From character art to maps and back-of-the-book reference material to wikipages to QR codes accessing soundtracks – how can bonus content help – or hinder – the story.

An article in the Guardian in 2016 summarized what grimdark’s “domination” of the fantasy genre as a “commercial imperative to win adolescent, male readers” in opposition to “a truly epic and more emotionally nuanced kind of fantasy” that delivered storytelling. Many grimdark writers and readers, however, would argue that this description is the very antithesis […]

Sometimes evil refuses to die. The shadow lingers on, reforms and returns. The making of a villain that sticks around in the mind of the reader and survives longer than the hero is an art in itself. Join us to discuss.

Since the 1970s, writers have been influenced by roleplaying games and roleplaying games have been inspired by writers. Our panel discusses the relationship between roleplaying games and writing stories. Where do the mediums work well together and where are the issues?

From Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next to Diana Wynne Jones’ Tough Guide to Fantasyland, fantasy has a long tradition of satirising the (so-called) real world and its own genre. Together, we will send up and take apart fantasy’s satirical strands and wonder why it is so good a tool for playing with reality

Writing in Tough Guide to Fantasyland, Diana Wynne Jones told readers to ‘follow the map.’ Join our panel to explore the the incredible maps of fantasy worlds and how different writers have utilised them in innovative ways.

Authors who are neurodiverse, characters who are neurodiverse. Widening representation in stories for readers and learning from personal experience. What are good examples in stories. Panellists share their experiences.

Fantasy and Horror stories are written all over the world. Our panel discusses works that have been translated into English, how those translations have been received and what more can be done to bring the rich narratives of the world to greater audiences.

The tale on the table. Stories emerge from modern board games as much as they do from other sources. The board game experience has changed with the rise of legacy games. The panel will discuss the story of the game with your friends and how board games can be a great source of inspiration for […]

Once a Upon a Time… An opening that resonates throughout history, promising a simple story. Yet, many fairy tales do not deliver a happy ending, and others have become twisted by writers looking to create a new spin from old ideas. Fairy tales remain an excellent source of inspiration for new fantasy and horror. Join […]

The writer Tanith Lee passed away in 2015. Her writing across the genres is provocative, powerful, experimental and vivid. Now, a new generation of readers are discovering her work for the first time. Join our panel in remembering Tanith Lee and her work.

Tropes: love them or hate them. Do we need them? How much trope is too much trope?

It’s been 50 years of the British Fantasy Convention (Fantasycon)! Many things have been and gone in that time. How has have the times changed? Our panel looks at what’s happened over the years and what’s happening now.

Magic systems are a staple of many fantasy books. Join our panels as they discuss the pros and cons of using magic systems, and how not to get bogged down when creating and putting into action all those rules, abilities and restrictions.

Horror is for everyone. Our fear of difference has never been the same as our fear of the monstrous and evil. New takes on queer in horror bring opportunities for representation. Join the conversation about positive queer representation in the darkness.

The love scene in fantasy and/or horror. Do relationships need to be consumated or remain chaste, or somewhere in between? What are the excellent ways in which writers have considered how their characters feel about each other. Join the discussion.

Forget exams. Here villainous teachers, treacherous classmates and other evils stand in the way of graduation. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of Dark Academia books, from R.F. Kuang’s award- winning Babel to Olivie Blakes’ The Atlas Six series. Why are readers and writers fascinated with this (perceived) dark side of education? And […]

Storytelling in computer games has evolved quickly as the technology has improved. Now, many of the games we play are incredible visual feasts, but these need great stories to go along with them. Our panel will discuss impressive computer games and their stories.

Living things and the worlds they inhabit. Writers of Fantasy are not bound by reality and so can invent weird and wonderful things. Join us for a tour amidst the creatures and peoples that never existed. Exotic descriptions and prose abound! Help us invent new life and discuss how it might survive and thrive.

Mixing 21st century mileu with the trapping of fantasy is bread and butter to many writers and readers. The subgenres abound, involving all sorts of supernatural and magical. Join our exploration of modern times with a magical twist.

In a society that is becoming ever more urban and reliant on technology, the sinister and increasingly alien nature of folk horror’s rural setting andancient traditions could explain the resurgence in its popularity in recent times. Often dealing with themes of isolation, folklore, paganism and thedark aspects of nature, folk horror provides rich soil to […]

Sometimes writers struggle to see what to get rid of in their drafts, others get stuck using the same words, or dont quite deliver on a brilliant idea. The work of an editor is a subtle craft that can make a story go from bland to brilliant, or good to exceptional. Our panel explores the […]

Princesses and paupers! Merchants and muggers! CEOs and heroes! Social class (and caste) is baked into fantasy and horror, but how have writers traditionally considered class roles? Is that changing in the face of widening economic inequality and increasing awareness of diversity?

The illustrated storytelling of this medium has a unique appeal. Most stories are fantasy and spark the imagination of readers. Join us to discuss some favourites.

Scratch the surface of some fantasy stories and you realise the worlds your heroes live in don’t work. How do characters earn a living? How is food grown, transported and traded? How important is a realistic fantasy economy to you?

In fantasy and horror, there are ways in which music becomes part of the creation. Our panel will discuss the creative role original music plays in the building of stories in the genres. Bring your creations along!