Lore&Love

Ready to have some fun? This week on Lore & Love, we're diving into one of the most enjoyable parts of writing: dialogue! It's the moment your characters truly come alive, and great dialogue does more than just move the plot forward—it reveals character, builds relationships, and creates sparkling subtext.

Join Alexandria as she explores how to give each of your characters a unique and recognizable voice. Using hilario...

Step beyond the role of a storyteller and become a composer. In this artistic and inspiring episode of Lore & Love, Alexandria explores the music of prose—the powerful, often-unseen rhythm that dictates the emotional experience of your reader. Learn how to consciously craft your sentence structure, length, and word choice to control the pacing of your story, turning a simple scene into a symphony.

Through a close reading of two ...

It's the most common piece of writing advice, but what does "Show, Don't Tell" truly mean? This week on Lore & Love, Alexandria demystifies the age-old rule, reframing it as a powerful tool for creating deep reader immersion. Learn the difference between summarizing emotion and action versus grounding your reader in a scene they can see, hear, and feel.

Using scenes of intense action and quiet regret from her...

Welcome back to a new season of Lore & Love! In "The Artisan's Touch," we move from building our story to mastering the craft of prose. And what better place to start than the most important page of your novel: the very first one.

Join host Alexandria as she discusses how to craft an opening that makes an immediate promise to your reader—establishing tone, immersing them in your world through sensory detail, and i...

In the concluding episode of this foundational series, Alexandria tackles the essential and often intimidating step of sharing your work. "The Brave Leap" is a practical guide to finding and utilizing your first readers, or beta readers. Learn who makes an ideal reader (and who doesn't), how to professionally ask for feedback with specific, targeted questions, and why you must give yourself 24 hours before reacting t...

 This episode of Lore & Love dives into the heart of your story: its theme. Alexandria demystifies the concept, moving it from an intimidating academic exercise to a core question your narrative explores. Discover how theme is often found during the revision process by examining your main character's emotional journey and the central conflict between your hero and antagonist. Learn practical techniques to sharpen your stor...

 Welcome back to Lore & Love! If you've just typed "The End" on your first draft, it's time to celebrate—and then, it's time for the real magic to begin. In this episode, Alexandria demystifies the revision process, transforming it from a daunting task into an exciting journey of discovery. Learn why stepping away from your manuscript is the essential first step, and how to differentiate the "teles...

We’ve built our world, created our characters, and outlined our plot. Now for the final, crucial step: bringing it all to life on the page. In the final episode of this foundational series, we dive into the craft of prose itself, focusing on the two workhorses of fiction: dialogue and description.

Learn how to write description that does more than paint a picture by filtering it through your character's unique point of view. Di...

A hero is only as compelling as the challenges they must overcome. This week on Lore & Love, we dive into one of the most exciting aspects of storytelling: crafting a truly worthy foe. We move beyond the idea of a one-dimensional, mustache-twirling villain and explore how to build an antagonist who is the hero of their own story.

Using the complex figure of Sa'tar from the Storm Kin Saga as a case study, we break down the t...

A grand world is an empty stage without players to walk upon it. In this episode of Lore & Love, we move from world-building to character creation, exploring how to craft heroes and villains who feel less like game pieces and more like people with a soul. We discuss how to use archetypes as a starting point, not a destination, and dive into the techniques that give characters depth and drive.

Using detailed examples from the Sto...

Your world is built and your characters are ready, but what happens next? This week on Lore & Love, we demystify the art of plotting. Forget complicated charts and color-coded cards; at its heart, a plot is simply a promise you make to your reader. We explore how to craft a compelling narrative by focusing on that core promise and structuring it with the natural rhythm of the three-act structure.

Using the epic journey of Evanda...

Welcome back to Lore & Love! This week, we're tackling the grand, intimidating, and absolutely thrilling art of world-building. How do you create a fantasy world that feels like it has a pulse? We explore the "iceberg" method of world-building: focusing on the ninety percent of culture and history that lies beneath the surface to make the story your reader sees feel solid, authentic, and lived-in.

Using specific e...

 The True Cost of Magic: Five Ways to Ground Your Magic System
Magic isn’t just dazzling displays and whispered incantations—it’s a force that demands balance. In the premiere full-length episode of Lore & Love, fantasy author Alexandria Love explores one of her favorite worldbuilding topics: the cost of magic. From physical tolls and rare ingredients to emotional sacrifice and environmental fallout, discover five powerful...

Every epic fantasy world has a heartbeat. It thrums in the complex magic systems and forgotten maps. But who creates that pulse?

In this prequel to the Lore & Love podcast, host and author Alexandria Love invites you on a journey to find out. Listen to discover the personal story that sparked the show's creation, the philosophy behind building worlds that resonate, and the two core pillars that will guide every future conve...