In this episode Hayden Rodgers discusses the broad ideas for the fantasy novel he's writing and hands the red pen over to you for darling killing.

EPISODE NOTES:

Head over to haydenrodgers.net/killmydarlingsblog/episode1 for all your darling killing needs!

This is what I spoke about: I want to riff on a lot of the expected elements of the genre but give them my own flavour or outright turn them on their head. But all the while still produce a satisfying fantasy adventure novel. I want to make sure that, in general, I am using as many of my own, unique ideas as possible. I think where a lot of fantasy adventure fans get caught when trying to write is that they don't offer anything new. Something I'm actually really interested in is the noir mystery style and even thriller style and bringing in elements of that genre into the writing. I want to create a really progressive story. Lots of representation of women, differently-abled people, people of colour, and LGBT people. The easiest way to write a progressive character is to write a good character. I want to parallel contemporary issues. I think the things we see in our world today are dramatic and griping. They are also huge issues. And I am kind of hoping that I will be able to shed some light and change some perspectives through fantasy. I think if we can take modern issues and recontextualise them in a fantasy world it could produce a very interesting and relatable look at our own world. For instance, this project has started during the Black Lives Matter movement - in fact, this week the Trump administration has been using a secret police force to kidnap BLM protesters, taking after his pals in Russia. We are also in our ongoing and increasingly terrifying struggle for climate justice as well as increasing corruption and abuse of power within Western "free" governments, and the pacification of the masses through evil media monopolies. If that shouldn't be in a novel I don't know what should.

Then I read a short story I'd written - inspired by a random prompt generator - trying to encapsulate as many of these ideas as possible. It's a about an older woman named Agatha who is unbeatable at the card game, Dragon's Gambit.

For the interactive part, visit haydenrodgers.net/killmydarlings. Find the blog for the episode you just listened to. Read the summary if you forgot what you just listened to. Help me clarify my ideas with your feedback in the comments section. I’ll try and respond to everything - it’ll be great for procrastinating the actual writing. Join a cute community of like-minded fantasy adventure-loving nerds by following all the accounts and things.

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