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Mythmakers Season 8 Wrap Up: Top 5 Author's Tips

As Mythmakers takes a short summer break, Julia Golding looks back at some of the standout conversations from Season 8, gathering five memorable pieces of writing wisdom from the season’s top-performing author interviews.

Join us as we revisit Darren Simpson’s reflections on the long road to publication, and hear from Peadar Ó Guilín on how history and myth shape fantasy worlds. Marisa Linton shares her journey and advice for finding your publishing path, while Naomi Ishiguro dives into worldbu

Mythmakers Season 8 Wrap Up: Top 5 Author's Tips
Mythmakers
Mythmakers Season 8 Wrap Up: Top 5 Author's Tips

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Mythmakers Season 8 Wrap Up: Top 5 Author's Tips
49
July 30, 2026

Mythmakers Season 8 Wrap Up: Top 5 Author's Tips

As Mythmakers takes a short summer break, Julia Golding looks back at some of the standout conversations from Season 8, gathering five memorable pieces of writing wisdom from the season’s top-performing author interviews. Join us as we revisit Darren Simpson’s reflections on the long road to publication, and hear from Peadar Ó Guilín on how history and myth shape fantasy worlds. Marisa Linton shares her journey and advice for finding your publishing path, while Naomi Ishiguro dives into worldbu
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The Top 5 Writing Lessons from The Two Towers
48
July 23, 2026

The Top 5 Writing Lessons from The Two Towers

Having completed our journey through The Two Towers, in today's Sidecast episode Julia Golding pauses to reflect on the top five lessons she has taken from Tolkien’s craft as an author. From the interlacing of multiple storylines and the careful maintenance of suspense, to the creation of epic, living landscapes, Julia explores how Tolkien handles the challenges of a middle volume with remarkable skill. She also reflects on the poetry of his prose and the depth of his themes, amongst the wealth
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Not Asleep, Dead - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 10
47
July 16, 2026

Not Asleep, Dead - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 10

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro
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She Had Many Exits From Her Lair - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 8
46
July 9, 2026

She Had Many Exits From Her Lair - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 8

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro
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Don’t the Great Tales Never End? - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 8
45
July 2, 2026

Don’t the Great Tales Never End? - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 8

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro
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They Cannot Conquer for Ever! - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 7
44
June 25, 2026

They Cannot Conquer for Ever! - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 7

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro
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Rock Music in Narnia and 1980s Fantasy Highlights
43
June 18, 2026

Rock Music in Narnia and 1980s Fantasy Highlights

The rumour mill is turning! Early screenings of the upcoming Narnia film suggest that the soundtrack may be dipping into 70s and 80s rock. Nothing is certain yet—it could all be a red herring—but could it work, and if so, how? Join Jacob Rennaker and Julia Golding in today’s Mythmakers episode as they discuss the possibilities before turning their attention to the fantasy books of the 1980s, each sharing some of their favourite reads from one of the genre’s most influential decades. For more i
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Then I Will Declare My Doom - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 5
42
June 11, 2026

Then I Will Declare My Doom - LOTR: An Author's Journey, Bk 4 Ch 5

We are going on an adventure! Love The Lord of the Rings? Why not read along with us as we consider the books from the writer's point of view! Taking it chapter by chapter, novelist Julia Golding will reveal new details that you might not have noticed and techniques that will only go to increase your pleasure in future re-readings of our favourite novel. Julia also brings her expert knowledge of life in Oxford and English culture to explain some points that might have passed you by. 00:00 Intro
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Recent Blog Posts

How to Handle Constructive Criticism: Lessons from Professional Fantasy Authors
July 30, 2026

How to Handle Constructive Criticism: Lessons from Professional Fantasy Authors

Learning how to handle constructive criticism is one of the most critical milestones for an aspiring fantasy author. Professional writers often face intense editorial feedback that can challenge their creative vision. By examining insights from seas…
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How to Write Complex Multiple Viewpoints Like J.R.R. Tolkien in The Two Towers
July 23, 2026

How to Write Complex Multiple Viewpoints Like J.R.R. Tolkien in The Two Towers

Mastering multiple viewpoints in epic fantasy requires careful structural control, strategic tension building, and seamless story interlacing. By examining how J.R.R. Tolkien splits his narrative river into parallel paths in The Two Towers, fantasy …
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The Art of Literary Grief: Analyzing Samwise Gamgee’s Despair in The Two Towers
July 16, 2026

The Art of Literary Grief: Analyzing Samwise Gamgee’s Despair in The Two Towers

In the climactic final chapter of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Two Towers, Samwise Gamgee’s reaction to Frodo’s apparent death serves as a masterclass in writing emotional, prolonged grief. Rather than rushing past the tragedy to maintain plot momentum, Tol…
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