisite Corpse. Listeners' word suggestions are pulled from the Socks of Destiny to create writing prompts, inspiring strange, unexpected story ideas. The show includes publishing opportunities for your short stories. Respond to a prompt and have your microfiction read out on the show! Brainstoryum is now a growing platform for budding and experienced writers everywhere. Join in and don't look back! more

A podcast celebrating writing and creativity across fantasy, horror, and science-fiction, hosted by authors David Green and Robin CM Duncan. more

Join award-winning audio drama makers Chris Gregory and Emily Inkpen for fortnightly conversations about world building with some of the best science fiction and fantasy writers around, and find out how their worlds come to life. more

Fantasy and Faith is a podcast for writers, readers, and dreamers who crave more than just magic—they seek meaning. Each episode explores the spiritually uplifting, mentally enlightening, and imagination-expanding power of fantasy fiction.With a special focus on Muslim fantasy, we dive into stories rooted in Islamic tradition, faith-based worldbuilding, and mythical storytelling. We also journey through other cultural and spiritual landscapes—from Sufi symbolism to Christian allegory, folklore to metaphysical fiction.Whether you're crafting your own epic or searching for fantasy that resonates with your soul, Fantasy and Faith invites you to discover how belief and imagination intertwine. noorajahangir.substack.com more