The Jed Herne Show Podcast
1) I Read 761 Fantasy First Chapters & Kept Seeing These 5 Mistakes
There’s 5 critical first chapter mistakes I see new fantasy writers make all the time. I know about these because when writers apply for my classes or coaching programs, they have to send me an applic...Show More
2) Good vs Bad Fantasy Plots: The 5 Key Differences
Read my new book, Plotting Your Fantasy Novel. It just released yesterday!After publishing four fantasy novels, and teaching hundreds of writers in my programs, I’ve realised there are 5 main differen...Show More
3) The 6-Dimension Framework That Creates Truly Realistic Fantasy Cultures
Have you ever struggled to write about a fantasy culture that feels meaningfully different from your own? Because of the societies we grow up in, we all have these inbuilt assumptions about the way th...Show More
4) What Pro Fantasy Authors Know That Amateurs Don't
There are 10 big mindset differences between pro fantasy authors and amateur ones. I’ve noticed these from talking with world-class writers like Joe Abercrombie, Christopher Ruocchio, Adrian Tchaikovs...Show More
5) The Secret to a Perfectly-Paced Fantasy Novel
There are seven levers that control the pacing of your fantasy novel. In today's episode, I discuss how these seven levers work, and how you can use them to create perfect pacing within your writing. ...Show More
6) How to Title Your Fantasy Novel (Follow These 5 Principles)
Your title is usually the first impression readers have of your story. So if your title sucks, readers will forget about your book without a second thought. But if your title is great, your book will ...Show More
7) How to Know If Your Fantasy Story Idea Is Actually Good
Most authors will tell you, “Ideas don't really matter. Any idea can be turned into a good story if you're skilled enough.” Personally, I think that’s bad advice. If you start with a weak idea, it put...Show More
8) Do This Every Day in 2026 to Improve Your Fantasy Writing
There's a simple warm up and cool down routine that will help you quickly get into the flow of writing every day — along with helping you maintain long-term creativity and consistency. In this podcast...Show More
9) 4 Tips to Write Deeply Immersive Fantasy Worlds
After reading hundreds of fantasy novels and publishing several of my own, I’ve found four key writing principles that consistently make a fantasy world feel truly immersive for readers. So if yo...Show More
10) Good vs Bad Worldbuilding: The 5 Key Differences
When it comes to writing a book, there are 5 key differences between good fantasy worldbuilding and bad fantasy worldbuilding. Understanding these differences will help you write more immersive, inter...Show More