Fantasy is an extraordinarily varied and fantastic genre. From the loftiness of Lord of the Rings to the grim-dark of Game of Thrones, from dystopia to comedy, from fabulous beasts to blood-sucking villains, there appears no limit to an author’s visions. But does its vast scope make it easier to write than other genres?

In this online workshop, Chris will consider the excitements, the practicalities, and the difficulties of writing fantasy fiction. He will tackle the myth that less research is required in fantasy; how a world, however fantastical, must be credible and coherent within itself; how to use dialogue to evoke character in realms unknown, and how to take the risk of making your made-up worlds truly different, while maintaining believability.

There will also be “the dragon exercise”: how to take one of fantasy’s favorite themes and use it in entirely new ways.

A Q&A will follow the workshop.