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Abby Jimenez has carved a niche in contemporary romance with her heartfelt narratives that blend humor, emotional depth, and relatable characters. Her novels often interconnect through recurring characters and subtle references, enhancing the reading experience for those who follow her works chronologically.

To celebrate her brilliant writing style and bestselling romance novels, we’ve put together a complete guide to her published works. Below, you can find a list of Abby Jimenez books in order, as well as insights into each story’s themes and connections to help you get stuck into some of the best romance books around!

Let’s dive in.

Abby Jimenez Books In Order

Below, you can find a complete guide to Abby Jimenez’s books, put in date order. You can find details of the romance level, the spice level, page count and the Goodreads rating at the time of writing this.

Here’s a quick overview of all of Jimenez’s books:

TitleYearMain CharactersRomance LevelThe Friend Zone2019Kristen & JoshThe Happy Ever After Playlist2020Sloan & JasonLife’s Too Short2021Vanessa & AdrianPart of Your World2022Alexis & DanielYours Truly2023Briana & JacobJust for the Summer2024Emma & JustinThe Situationship2024Maddy & DougWorst Wingman Ever2024HollySay You’ll Remember Me2025Samantha & XavierThe Fall Risk2025Charlotte & Seth1. The Friend Zone (2019)

Jimenez’s debut introduces readers to Kristen Petersen and Josh Copeland. Kristen, dealing with personal health challenges, finds herself drawn to Josh, leading to a complex exploration of love, friendship, and self-discovery.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 384
Goodreads Rating: 3.90/5

View on Goodreads here.

2. The Happy Ever After Playlist (2020)

A sequel to The Friend Zone, this novel follows Sloan Monroe as she navigates grief and unexpected romance after a chance encounter with a lost dog leads her to musician Jason. The story delves into healing and the serendipity of new beginnings.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 400
Goodreads Rating: 4.17/5

View on Goodreads here.

3. Life’s Too Short (2021)

The third installment in the series centers on Vanessa Price, a successful YouTuber who becomes the guardian of her niece. Her life intertwines with lawyer Adrian Copeland, leading to a narrative rich in themes of responsibility, love, and the unpredictability of life.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 384
Goodreads Rating: 4.15/5

View on Goodreads here.

4. Part of Your World (2022)

Marking the beginning of a new series, this novel features Alexis Montgomery, a city ER doctor, and Daniel Grant, a small-town carpenter. Their story explores the challenges of bridging vastly different worlds and the transformative power of love.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 400
Goodreads Rating: 4.27/5

View on Goodreads here.

5. Yours Truly (2023)

A continuation of the Part of Your World series, this book follows Dr. Briana Ortiz and Dr. Jacob Maddox. Their relationship evolves from professional rivalry to a deep connection, highlighting themes of vulnerability and personal growth.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 400
Goodreads Rating: 4.31/5

View on Goodreads here.

6. Just for the Summer (2024)

In this installment, Emma and Justin, both believing they are cursed in love, decide to date each other to break their streaks. Set against the backdrop of Lake Minnetonka, the story unfolds into a heartfelt exploration of fate and genuine connection.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 400
Goodreads Rating: 4.37/5

View on Goodreads here.

7. The Situationship (2024)

A novella linked to Just for the Summer, this story focuses on Maddy and Doug, navigating the complexities of a casual relationship that hints at deeper feelings. It’s a concise yet impactful narrative about love’s unpredictability.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 150
Goodreads Rating: 3.92/5

View on Goodreads here.

8. Worst Wingman Ever (2024)

Part of the Improbable Meet-Cute collection, this short story introduces Holly, who begins an anonymous correspondence after receiving a misdirected Valentine’s Day card. The tale captures the charm of unexpected connections.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 100
Goodreads Rating: 3.99/5

View on Goodreads here.

9. Say You’ll Remember Me (2025)

Jimenez’s latest novel features Samantha and Xavier, whose chance meeting leads to a profound connection challenged by personal circumstances. The story delves into themes of memory, love, and the impact of fleeting moments.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 400
Goodreads Rating: 4.07/5

View on Goodreads here.

10. The Fall Risk (2025)

This short story presents Charlotte and Seth, neighbors brought together by a building mishap. Their budding relationship offers a narrative rich in resilience and the healing nature of companionship.

Romance Level:
Spice Level:
Page Count: 120
Goodreads Rating: 4.10/5

View on Goodreads here.

Reading Order Recommendations

While each of Abby Jimenez’s novels can be enjoyed independently, reading them in publication order enhances the experience through character crossovers and evolving storylines.

The Friend Zone series (The Friend Zone, The Happy Ever After Playlist, Life’s Too Short) and the Part of Your World series (Part of Your World, Yours Truly, Just for the Summer) are particularly interconnected.

Themes and Style In Abby Jimenez’s Books

Jimenez’s writing is characterized by its blend of humor, emotional depth, and realistic portrayals of love and personal challenges. Her stories often address serious topics with sensitivity, offering readers both entertainment and meaningful reflections on life and relationships.

For fans of contemporary romance that balances levity with profound themes, Abby Jimenez’s body of work offers a compelling journey through the complexities of love and personal growth.

If you’re a romance fan, you’re bound to enjoy these books, and with the help of this guide, you can go through Abby Jimenez books in order without getting lost. Enjoy!

The post Abby Jimenez Books In Order – A Guide To Her Romantic Universe appeared first on Richie Billing - Writing Tips And Fantasy Books.

When it comes to words beginning with “X,” most people might struggle to name more than a few. This elusive letter is one of the least frequently used in the English language, yet it carries a fascinating array of words with unique meanings and origins.

In this guide, we’ll explore words that start with “X,” from the most common ones to rare and descriptive adjectives, positive and negative adjectives, and words of all lengths. Let’s dive in!

ContentsThe Most Common Words Beginning With X3 Letter Words Beginning With X4 Letter Words Beginning With X5 Letter Words Beginning With X9 Letter Words Beginning With XWords Beginning With X To Describe SomeonePositive Adjectives That Start With XNegative Adjectives That Begin With XThe Best Descriptive Words Beginning With XDiscover More AdjectivesThe Most Common Words Beginning With X

Despite its rarity, X appears in some widely recognized words. Many of these have Greek origins, with “x” representing a “z” or “ks” sound. Here are some of the most commonly used words beginning with X:

X-ray – The well-known imaging technique used in medicine.Xylophone – A percussion instrument made of wooden bars. Xenophobia – The fear or dislike of people from other countries.Xenon – A noble gas used in lighting and imaging technology.Xerox – A brand name that became synonymous with photocopying.X-axis – The horizontal axis in a coordinate system.Xenial – Relating to hospitality and friendliness between guests and hosts.Xerothermic – Describing hot and dry climates.3 Letter Words Beginning With X

Short words starting with “X” are particularly scarce, but a few exist, often derived from Greek:

Xis – The plural of “xi,” the 14th letter of the Greek alphabet.Xyl – A prefix related to wood (e.g., “xylophone” means “wood sound”).Xea – An obsolete word for dry land.4 Letter Words Beginning With X

Moving up a notch in length, four-letter words beginning with X also tend to be obscure:

Xyst – An ancient Greek covered walkway used for athletic training.Xylo – A root word meaning “wood” (as in “xylophone”).Xeni – A form of the word “xenia,” meaning hospitality.Xero – A prefix meaning “dry,” as in “xerography” (dry printing).Xine – An abbreviation of “magazine” in some digital contexts.5 Letter Words Beginning With X

Five-letter words beginning with “X” are slightly more common and include:

Xeric – Describes a dry environment or habitat.Xylic – Relating to wood or derivatives of xylene.Xylan – A type of polysaccharide found in plant cell walls.Xerus – A type of African ground squirrel.Xenic – Related to foreign or strange environments.9 Letter Words Beginning With X

Longer words beginning with “X” often stem from scientific or technical fields. Here are some examples:

Xanthosis – A yellowing of plant or animal tissue.Xenoliths – Fragments of rock embedded in different rock types.Xerophyte – A plant adapted to survive with minimal water.Xenograft – A transplant from one species to another.Xenogeny – The development of an organism from an external source.Words Beginning With X To Describe Someone

Descriptive words starting with “X” are rare, but here are a few that can be used to characterize people:

Xenial – Hospitable and friendly.Xerotic – Dry or lacking in vitality.Xenophobic – Fearful of foreigners.Xenodochial – Friendly to strangers.Positive Adjectives That Start With X

While “X” words tend to be scientific or obscure, a few positive adjectives exist:

Xenial – Showing warm hospitality.Xerothermic – Capable of thriving in extreme conditions (metaphorically, a person who thrives under pressure).Xenodochial – Welcoming to strangers.Negative Adjectives That Begin With X

Negative adjectives beginning with “X” are few, but they exist:

Xerotic – Lacking moisture, which can also imply dullness or lifelessness in a figurative sense.Xenophobic – Fearful or prejudiced against foreigners.Xiphoid – Literally means “sword-shaped,” but can metaphorically describe someone sharp or cutting in speech.The Best Descriptive Words Beginning With X

Some of the most vivid words that start with “X” carry unique descriptive power:

Xanthic – Yellow-colored.Xerophilous – Thriving in dry conditions.Xenogenic – Derived from an external source.Xiphoid – Sword-like in shape.Xerophytic – Capable of surviving with little water.Discover More Adjectives

So there you have a pretty comprehensive collection of words beginning with X. If you’re still yearning for more adjectives, then head here to find words to describe teachers. You can also head here to find adjectives beginning with TH and this guide has lots of adjectives that start with the letter F.

The post Words Beginning With X – All Lengths And Their Meaning appeared first on Richie Billing - Writing Tips And Fantasy Books.

Internal conflict is the heartbeat of every great story. It is the unseen force that shapes characters, drives plots, and keeps readers or viewers emotionally invested.

This guide dives deeply into internal conflict, exploring its definition, importance, and manifestations across literature, movies, and television. To help us achieve this, we’ll look at lots of great internal conflict examples, so that by the end, you’ll understand how to wield this narrative tool effectively so you can enrich your stories and captivate your audience.

ContentsThe Definition Of Internal ConflictWhy Is Internal Conflict Important?The Best Internal Conflict ExamplesInternal Conflict Examples In LiteratureInternal Conflicts In MoviesExamples Of Internal Conflict In TV ShowsThe Relationship With External ConflictThe Definition Of Internal Conflict

Internal conflict, also known as “man versus self,” is the psychological struggle that occurs within a character. It arises when a character faces opposing emotions, desires, beliefs, or values, leading to inner turmoil. Unlike external conflicts—such as battles against antagonists or nature—internal conflicts are introspective, showcasing the complex workings of the human mind.

For instance, a character may be torn between ambition and morality. Do they seize a career-making opportunity, even if it means betraying a close friend? Such inner battles make characters relatable, showing that even the strongest heroes grapple with doubts, fears, and contradictions.

At its core, internal conflict answers two questions:

What does the character desire most?What obstacles—internal or external—prevent them from achieving it?

These questions set the stage for compelling narratives, as characters confront their fears, flaws, and dilemmas in pursuit of their goals.

Why Is Internal Conflict Important?

Internal conflict is the cornerstone of great storytelling for several reasons:

1. It Humanizes Characters

No one is perfect, and neither should your characters be. Internal conflict reveals vulnerabilities, making even the most fantastical protagonists feel grounded and real. When readers see a character struggling with fear, guilt, or self-doubt, they empathize, forming a deeper emotional connection.

2. It Drives the Plot

While external events often push the story forward, internal conflicts determine how characters respond. A knight facing a dragon may also battle their fear of failure, influencing whether they fight bravely or flee. These internal dilemmas add complexity, making the narrative and the plot richer and more engaging.

3. It Adds Emotional Depth

Stories without internal conflict can feel shallow or one-dimensional. By contrast, narratives with well-crafted internal struggles evoke powerful emotions—sadness, joy, anger, relief—ensuring the story lingers in the audience’s mind long after they’ve finished. This ties in with my own approach to plot, called character plotting, which focuses on this emotional journey.

4. It Encourages Character Growth And Development

Internal conflict is the crucible in which characters transform. A fearful protagonist may learn courage; a selfish one, empathy. These arcs of growth and development resonate with readers, reflecting their own struggles and triumphs.

The Best Internal Conflict Examples

Internal conflicts can manifest in countless ways. Let’s take a look at some more general examples of internal conflict:

1. Desire vs. Duty

A character’s personal ambitions clash with their responsibilities.
Example: A soldier must choose between following orders and saving innocent civilians.

2. Fear vs. Courage

A character must overcome deep-seated fears to achieve their goals.
Example: A reclusive artist struggles to share their work with the world, fearing rejection.

3. Love vs. Loyalty

Romantic feelings conflict with existing allegiances or values.
Example: A spy falls in love with someone from an enemy nation, torn between their mission and their heart.

4. Self-Identity vs. Society

A character grapples with who they are versus who society expects them to be.
Example: A young woman from a conservative family dreams of becoming a pilot in a male-dominated field.

These examples illustrate the universality of internal conflict, showcasing its ability to transcend genres and resonate across cultures. Let’s take a look at some other internal conflict examples from different types of creative works, starting with literature and books.

Internal Conflict Examples In Literature

Literature is a treasure trove of internal conflict, with many iconic stories built around characters’ inner struggles. Here are some noteworthy examples:

Hamlet by William Shakespeare

The titular character is a prime example of internal conflict. Hamlet is torn between his desire to avenge his father’s murder and his moral hesitation. This inner turmoil drives the play’s tragic events, culminating in a reflection on life, death, and duty.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Holden Caulfield’s internal conflict revolves around his disdain for societal “phoniness” and his struggle to find authenticity in a world he finds alienating. His battle with depression and his search for identity are deeply relatable.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

Elizabeth Bennet must confront her prejudices against Mr. Darcy, as well as her own pride. This internal journey shapes her romantic arc, transforming her perspective on love and relationships.

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Raskolnikov wrestles with guilt and justification after committing murder. His psychological torment drives the novel’s tension, illustrating the devastating effects of moral conflict.

Internal Conflicts In Movies

Movies often bring internal conflicts to life through visuals, dialogue, and performances. Here are some standout examples:

The Godfather (1972)

Michael Corleone’s internal conflict is at the heart of this classic. Initially, Michael aspires to live a lawful life, but loyalty to his family gradually pulls him into the world of organized crime. His transformation is as tragic as it is compelling.

Black Swan (2010)

Nina Sayers’ quest for perfection leads to a psychological breakdown. Her internal conflict between ambition and self-acceptance is portrayed with haunting intensity, making her journey unforgettable.

A Beautiful Mind (2001)

John Nash’s internal conflict lies in his battle with schizophrenia. The film explores how he learns to manage his condition while maintaining his career and personal relationships, offering a poignant look at resilience.

Examples Of Internal Conflict In TV Shows

Television, with its extended storytelling format, allows for nuanced exploration of internal conflict. Here are some examples:

Breaking Bad

Walter White’s transformation from a mild-mannered chemistry teacher to a ruthless drug lord is fueled by internal conflict. His desire to provide for his family clashes with his growing pride and moral decay.

Mad Men

Don Draper’s internal conflict stems from his hidden past and his struggle with identity. As he navigates the glamorous yet hollow world of advertising, his personal battles shape the show’s emotional core.

The Sopranos

Tony Soprano grapples with the pressures of leading a crime family while seeking therapy for his mental health. His internal conflict between vulnerability and machismo is both raw and captivating.

The Relationship With External Conflict

Internal and external conflicts are deeply intertwined, often feeding into and intensifying each other. Their interplay creates richer, more layered storytelling, where the challenges faced by characters feel both realistic and emotionally charged.

External conflict frequently exacerbates internal struggles. When characters are placed in hostile environments or confronted with difficult external challenges, their inner turmoil often deepens. For instance, a soldier in a warzone might already wrestle with fear and guilt, but the chaos and danger around them amplify these emotions, pushing them to their psychological limits.

On the other hand, a character’s internal state significantly shapes how they respond to external challenges. A protagonist grappling with self-doubt or feelings of inadequacy might hesitate to confront an antagonist or avoid making critical decisions. This hesitation not only complicates the external conflict but also provides insight into the character’s psyche, adding emotional weight to the story.

In many narratives, the resolution of one type of conflict often leads to the resolution of the other. When a character overcomes their internal struggles—whether it’s fear, guilt, or self-doubt—they often find the clarity and strength needed to tackle external challenges. Similarly, achieving an external victory can bring about the catharsis or understanding required to address lingering inner conflicts. This symbiotic relationship between the two types of conflict enhances character development and creates a satisfying narrative arc.

Ultimately, the seamless interplay between internal and external conflicts enriches storytelling, making it dynamic, relatable, and immersive for audiences. This layered approach keeps readers and viewers emotionally engaged, as they witness characters navigate both their external battles and the intricate landscapes of their inner worlds.

Hopefully these internal conflict examples have helped. It really is the soul of great storytelling, offering unparalleled depth and relatability. Whether it’s Hamlet’s indecision, Michael Corleone’s transformation, or Nina Sayers’ descent into madness, these inner battles captivate us by reflecting the human condition.

As a writer, mastering internal conflict allows you to create characters and narratives that resonate deeply with your audience. To discover more writing tips, just click here or browse through some of the guides below:

Words Beginning With X – All Lengths And Their MeaningRichie BillingJanuary 31, 2025

When it comes to words beginning with “X,” most people might struggle to name more than a few. This elusive letter is one of the least frequently used in the English language, yet it carries a fascinating array of words with unique meanings and origins. In this guide, we’ll explore words that start with “X,”…

Continue Reading Words Beginning With X – All Lengths And Their Meaning

Using The 5 Senses In Writing: Examples To Inspire YouRichie BillingJanuary 5, 2025

Merely communicating how something looks or sounds isn’t enough to bring a story to life. Many people experience things through smells, touch, taste. In fact, these oft forgotten senses are some of the most powerful forms of description, things which can enrich a story and give it life.

Continue Reading Using The 5 Senses In Writing: Examples To Inspire You

A Guide To Different Types Of Fantasy Weapons And How To Make Your OwnRichie BillingDecember 2, 2024

Many great stories have fantastic fantasy weapons. Ones forged of magic or with fabled materials. Some have grand names and histories behind them.  These weapons are popular in the fantasy genre, and in this guide, we’re going to dive back in time to the medieval period to look at some common—as well as uncommon—medieval fantasy…

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Everything You Need To Know About The Life Of A Medieval LordRichie BillingDecember 2, 2024

To gain an insight into the role and lives of the lords of the Middles Ages we’ll first take a brief look at the reign of King Richard II, otherwise known as Richard the Tyrant. From there we’ll turn our focus to the world of barons, the individuals who held almost unlimited power over the land granted to them by the king.

Continue Reading Everything You Need To Know About The Life Of A Medieval Lord

The post Internal Conflict: Examples And Definition appeared first on Richie Billing - Writing Tips And Fantasy Books.

Many great stories have fantastic fantasy weapons. Ones forged of magic or with fabled materials. Some have grand names and histories behind them. 

These weapons are popular in the fantasy genre, and in this guide, we’re going to dive back in time to the medieval period to look at some common—as well as uncommon—medieval fantasy weapons, all with the aim of helping you with ideas for your own stories.  

This is a comprehensive guide to fantasy weapons, though I’m sure some of you will be annoyed I’ve left out your favourites. Still, it looks at some of the lesser-known yet effective tools of destructions, all with the aim of helping you find original angles with your fantasy writing. 

We’ll finish the guide with a look at some interesting and cool fantasy weapons that people have come up with. 

ContentsWhat Are Fantasy Weapons?What Materials Are Used To Make Weapons Like This?Materials for Medieval WeaponsMaterials for Fantasy WeaponsTypes Of Fantasy Weapons Inspired By Medieval TimesFalchionBroadswordMaceThe FlailWarhammerSpearsBillhookShieldsTypes Of Magical Fantasy WeaponsA Gallery Of Fantasy WeaponsHow Do You Create Your Own Fantasy Weapon?How Do I Make A Unique Fantasy Weapon?What Are Fantasy Weapons?

When we think of fantasy weapons, our minds may wander to magic swords or the staffs of or witches. 

You may also picture elegant bows or the enchanted axes of dwarves. 

Some of these fantastical weapons may have names, like Oathbringer, Andúril or Excalibur. 

The point I’m trying to make here is that fantasy weapons offer the reader something more, something unusual and distinct from the ordinary.

We’ll look at some ways to create different types of fantasy weapons below, but if you keep this principle in mind, you can’t go wrong. Let’s look at an example from the fantasy genre.

What Materials Are Used To Make Weapons Like This?

When it comes to the forging of these types of fantasy weapons, it helps to consider the crafting of the weapon and the enchantments as separate. Here’s a useful breakdown:

Materials for Medieval Weapons

In the medieval era, weapon-making relied on readily available materials that could be forged, shaped, and tempered to create durable and effective arms.

Iron and Steel: Iron was common for early weapons like swords, spears, and arrowheads. While durable, it required frequent maintenance to prevent rust. Steel, a refined form of iron alloyed with carbon, offered greater strength and flexibility and became the standard for high-quality weapons like swords, axes, and armor.Wood: Essential for shafts, handles, and ranged weapons. Ash, oak, and yew were preferred for their strength and flexibility. Examples include spear shafts, bow staves, and the handles of axes or hammers.Stone: Used in early medieval weapons like flint-tipped arrows or maces. Although primitive, stone was effective and accessible.Leather and Cord: Used for grips, bowstrings, and binding components together, providing durability and comfort.Bone and Horn: Sometimes used for decorative inlays or composite bows, where layers of wood and horn were laminated for flexibility and power.Bronze: An alloy of copper and tin, it was largely replaced by iron and steel but remained significant for ornamental weapons and early armor.Materials for Fantasy Weapons

Fantasy weapons incorporate both realistic and imaginative materials, adding magical or mystical elements to their construction. Here are examples of some popular materials found in the genre.

Mithril: A fictional metal often described as lightweight, incredibly strong, and resistant to damage. Used in crafting swords, armor, and chainmail.Adamantine/Adamantium: A nearly indestructible material, often used for powerful weapons like enchanted blades or unbreakable shields.Dragonbone/Dragon Scale: Extracted from mythical creatures, these materials are incredibly tough and often imbued with magical properties, ideal for crafting weapons or armor.Obsidian: A volcanic glass sometimes featured in fantasy as a razor-sharp, magically enhanced material, often associated with dark or cursed weapons.Runestone or Enchanted Crystals: Used to embed magical energy or enhance a weapon’s abilities, such as adding elemental powers or summoning effects.Types Of Fantasy Weapons Inspired By Medieval Times

The development of weapons in the Middle Ages resulted from the advancement in medieval armor, which you can read about here.

The trusty sword was no match for the walking tanks that were knights, unable to pierce, smash or crack the plated armour they covered themselves with.

In fact, a shortsword, thrust at arm’s length with both hands, could puncture plated armour by a mere inch—and the blade would be stuck there too.

So weaponsmiths the world over went back to the workshop to devise weapons to defeat the armoured warrior. Here’s a list of forty medieval weapons, and further below, you can find more in-depth information on a few of the more unique ones. 

Longsword: A versatile two-handed sword with a straight double-edged blade.Battle Axe: A large, heavy axe designed for combat, usually wielded with one or two hands.Warhammer: A heavy weapon with a long handle and a head made of metal, often used to crush armor.Flail: A spiked metal ball attached to a handle by a chain, swung to strike opponents.Mace: A club-like weapon with a heavy head often studded with spikes.Halberd: A pole weapon featuring an axe blade topped with a spike, used for slashing and thrusting.Morningstar: A spiked metal ball attached to a handle, similar to a mace but with a longer reach.Spear: A long pole weapon with a sharp pointed blade, used for thrusting or throwing.Crossbow: A ranged weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles called bolts.Longbow: A large bow, often taller than the archer, used for long-range shooting.Dagger: A short-bladed weapon, often used as a backup or for close combat.Poleaxe: A pole weapon with an axe blade on one side and a hammer or spike on the other.War Scythe: A modified farming tool turned into a weapon, featuring a long curved blade on a pole.Rapier: A slender, sharply pointed sword, primarily used for thrusting.Billhook: A farming tool adapted into a weapon, featuring a hooked blade with a sharpened edge.Greatsword: A large two-handed sword with a long, wide blade.Bastard Sword: A sword that can be wielded with one or two hands, featuring a long, straight blade.Katana: A curved, single-edged sword traditionally used by Japanese samurai.Naginata: A Japanese pole weapon with a curved blade on the end of a long shaft.War Pick: A melee weapon with a spiked head, designed to penetrate armor.War Flail: A variation of the flail with multiple spiked metal balls attached to a handle.War Bow: A large, powerful bow designed for use in battle.Scimitar: A curved sword with a single-edged blade, originating from the Middle East.War Fan: A folding fan with sharp metal edges, used as a concealed weapon in Japan.Crossbow Pistol: A smaller, handheld version of the crossbow, used for close combat.Sling: A simple ranged weapon consisting of a strap and a pouch used to hurl projectiles.Javelin: A light spear designed for throwing, commonly used by infantry.War Dart: A small, throwable weapon with a sharpened metal point.Composite Bow: A bow made from different materials like wood, horn, and sinew, providing increased power.Lance: A long spear-like weapon used by mounted warriors, especially in jousting.Arbalest: A large crossbow with a steel bow, capable of shooting heavy bolts with great force.Partisan: A pole weapon with a long shaft and a broad, spear-like blade.Bohemian Ear Spoon: A dagger-like weapon with a sharp, curved blade and a handle shaped like a spoon.Falchion: A single-edged sword with a curved blade, used for chopping and slashing.Glaive: A pole weapon resembling a large knife or sword mounted on a pole.War Scissors: A pair of large scissors used as a weapon, designed to cut through armor.Zhanmadao: A Chinese pole weapon similar to a glaive, featuring a curved, single-edged blade.Bec de Corbin: A pole weapon with a spiked hammerhead and a beak-like spike on the opposite side.War Cleaver: A large, heavy knife or sword with a broad blade, used for chopping.War Trident: A three-pronged spear used for thrusting and slashing in close combat.Falchion

This weapon has cropped up before when we looked at archery. The falchion was a single-edged blade, around 24 to 30 inches long and weighing around 5 to 8 pounds, which is a little lighter than a large bag of sugar.

The falchion was designed to combine the technique of a sword with the weight of an axe, and proved very effective against chain mail, able to cleave right through it. When faced against plated armour, however, it ran into sticky ground. Like the shortsword, the blade would lodge into the armour, and a wielder unable to yank it free would present his armoured foe with a glorious opportunity to kill them.

Broadsword

Also referred to as the basket-hilted sword, this was a blade that had a broad base before narrowing into a wicked, sting-like point. 

The purpose of the basket hilt crossguard was to give some protection to the hand. A skilled wielder was required, and a skilled bladesmith too—the finest steel had to be used, otherwise, it would shatter in combat.

The broadsword inspired the development of a blade known as the estoc, also known as the English tuck. This lengthy blade had a signature cruciform hilt requiring two hands. It was edgeless with a sharp point designed to pierce armour. It was, however, a little impractical in the bloody heat of battle.

The estoc holds similarities to the rapier and sabre, both weapons more at home in the realm of fencing than on the battlefield. 

Can you see yourself adapting this to make your own fantasy weapons? What magical enchantments could you give a sabre, for example?

It’s one of the medieval fantasy weapons that feature quite often in the genre. Prince Arutha in Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar Cycle famously wielded a rapier, and to legendary effect. 

Mace

One of the ways to defeat plated armour was by crushing it, and that was something a mace could do. It developed out of the crude, yet effective, wooden club, and was at one time favoured by priests who preferred weapons that did not draw blood (but crushed skulls instead. Yeah, real holy, guys.)

The mace came in a variety of styles. Some were spherical or oval, covered in spikes or ribs. They tended to be made from steel, weighing between 4 and 6 pounds, which is about the weight of a table lamp—lighter than you think. 

A blow to an unarmoured foe would be lethal, and against plate would certainly cause a concussion, bruising, or even haemorrhaging. It was designed for close, aggressive combat, used in accompaniment with a shield. It could even deflect blows from swords.

On its own, however, it wouldn’t be enough to kill an armoured enemy. Knocking them to the ground was the aim so they could be finished off quickly with a dagger through the visor, eye slit, or weak spot, such as behind the knees, armpit, under the breastplate or if you’re a cruel bastard, the groin.

The Flail

Similar to the mace, the flail was also a weapon inspired by its cruder predecessors. It was an ancient agricultural tool, consisting of a wooden club hinged to a long staff by rope or chain. Some sadistic prick decided to replace the club with a spiked ball, and voilà, you have yourself a killing machine. 

In the medieval military world, it became known as the ball and chain, and many variations were developed, the most common being the above: single-handed with a handle of about 3 feet in length and a reach of around 2 to 4 feet.

The chain at the end was wrapped around the wrist. It had the lovely nickname ‘The Holy Water Sprinkler’ (bloody priests at it again). Some variations even had two or even three spiked balls at the end.

This was a dangerous weapon, not just for a foe, but for the wielder too. The swinging arm had to remain extended at all times, and that ball had to keep on swinging—the higher the speed the easier it was to control, paradoxically.

Coming up against it must have been terrifying, with one eye on the spiked ball flashing left and right, and the other eye on the wielder. It did, however, make for a rubbish defensive weapon, unable to deflect blows, and if the swinging stopped for a moment, your foe had a chance to attack. It was bloody exhausting to use too.

I would regard this as one of the lesser-used medieval fantasy weapons, and given its brutal effectiveness, it’s one that could be featured to good effect in stories, especially with a magical enchantment to aid its wielder. 

Warhammer

No, not the game. This weapon was also inspired by cruder versions, the wooden mallet in this case. The warhammer had two different features: a flat head—the hammer side if you will—which with some variations had serrations to bite into armour, and; the other side which consisted of a long narrow spike, known as ‘The Crow’s Beak’, designed to puncture plate.

It was light enough to carry one-handed, most effective in quick combinations—a blow to stun with the hammer, followed by a ruthless puncture.

As with all weapons designed to pierce armour, it had its downside. The wielder had one chance to land the killing blow. If the point became lodged your foe had a nice opportunity to strike back. Killing is never straightforward, is it?

Now a warhammer would make for one of the cooler medieval fantasy weapons, don’t you think?

Spears

Spears, in short, were useless against plated armour. The points lacked the sharpness to pierce and couldn’t generate enough power to penetrate. The long wooden shafts could also be sliced by blades.

The Germans took these problems into account and developed an interesting weapon called the ahlspiess, which translates to the ‘eel spear.’ It was around five feet long, weighing around 8 and 10 pounds. It consisted of a sharp point at the end of a slender blade, with a crossguard and wooden haft. 

With this weapon, the wielder could aim for weak spots in armour, or pierce right through it. The downside was that it was pretty heavy, with all the weight at the business end, and it was two-handed, so defensive options were limited.

Billhook

We come to probably my favourite of all these oddities: the billhook.

As with a lot of these weapons, the billhook began its life as an agricultural tool, one that’s still used today.

It consisted of a long, single-edged blade with a curved end, branching off into a spike. At the back of the blade is another, smaller spike, known as a fluke. It was around 6 to 8 feet long and weighed around 10 pounds.

Being an agricultural tool it was quite easy to make. This weapon provided flexibility in the attack, able to thrust, slash and deflect. Perhaps the most effective feature was its ability to hook onto armor.

It was capable of deadly combinations with the top spike able to pierce plate if used with enough force. The fluke at the back was also used for stabbing. The billhook was also very effective against cavalry, able to sweep riders from their saddles.

The downside was it required two hands, so parrying was important to make up for the lack of a shield. If a blow was blocked, it had to be swept away. It was also pretty useless against thrusting blows.

Of everything on this list, I think the billhook takes the crown as one of my favourite medieval fantasy weapons. I used them quite a lot in Pariah’s Lament and adapted them so they could be used with a shield. 

Shields

When you think of a shield you think of its ability to block projectiles and blows, but in fact, it was quite an effective offensive weapon.

Shields have been around for over 4,000 years, still used today by the police. Over the course of this period they’ve had to contend with lots of different weapons—arrows, javelins, throwing axes, heavier Dane axes, maces, swords … the list could go on. Two qualities were necessary from a shield: strength and lightness.

To achieve this magic combination a variety of materials were used. One of the earliest was linden wood. This material is extraordinarily light and flexible. Linden shields were held together with a glue made from cheese. Unsurprisingly, they didn’t last long in battle, shattering when struck by arrows, or any blow for that matter.

To achieve extra strength, linden shields were wrapped in the untreated hide of a cow—it had to be from a cow, much tougher than sheep, for example. This did, however, add a fair bit of weight, but could absorb blows from projectiles, but against heavier attacks shattered.

Different Shapes And Types Of Shields

The shape of a shield was important to its strength. Lenticular—like the lens of an eye—provided the flexibility a shield needed to stop from shattering.

Other shapes include much smaller, circular shields, known as the buckler. It was used almost as an extension of the wrist, useful for deflecting blows rather than blocking them head-on. It could also be used as a steel fist.

The kite shield was introduced by the Vikings with clever purposes in mind. During the Battle of Hastings, the Anglo-Saxons stood firm with their shield wall, something we’ll come to shortly, so a tactic adopted by the Vikings was to have cavalry charge at the wall, hurl projectiles, then beat a retreat. The kite shield provided protection to the flank of both mount and rider as they charged and fled.

We return to the shield wall, perhaps the most effective use of shields in history. It was capable of being taught to individuals with no military experience in a short space of time, and proved difficult to break down. It was the primary military tactic in Anglo-Saxon Britain.

A line of warriors stood abreast with shields interlocked, one overlapping the other. If someone tried to pull a shield forwards it wouldn’t move. Likewise, if they charged it stood strong. It did, however, require incredible teamwork. If a single gap in the wall appeared, the floodgates opened.

There were different tactics for the shield wall. A straightforward line could be adopted, though this was vulnerable to flanking manoeuvres and cavalry charges. To counter this, the line could be moved into rows, forming a dense formation. If a horse charged into the fray, they’d lost their momentum, become trapped and quickly killed.

A tactic to defeat the shield wall was known as the ‘Boar’s Snout’. This involved a narrow charge into one section of the wall, pushed forwards by the men rushing behind. The idea was to burst open the wall like a blister.

Types Of Magical Fantasy Weapons

Fantasy is a genre rich with magical weapons as well as those grounded in medieval history. Here’s a useful overview of some of the most popular types of weapons in fantasy with a magical twist:

Enchanted Swords – Blades imbued with magical powers, often glowing, unbreakable, or granting special abilities to the wielder.Runed Axes – Axes inscribed with magical runes that enhance their destructive power or grant elemental abilities like fire or ice.Wands – Small, often wooden implements that channel magic for casting spells.Staffs – Long rods used by wizards or sorcerers to amplify their magical energy or cast powerful spells.Magic Daggers – Small, lightweight blades enchanted for stealth, poison, or delivering curses.Cursed Weapons – Weapons with dark magic that grant great power but come with a heavy cost or drawback for the wielder.Bows of Accuracy – Magical bows that ensure perfect aim or fire enchanted arrows, like those that explode or freeze targets.Elemental Weapons – Weapons infused with the power of the elements, such as fire, water, earth, or lightning.Holy Weapons – Sacred weapons blessed by divine forces to combat evil or undead creatures.Shadow Blades – Weapons that harness dark or shadow magic, often used for stealth or delivering silent, lethal strikes.Shape-Shifting Weapons – Weapons that can change their form, such as shifting between a sword, spear, or shield.Soul-Bladed Weapons – Weapons that capture or draw power from the souls of enemies they defeat.Vampiric Weapons – Weapons that drain life or energy from foes to heal or empower their wielder.Spectral Weapons – Weapons made of pure magic or energy, often wielded by ghosts or conjured through spells.Living Weapons – Sentient weapons with their own will, capable of communicating with or guiding the wielder.A Gallery Of Fantasy Weapons

Below, you can find a collection of some of my favourite types of weapons in fantasy to help inspire your creations.

How Do You Create Your Own Fantasy Weapon?

When it comes to creating your own fantasy weapon, there are a few things to keep in mind which may help you with the process:

It helps to begin with something you’re familiar with, like a sword or bow. Understand how it’s used. For example, some swords, like rapiers, are designed to stab. Others are designed to slash.Think of ways to make the ordinary extraordinary. Here are some prompts:Does the fantasy weapon grant the wielder magical powers?Is there something special about wielding this sword, e.g. lightness?Is it made of a unique type of material?What does this unique material offer, e.g. it can cut through rock?Does the weapon respond differently to other people?Does it carry some kind of enchantment, such as a healing or protective ward spell?Was this weapon forged in a unique way or by a fabled blacksmith or enchanter?Breathe life into your weapon.Try giving names to your fantasy weaponsOr try giving them a past. Who has wielded it before? Is it widely known across the land? Does it have a reputation?How Do I Make A Unique Fantasy Weapon?

As fantasy writers, we’re always look for ways to make our stories and creations unique and different. When it comes to your fantasy weapons, there are some things I’ve picked up over my years writing that can help you find original angles:

To help get your creative juices flowing, start with a simple exercise. All you need to do is ask the question: “what if?” So, think of a weapon, and then start asking questions using ‘what if’ as your prompt. See where it takes you!Focus on how magic can interact with your weapon. Rather than think about how magic could enhance a weapon, you can also think about how it restricts it.Blend weapons together. Mixing a couple of standard weapons can help give you something unique. Put yourself in your characters shoes and be resourceful. For truly creative fantasy weapons, you could put youself in your characters shoes and think about how they would make a weapon. For example, flails and scythes were used on farms and were then developed into weapons.  

For more advice on coming up with cool weapons, head here to check out a more detailed guide. 

Thank you for reading this guide to medieval fantasy weapons. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me, or join our writing group!

The post A Guide To Different Types Of Fantasy Weapons And How To Make Your Own appeared first on Richie Billing - Writing Tips And Fantasy Books.

The lives of medieval lords during the Middle Ages was a mix of splendour, war and administration. Being the most privileged in society, they also bore the responsibility to govern over parcels of land for the monarch and fought for them in wars.But, as we’ll see, this allowed the medieval lord to develop a power which, when combined with other lords, gave the king a run for his money.

In this detailed guide, we’ll take a look at a real-life case study from the medieval era involving King Richard II. We’ll also explore the daily lives of the medieval lord, from the mundane aspects to the more grandiose, and how they fulfilled their role in a feudalist society.We’ll look at some facts about lords in medieval times too, and finish with a look at how you can apply your new-fund knowledge to your fantasy stories.

In other guides, I’ve explored medieval weapons, castles, the lives of women, the peasantry, diseases of the Middle Ages, armor and a bit of archery too. It all combines to provide you with research material to use for your own writing if you like this kind o fsetting too.

Quick Facts About Medieval Lords

I’m a lover of facts, and there are some great ones about the life of a lord in the Middle Ages:

Medieval lords swore allegiance to the king in exchange for land. This was known as feudalism.The life of a lord involved managing their estate. Sometimes this included towns and villages.However, many medieval lords left the peasantry to manage themselves and the day to day affairs, such as settling disputes or making small decisions.Lords garnered income from taxes and rents they took from the people who lived on their land.In times of war, medieval lords were expected to support the king. They’d provide money, soldiers and any other materials needed, like food.To become a lord, a person had to earn the trust of the king. This may have happened in battle as a knight, and gradually, they rose through the ranks.Medieval lords tended to live in a manor or castle, generally at the heart of their estate. The scale of their home often reflected the lord’s wealth and position in society. ContentsWhat Was A Medieval Lord?What Were The Rights and Responsibilities Of Lords?The Hierarchy Of Lords In The Middle AgesWhat Role Did Lords Play In Medieval Times?Medieval Lords: A Real-Life Case StudyWhere Did Medieval Lords Live?What Was Life Like For A Lord?What Did Lords Do In Medieval Times?What Did Medieval Lords Wear?What Did Medieval Ladies Wear?Learn More About LordsFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ) On Medieval Lords What Was A Medieval Lord?

The title of ‘lord’ was more of an umbrella term for a number of different classes of noblemen during the medieval period. Top of the roster was the king. Then you had dukes, counts, barons, and lastly, knights.

The System Of Feudalism

Knights lived in something known as the feudal system. It was a way of structuring society which saw knights act as landowners and paid taxes to their king, as well as serving them when war beckoned. Under this system, knights became lords and those who lived and worked on their land became their subjects. In effect, they had fiefs, or mini kingdoms which centred around the manor of the lord. This was known as a feudal society. 

Feudalism spawned into being in or around the 8th Century and flourished in Britain and Europe under William, Duke of Normandy, after he was victorious in the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Feudalist societies then spready to France and Eastern Europe until it finally saw its end in or around the 1850s.

What Were The Rights and Responsibilities Of Lords?

We’ll dive into the rights and responsibilities of lords in greater depth as we move through this guide, but here I thought it’d be a useful spot to give you an overview of their functions and roles:

Rights of LordsLand Ownership: Lords were granted large estates (fiefs) by their overlords in exchange for loyalty and service.Tax Collection: They could collect rents, taxes, and fees from peasants working their land.Judicial Authority: Lords held the right to preside over local courts, resolving disputes and administering justice within their domain.Military Service from Vassals: Lords could call upon their vassals to provide knights and soldiers when needed.Hunting Rights: Exclusive rights to hunt in designated areas within their lands, reinforcing their social status.Control of Labor: They had authority over the peasants and serfs, who owed them labor or services in exchange for protection and land use.Responsibilities of LordsProtection of Subjects: Lords were responsible for the safety of peasants, defending them from external threats.Loyalty to Overlords: They owed allegiance and military service to the king or higher lord who granted them their fief.Maintenance of Order: Ensured peace, law enforcement, and fair treatment within their territories.Economic Stewardship: Managed estates to ensure productivity, providing for the welfare of their household and dependents.Religious Duties: Supported the Church by funding local parishes, monasteries, or chapels.The Hierarchy Of Lords In The Middle Ages

Not all lords were born equal in the Middle Ages. There was a hierarchy, and in some cases even peasants could work their way up the ladder onto this. For example, if a peasant managed to capture a wealthy knight and ransomed him off, he could buy his way into positions of influence.

To give you an idea of the structure of things, here’s a hierarchy that was common in medieval times:

King/Queen: The highest authority, ruling over a kingdom.Prince/Princess: Often the children of the king, with significant lands and influence.Duke/Duchess: Ruling over a duchy, a large area often equivalent to a modern province.Marquess/Marchioness: Governing border territories known as marches, crucial for defense.Earl/Count/Countess: Overseeing a county, responsible for local governance and justice.Viscount/Viscountess: Serving as deputies to earls or counts, managing parts of a county.Baron/Baroness: Controlling smaller estates, answering directly to higher nobles or the king.

Pretty much everything below prince/princess was classed as a “lord”.

What Role Did Lords Play In Medieval Times?

The medieval lord was a powerful figure in the Middle Ages. In exchange for swearing allegiance to the king, they were granted lands and ruled over small villages or towns. Medieval lords collectively held a lot of power over their king, and in the past, have ousted some.

Lords in medieval times ran their own estate, which was land leased by the monarchy. This could’ve been a smallholding or as large as a town. They also served as knights to the king and could muster a force to support his wars. Peasants of the Middle Ages paid their lords in taxes, both in money and food.

The lord also acted as arbiter in disputes between peasants and others residing on their land, though as we saw in my article on peasants, it was they who tended to carry out most of these administrative affairs which medieval lords deemed boring.

It was the role of the medieval lord to monitor harvests and supplies, manage finances such as taxes, rents, and dues. If he was pretty shite at doing any of this, there was a chance the king could confiscate his land. But as we saw above with Richard II, it wasn’t so easy for the king to exert his influence over these barons who enjoyed almost unlimited power over their fiefs.

With coin flowing and coffers swelling, medieval lords began to spend more on artistic pursuits, such as music, paintings, and literature. They sought more types of entertainment too, hiring jesters, minstrels, acrobats, actors, and dancers.

Medieval Lords: A Real-Life Case Study

To gain an insight into the role and life of a lord in the Middle Ages we’ll first take a look at the reign of King Richard II, otherwise known as Richard the Tyrant. From there we’ll turn our focus to the world of barons, the individuals who held almost unlimited power over the land granted to them by the king.

In the process of doing so, we’ll gain a deeper insight into the role that medieval lords played in society, and hopefully, it’ll help spark some ideas for some of your own fantasy writing.

King Richard II And His Problem With Lords

Richard II was crowned in 1367 at the age of just 10 and reigned until 1400. Four years into his rule he had to deal with a peasant revolt, which I discussed a few weeks ago. In classic tyrannical fashion, he pardoned all of the peasants involved because of his ‘abhorrence for the shedding of civil blood.’

Medieval Lords and King Richard II

After this, he took a rather unconscionable step in seeking to end the expensive war with France which was crippling England’s taxpayers, i.e. the poor. And this was the thing that annoyed his subjects the most. Well, the subjects which held power: the medieval lords and barons. They hated everything about him, from his wife to his policy of peace with France.

See, war was the main way the medieval lord made his money. As we’ll learn in more detail below, the barons had total control over the levels of taxation they could set for those residing on their land. And war meant higher taxes, an excuse to plunder the limited wealth of the peasants they were charged to look after.

In response, a handful of barons overthrew Richard, but it lasted mere days until he regained power. Instead of executing his rebellious barons, he exiled them, one of whom was Henry IV. Years later Henry returned from exile, threw Richard into gaol, and seized the throne for himself.

Henry ordered the chroniclers—the monks and writers who recorded the histories of the time—to alter their texts to defame Richard. It sounds like something from Orwell’s 1984.

So the fact that Richard was a tyrant was a stupendous lie and shows the power and influence the medieval lords and barons had over the king that gave them their wealth.

Barons and Medieval Lords

So who were these powerful, rebellious barons?

The king owned all the land in the country. He did not sell it off, rather leased it. And the individuals who he leased it to were his barons. Another term for a medieval lord, a baron started off in a lowly role, such as knights, political advisers, or even ordinary individuals.

These were the people the King felt he could trust to maintain his land, look after those living on it, supply fighting men in times of war, and pay taxes and dues to the exchequer (the royal bank). These parcels of land were known as fiefs, and the barons held complete dominion and jurisdiction over them.

Medieval Lords Signing Magna CartaWhere Did Medieval Lords Live?

Barons lived in manors or castles—grandiose abodes at the heart of their estate. Living on the land with them were peasants and knights to who the barons gave up some of their land to.

These castles were fortified structures designed to protect the lord, his family, and his subjects from attacks. A prime example is the iconic Château de Chambord in France, built in the 16th century.

Earlier examples include Windsor Castle in England, initially built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and still in use today.

In Germany, Neuschwanstein Castle, although constructed in the 19th century, was inspired by medieval architecture and offers a glimpse into the grandeur of such residences.

Many lords lived in manors too, which you can see in the image below. These were large country houses surrounded by farmland. The manorial system was common in medieval England, with places like the manor of Wakefield, which encompassed a large estate and served as the administrative center. These residences were crucial in asserting the lord’s status and managing their lands and vassals.

Gainsborough Old Hall in Lincolnshire, one of the best-preserved medieval manor houses in England

What Was Life Like For A Lord?

Life for a medieval lord was a blend of privilege and responsibility. As we’ve seen above, they managed vast estates, overseeing agriculture, justice, and local governance.

Living in grand castles or manors, they enjoyed luxuries like feasts, hunting, and tournaments. However, their duties included defending their land and people, which required maintaining a private army and often engaging in warfare.

Lords also had to navigate complex feudal relationships, pledging loyalty to higher nobles or the king, while overseeing vassals and peasants. Their daily life involved balancing administrative tasks, social obligations, and ensuring the economic prosperity of their estates.

With such wealth, food was of no issue to the medieval lord. A baron was always served before everyone else. Their diets were rich in meat with all the hunting and slaying they were doing. They ate vegetables too, mostly peas, beans, and onions, and enjoyed top-quality bread. Medieval lords drank ale made of hops and mead made from fermented honey and enjoyed wines imported from southern Europe where grapes grew.

The way a baron ate varied depending on their wealth. Rich barons ate off plates and bowls of pewter, whereas poorer barons used wooden plates and bowls, or even day-old bread. Forks did not exist during the Middle Ages, though knives and spoons did. Most people ate with their fingers and washed their hands in something known as a finger bowl.

Medieval lords at a banquetWhat Did Lords Do In Medieval Times?

On a day to day basis, medieval lords spent their time managing their estate—settling disputes between those under their supervision, hosting other lords and barons for grand banquets in decadent halls, and doing a fair bit of hunting.

All in all, medieval lords had a pretty good life.

What Did Medieval Lords Wear?

Medieval lords wore the best money could buy. Velvets, furs, and silks of scarlet and purple, with gold embroidery. The law even reserved certain fabrics and colours for the nobility, which came about after peasants began to dress in more colourful and fashionable ways. This occurred after the Black Death, a killer disease of the Middle Ages, when demand for workers soared, empowering the peasants to negotiate better rates of pay with barons who were desperate for people to work the land.

As with lords and ladies in the UK today, the title of baron was a hereditary one. The children of medieval lords were educated by tutors in various languages, literature, history, law, and outdoor pursuits like horse riding, hunting, and hawking.

Medieval lords hunting deer with their hounds and peasantsWhat Did Medieval Ladies Wear?

Medieval ladies’ clothing was a reflection of their social status, regional customs, and the era’s fashion trends, combining practicality and elaborate design.

Their attire typically included multiple layers, starting with an undergarment called a chemise or shift, made of linen for comfort and hygiene. Over this, they wore a kirtle, a long, fitted gown that served as the primary dress. Wealthier women adorned their kirtles with embroidery or fine fabrics such as silk or velvet, while lower-ranking women used wool or rougher materials.

The outer layer, often a surcoat or gown, added warmth and status, featuring long sleeves and elaborate details. These gowns varied in style over time, ranging from simple cuts to opulent designs with flowing trains. For formal occasions, noblewomen might wear mantles or cloaks fastened with brooches, often lined with fur or richly dyed fabrics to showcase their wealth.

Accessories were also key to medieval fashion. Ladies wore belts or girdles around their waists, often adorned with metalwork or jewels. Head coverings were essential, ranging from simple veils to more elaborate wimples, hennins (cone-shaped hats), or coifs.

Jewelry, such as rings, necklaces, and brooches, further emphasized their social status, while their use of fine materials and detailed craftsmanship symbolized grace and refinement.

Learn More About Lords

Thank you for reading this guide on the life of a medieval lord. Below, you can find some other resources you may find useful.

Head here for a guide by Medieval Chronicles on the role of the baronHere’s another guide on the role of the medieval lordAnd here’s an interesting guide on what medieval lords ateFrequently Asked Questions (FAQ) On Medieval Lords What were medieval landowners called?

Landowners in the Middle Ages were known as lords. They could have been knights, barons, counts or dukes. They leased their land to peasants, with estates encapsulating entire towns and villages.

What did medieval lords do all day?

They ran their estate when not fighting in wars. This involved settling disputes and judicial affairs amongst the people of their estate. They also hunted and hosted guests.

Did medieval lords fight?

Yes, many medieval lords were knights, castellans, counts or dukes so fought in the King’s wars. The medieval nobility was very much a warrior class that prided itself on fighting.

Thank you for reading this guide to the life of a lord in the Middle Ages

The post Everything You Need To Know About The Life Of A Medieval Lord appeared first on Richie Billing - Writing Tips And Fantasy Books.

Designing fantasy armor for your characters can be an awful lot of fun. But you may run into difficulties when it comes to the practicalities. 

Below, we’ll take a look at the armor found in the fantasy genre, covering everything from chain mail to helmets. And we’ll dip back in time to look at medieval armor and how it was used and crafted.

We all love a character with a cool set of fantasy armor: the baresark Rek from David Gemmell’s Legend with his enchanted coat of bronze, or Tomas from Raymond Feist’s Riftwar Cycle with his gleaming white dragon plate which gifted him incredible power.

Although such armor exists in fantasy worlds, it’s important to understand how things work in the real world, even at a basic level. For fantasy stories to be more believable, we need to understand how it interacts with our characters, especially if they’re enchanted.

So below, we’ll take a look at the relationship between the genre of fantasy and medieval armor. We’ll cover everything from helmets and plate armor to chainmail. 

The aim is to arm you with what you need to enrich your tales with brilliant detail. We’ll also take a look at female fantasy armor and those used by knights, potential designs, and ways to help you find inspiration for creating your own. 

To navigate your way through this guide, just click the links below.

ContentsThe Fantasy Genre And Medieval ArmorChain MailPlated ArmorHelmetsOther Types Of ArmorThe Medieval KnightFantasy Armor ExamplesKnight Armor In FantasyFemale Fantasy ArmorWhere To Buy Fantasy ArmorEtsyArm StreetSteel MasteryGet More Writing Support From Fellow Fantasy WritersMore Resources On Fantasy Armor The Fantasy Genre And Medieval Armor

The fantasy genre borrows an awful lot from medieval history. Perhaps it’s because the genre was born out of stories that emerged from the Middle Ages like Beowulf and King Arthur (around the 10th-11th century). 

As such, the contemporary tales that have followed, like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Dungeons and Dragons and everything in between, have paid homage to that era. 

So it’s unsurprising to see soldiers wielding swords and axes and shooting bows. As we’ll see below, medieval armor developed through necessity—people needed to protect themselves from those wicked blades and needle-sharp darts. 

We therefore see in the fantasy genre characters equipped with grand helmets and beautiful pieces of plate armor. Game of Thrones/A Song Of Ice And Fire is one series that wonderfully explores fantasy armor and weapons. 

As we’ll see below, one of the best things about using medieval armor in a fantasy story is the freedom to elevate it in some way. You could introduce magical enchantments or ability-granting traits. 

Let’s take a look at some individual pieces of armor.

Chain Mail

Mail was one of the first types of metal armor developed, arguably by the Celts, though other sources say its origins came from Eastern Europe.

A coat of mail was a complex web of metal rings, each locked with an iron rivet. Such coats were made from brass or iron, though steel was deemed best due to its toughness.

A coat of mail

A jacket or coat of mail was usually worn with a hood, or coif, of the same material to protect the head and neck. 

A chain mail coif

As time marched on, small plates of leather or iron were added to the mail to protect key areas, such as vital organs. 

Mail was particularly effective against glancing blows. In battle, you are trying to strike a moving target, so mail was sufficient as most blows were glancing ones. Clean, powerful strikes were needed to disable a foe wearing mail. Blunt weapons were effective, causing haemorrhaging and concussion, so padded garments known as a doublet or gambeson were worn underneath to provide added protection.

Mail was lightweight and flexible. Good for the mobile knight. It was pretty easy to make, though laborious, and easy to repair. Another benefit to chain mail, a point which can slip the mind of writers, is that it was cheap and efficient, able to accommodate different-sized warriors, unlike expensive plated armor.

Chain mail is a great piece of fantasy armor to use in your stories purely because of its flexibility. From lowly serfs to great warriors, all could wear and fight effectively in chainmail. 

Plated Armor

Most picture the knight when we talk about plated armor—rigid tin men that can withstand all manner of blows. Something like this: 

Armor of a knight

As you can see, a knight’s armor is made up of a lot of different pieces. It took a while to get ready, with the help of somebody else needed, usually squires, who began with the feet and worked up from there.

Both doublets and chain mail were worn in conjunction with plated armor for that added protection, particularly for areas plate could not cover, such as arms and the groin.

Coats of plated armor soon came about, which consisted of a series of plates linked on top of one another. They could withstand high-velocity strikes from a javelin or lance, driven home by somebody charging forwards on horseback. Only the most powerful strikes could pierce such armor. They looked something like this: 

A coat of overlapping plates

One of the main defensive strengths of plated armor came from its curved design, which deflected both blades and arrows. As with mail, steel was the best material due to its hardness, which was obtained by heating the steel to extreme temperatures and then submerging it into cold water, a process known as ‘quenching. You may have seen steelworkers doing this after forging the likes of blades and horseshoes.

Once quenched, the steel was re-heated to make it more resilient. Heating to the perfect temperature was key. In pre-thermometer times this was difficult as you can imagine, so instead, armorers observed the colour of the heated steel. When heated, steel turns from yellow, to brown, to blue, to red. Once blue, it is quenched a second time, permanently fixing its hardness. Arrows will bounce off steel crafted in such a way—unless from close range, as we discussed last week.

Wearing a suit of armor was like being in your own private world. The senses were deadened: sight limited, sound muffled, breathing stifled (depending on the type of helmet). It would have been extremely warm too. But it provided an odd sense of security. Fully geared up, you were a walking fortress.

Can you imagine tweaking this to make your own set of fantasy armor? Imagine your own armored knights storming through the battlefield like iron giants. 

With all that armor, it’s often assumed the medieval knight was immobile. Not quite. Each suit was tailored to the individual. The aim was not to cause any impediment to movement. A warrior had to fight the enemy, and to fight his armor as well would be too distracting. The pieces around the vital organs—the chest and head—were thicker and heavier than those on the arms and legs to try and reduce weight as much as possible.

Armor, therefore, wasn’t that heavy—a full suit weighed approximately 50 pounds, which is around 3 to 4 stone. If a knight fell from a horse, he could quite easily pick himself up, not stuck on the ground like a tortoise knocked on its shell.

The appearance of armor was a big deal for knights. Chest plates had grand etchings. Pauldrons, gauntlets, and even leg armor were fashioned into elaborate designs. 

And it’s in designs that you can really go wild with your own fantasy armor. We’ll come to this below. 

Helmets

Helmets were arguably the most distinctive feature of an armored knight. Some had pointed snouts, the purpose of which was to deflect arrows when walking into arrow storms. The eye slits were narrow to prevent all sizes of arrowheads from finding their way through. Vision in such helmets was extremely limited, but this was the cost of added protection.

The front part of helmets, or the visors, were there to raise or open so the wearer could breathe during taxing hand-to-hand combat or scan around the battlefield.

Some helmets had chain attached which hung around and protected the neck, called an aventail, and most were padded inside, for added comfort. Who doesn’t like being comfortable when killing?

Aventail helmet

As with body armor, great efforts were made with the designs of helmets. Here are a few different types:

Other Types Of Armor

We mentioned gambesons above. These were worn on their own by those wanting greater speed and flexibility, but also by those unable to afford stronger armor. The padded material could absorb blows from blunt weapons and provided some protection from cuts, but against well-forged weapons they were useless.

Another type of cheap armor, one up from gambesons, was boiled leather, also known as cuir bouilli. Strips of leather were boiled in water, though some sources record oil and wax being used, and even animal urine. Reeking of piss on the battlefield was another weapon in the arsenal I suppose. Leather could be stitched into coats, or added to mail to provide added protection. 

Adding these other bits of lesser-known fantasy armor to your stories can really add extra depth to your worldbuilding. It’s something readers definitely appreciate, which I found with Pariah’s Lament.

Celtic leather armor

Here’s a video showing the effectiveness (or ineffectiveness) of leather armor against arrows. Excuse the ‘on hold’ background music. 

And let’s not forget the trusty steed. As knights became fully armored, so did their mounts. Some wore a trapper – a covering of full chain mail—and down the line, some horses even had their own plated armor. Expensive indeed, and heavy—stronger horses had to be bred to handle the weight.

The Medieval Knight

A knight, by definition, was a lord. A lowly one at that, but one very much capable of climbing the ladder.

This idea of knights becoming lords was introduced in England by William the Conqueror. The shrewd king essentially licensed out parcels of his land as rewards to his warriors in exchange for their military service. Added on top of that the condition that they had to supply him with soldiers too. Those warriors came from the people who lived on the lands under the watch of the knights.

But they weren’t administrators. They were warriors first and foremost. And medieval warfare was a bloody affair. Blades hacking, slicing and puncturing, cutting open gaping wounds and severing limbs and heads from bodies. It’s hard to really appreciate just how sickeningly awful medieval warfare would have been.

And right at the heart of it were the leaders of society—the medieval lords.

Achieving glory in battle was one way of earning a knighthood. Continued successes could see knights rise higher up the ranks. William the Conqueror’s society was shaped with war in mind. Military service was always well-rewarded and violence applauded.

Richard the Lionheart, for instance, was celebrated amongst his peers for his ability to chop his enemy’s skulls down to the teeth. Knights were, indeed, hard to defeat in battle. At the end of the day, they were professional slayers, swords for hire. And if you were skilled at surviving and killing, it was a good way to make a living.

As a result, feudal England became rife with young murderous men. So as a way of trying to control them and their behaviour, the code of chivalry and honour was introduced. Think noble King Arthur and his knights of the Roundtable. That was the theory. In reality, a medieval lord could pretty much do what they liked.

Further reading – How To Write Fight Scenes

Fantasy Armor Examples

I sincerely hope you’ve found some inspiration for your fantasy medieval armor. 

It can genuinely be tough to come up with cool ideas for epic fantasy armor without drifting back to things that we’ve seen in the likes of Dungeons and Dragons, The Elder Scrolls and movies like Lord of the Rings. But I find looking back in time to the likes of the medieval period can provide some wonderful and unique ideas.

And what we’ve covered here today is only just the tip of the iceberg. Beyond medieval Europe, you have the Far East, the Romans, Viking… Before you know it you’ll have designed a full set of fantasy roman or viking armor. 

Let’s take a look at some ways you can develop those unique ideas:

Knight Armor In Fantasy

In this section, we’ll take a look at some cool pieces of knight armor in fantasy that people have designed over the years, to give you even more inspiration for your own designs. 

Fantasy Armor v Gothic Armor

Here‘s a fantastic image that Thomas Feichtmeir, AKA Cyangmou has put together. It illustrates brilliantly the differences between fantasy armor and the boring armor of reality, in this case, Gothic armor. For a bigger image, just click on the link above. 

Female Fantasy Armor

And here are some great concepts for female fantasy armor. 

To discover more awesome ideas, head over to Pinterest and just search for ‘female fantasy armor’. Also try searching ‘cool fantasy armor’, or ‘epic fantasy armor’. You’ll be blown away by the number of awesome things on there.

Here’s a great visual guide on female fantasy armor by YouTuber Shadiversity.

Where To Buy Fantasy Armor

It’s fair to say that fantasy armor and weapons are making something of a coming back in the modern day. Only the other week did a metal detectorist email me to say that he’d unearthed two daggers that looked like something out of a fantasy novel. Why on earth they’d been buried there I don’t know, but it goes to show just how common they’re becoming.

There are many talented craftsmen around who can make some truly unique and beautiful pieces of armor. I’ve done some research on where to look for the best places to buy fantasy armor and below, you can find my results.

Etsy

Etsy, the online bazaar of independent stores, has an entire category devoted to fantasy armor. You can buy helmets, vambraces, gorgets, studded leather armor, viking-style outfits and pretty impressive pieces that you could use for LARPing. 

The prices do vary from $30-$50 at the lower end to well over $1,000. But for those higher prices you can expect to receive good quality and full pieces of armor, like breastplates, pauldrons, vambraces and leg pieces too.

One of the best things about Etsy is that usually online stores have a lot of reviews you can check out. This way you can verify the quality and customer service experience before diving in. 

Check out the Fantasy Armor market on Etsy here 

Arm Street

Arm Street is one of the biggest online websites for buying fantasy armor, as well as other types like medieval and viking. It has an impressive array of options, from gauntlets and helmets to chainmail and sabatons. 

Arm Street cater for all individuals too. Each order is made to measure to ensure you get the best fit possible—it’s important this is gotten right. As we know from reading above, an ill-fitting piece of armor can distract a knight, cause chafing and maybe even inflict small injuries. 

Arm Street also have a great selection of fantasy armor for women as well as men. 

You can check out their range of armor here.

Steel Mastery

Another top website for buying fantasy armor is Steel Mastery. Over on their fantasy section, you can find armor created in the style of Game of Thrones, Shadiversity’s LARP outfit, The Witcher outfit and Jon Snow’s attire. Despite their name, Steel Mastery tend to specialise in leather armor, so if you’re in the market for this you may find you can get what you want here and for a reasonable price. 

Check out Steel Mastery’s fantasy armor collection here. 

Get More Writing Support From Fellow Fantasy Writers

I mentioned my online writing group at the beginning of this guide. You’re more than welcome to join us and we’d love to have you on board. The more people that join this thriving group the better it becomes. Ideas are forever being shared and discussed. Helpful links to blog posts, articles, videos and guides are shared every day.

And above all, people share their writing, get feedback, build friendships and develop greater confidence not just in their writing, but in themselves too.

So why not join the gang? Just click the button below to find out more.

More Resources On Fantasy Armor 

In this section, I’ve included some more guides on creating fantasy armor designs that you may find useful. 

Here’s a superb glossary, with pictures, of all types of armor.

And if you want more, this documentary is excellent.

Here’s a cool video on making leather fantasy armor by YouTuber, Prince Armory. It gives you an idea of the capabilities that armor can have.

The post Fantasy Armor appeared first on Richie Billing - Writing Tips And Fantasy Books.

If you want to expand your vocabulary, you may be here looking for adjectives that start with Th. You’re in luck if so. Below, you can find hundreds and hundreds of words beginning with Th.

You can find positive and negative adjectives, descriptive words, and words of varying lengths. You can also find more commonly used adjectives that start with Th too.

Let’s dive in.

ContentsThe Best And Most Common Adjectives That Start With Th3 Letter Adjectives That Start With Th4 Letter Descriptive Words That Begin With Th5 Letter Adjectives That Start With Th6 Letter Descriptive Words That Begin With Th7 Letter Adjectives That Begin With ThInteresting Descriptive Words That Begin With ThPositive Adjectives That Start With ThNegative Adjectives That Start With ThScrabble Words That Begin With ThDiscover More Descriptive WordsThe Best And Most Common Adjectives That Start With Th

As you may already know, an adjective is a word we use to describe something. They’re very useful words, allowing us to paint clear and vivid pictures in the mind of another person. For example, to say someone wore a coat is quite dull compared to saying they wore a vibrant, purple coat.

Here are some of the most common adjectives that start with Th, complete with their definitions:

Thankful – Feeling gratitude or appreciation.Theatrical – Relating to drama or exaggerated behavior.Theoretical – Based on theory rather than practical application.Therapeutic – Having a healing or calming effect.Thick – Having a large diameter; dense.Thieving – Inclined to steal; dishonest.Thin – Having little thickness; slender.Thirsty – Feeling a need to drink; eager or craving something.Thorny – Covered in thorns; difficult or problematic.Thoughtful – Considerate, or showing deep thinking.Threatening – Expressing or implying harm or danger.Thrilled – Extremely excited or pleased.Thrilling – Causing excitement or suspense.Thrifty – Using money carefully and wisely.Thriving – Flourishing or doing well.Thumping – Large, strong, or impressive in size.Thumping – Used to emphasize something big or intense.Thunderous – Extremely loud, resembling thunder.Thumping – Causing or feeling a heavy, rhythmic beat.Thundering – Loud and powerful like thunder.Thankless – Unappreciated; unrewarding.Theocratic – Relating to a system of government by priests.Theistic – Believing in the existence of a god or gods.Thermal – Relating to heat.Thespian – Related to acting or theater.Thirteenth – Position number thirteen in a sequence.Thornless – Free from thorns.Thumping – Emphasizing a large or massive size.Threefold – Triple in number or amount.Thumping – Emphatic; forceful.Threadbare – Worn thin; shabby from use.Throbbing – Pulsating rhythmically.Throaty – Deep and husky, often referring to a voice.Thriftily – Economical, saving resources.Thumping – Emphatically loud or forceful.Thorned – Having thorns or spiky parts.Thirteenth – Related to the number thirteen.Thronged – Crowded, densely packed.Thwarted – Prevented or stopped.Thumping – Very large or significant.Third – Position number three in a sequence.Thumping – Causing a heavy, intense feeling.Thorough – Complete and detailed.Thumping – Used to emphasize a massive quantity or force.Thumping – Striking with a heavy sound.Thin-skinned – Sensitive to criticism or remarks.Thunderless – Silent, without thunder.Thundery – Likely to bring thunder and storm.Thinnish – Somewhat thin.Throbbing – Causing or experiencing a rhythmic beat.3 Letter Adjectives That Start With Th

Below, you can find some 3-letter adjectives that start with Th:

The – Definite article; used to specify something unique or particular.Tho – Informal form of “though,” used in casual language, often to indicate contrast (though technically not an adjective but sometimes used colloquially).Thy – Archaic form of “your,” used as a possessive form in literature.

It’s quite rare to find actual adjectives in English that are only three letters and start with “Th.” English generally lacks three-letter “Th-” adjectives beyond these, with most adjectives requiring more letters to describe qualities or states.

4 Letter Descriptive Words That Begin With Th

Here are some 4-letter words that start with Th:

Thin – Having little thickness; slender.Thud – Dull-sounding or heavy (often used to describe sounds).Thic – Slang for thick (sometimes used informally to describe something substantial, like in texture or body shape).Thug – Rough or violent (commonly refers to a person but can be used to describe behavior or style informally).5 Letter Adjectives That Start With Th

Below, you can find a bunch of 5-letter adjectives that start with Th:

Thick – Having a large diameter; dense.Thiny – A rare term for something thin and narrow.Third – In the position number three in a sequence.Thymy – Covered with or smelling of thyme.Thorn – Prickly or spiky, like a thorn (though primarily a noun, it can describe thorny plants or surfaces in certain contexts).Thymy – Having a fragrance of thyme, often describing fields or areas.Thine – Archaic form of “your” or “yours.”Thrif – Rare and archaic, relating to thriftiness or economy.6 Letter Descriptive Words That Begin With Th

Here’s a collection of 6-letter words beginning with Th:

Thickly – In a dense or heavily layered way.Thinish – Somewhat thin; not very thick.Thirsty – Feeling a need to drink; eager or craving something.Thrifty – Economical or careful with resources.Thorny – Covered with thorns; difficult or problematic.Threaty – Inclined to be threatening or intimidating (rarely used).Thready – Thin, thread-like, or filamentous.Thecal – Related to or having a sheath or covering.7 Letter Adjectives That Begin With Th

Here are some more advanced 7-letter adjectives that start with Th:

Thankful – Feeling or showing gratitude.Thematic – Relating to a theme or subject.Theistic – Believing in the existence of a god or gods.Thermal – Relating to heat.Thornier – More thorny; more challenging or difficult.Thirsted – Very eager or having a strong desire (often used figuratively).Thickish – Somewhat thick in form or texture.Thickset – Sturdily or heavily built.Thrilled – Extremely excited or pleased.Thumping – Large, impressive, or emphatic.Interesting Descriptive Words That Begin With Th

If you’re a writer on the hunt for writing tips, you may be looking for that illusive descriptive word to help enrich your prose. Below, you can find some of the most powerful descriptive adjectives that begin with Th, such as those that appeal to the 5 senses:

Thespic – Pertaining to acting or drama.Thalloid – Resembling a thallus (a plant body that is not differentiated into stem and leaves).Threnodic – Related to a lament or mourning.Thyroidal – Pertaining to the thyroid gland.Thoracic – Relating to the thorax or chest area.Thallous – Pertaining to or containing thallium.Thionic – Relating to sulfur.Thalassic – Pertaining to the sea.Thalamic – Related to the thalamus in the brain.Threshold – Transitional, marking a point of beginning.Thrombic – Pertaining to a blood clot (thrombus).Thespian – Relating to acting or actors.Thornlike – Having characteristics of a thorn.Thrallish – Resembling a thrall; submissive.Thready – Thin or fine, like a thread.Thraldom – Characteristic of servitude or bondage.Thowless – Scottish term meaning sluggish or inactive.Thespian – Pertaining to drama or theatrical performances.Thriftily – Economical, prudent with resources.Threefold – Triple in number or amount.Thatchy – Covered or resembling thatch.Thermic – Pertaining to heat.Thornier – More full of thorns or difficulties.Thrawn – Stubborn or twisted; used in Scottish dialect.Thirdly – In the third place or rank.Thymic – Relating to the thymus gland.Thymier – Having a strong flavor of thyme.Thowless – Lacking energy; sluggish.Thymy – Full of thyme or smelling of it.Thesmic – Relating to a proposition or thesis.Thudded – Having a dull, heavy sound quality.Thinset – Applied thinly (often related to mortar or adhesives).Thinned – Having been made thinner or sparser.Thinnish – Slightly thin.Thicker – Having more density than another.Thallic – Related to thallium in chemical composition.Thesaural – Pertaining to a treasury or collection.Tholian – Rare; meaning enduring, often related to time.Thallian – Referring to peace or tranquility.Thronged – Packed densely; crowded.Thrilled – Excited to the point of trembling.Thin-walled – Having walls that are thin.Throated – Having a specific type of throat or neck marking (often in animals).Thistlelike – Resembling a thistle.Throblike – Resembling a throb in sensation or feeling.Thready – Resembling a thread in form or texture.Thronish – Pertaining to or resembling a throne.Thwarted – Prevented or opposed successfully.Thievish – Having characteristics of a thief; sneaky.Thralled – Enslaved or held in bondage.Positive Adjectives That Start With Th

A positive adjective is a word that helps us describe someone in a good manner. For example, we may want to describe a school janitor as kind and humble.

Here are some positive adjectives that start with Th:

Thankful – Deeply appreciative and showing gratitude.Thriving – Growing and flourishing in a positive, healthy way.Thoughtful – Full of care and consideration for others.Therapeutic – Having a soothing, calming, or healing effect.Thorough – Extremely detailed and attentive to accuracy.Thrilled – Filled with delight and enthusiasm.Thrifty – Wisely economical, using resources carefully.Thumping – Exceptionally large or significant, in a positive way.Thematic – Related to a meaningful subject or central theme.Thirsty (for knowledge) – Eager and enthusiastic to learn more.Theoretical – Based on a sound, thought-provoking idea.Throbbing (with excitement) – Pulsating with energy and anticipation.Thumping (in spirit) – Enthusiastically vibrant or spirited.Thoroughbred – Pure and of high quality, often referring to excellence.Theistic – Faithful, having strong spiritual beliefs.Thunderous (in passion) – Filled with powerful emotion and intensity.Thespian – Expressive, with a natural talent for acting or storytelling.Thermal – Cozy, bringing warmth and comfort.Threefold (in benefits) – Offering multiple, meaningful rewards or effects.Throned – Regal, possessing an air of dignity and authority.Thymic – Vital and life-giving, promoting health.Thymey – Aromatic and pleasant, like the scent of fresh thyme.Thickset (in character) – Strong, sturdy, and reliable.Thrilling – Stirring up excitement or inspiration.Thronelike – Majestic and graceful in demeanor.Thumping (in impact) – Making a memorable or powerful impression.Thumping (in joy) – Radiating with joy and positivity.Thrilled (to contribute) – Filled with joy to be helpful or supportive.Thawing – Warming up and becoming friendlier or more open.Thankworthy – Deserving gratitude and recognition for positive impact.Negative Adjectives That Start With Th

Negative adjectives work in the opposite way. They’re words that we use to help build a poorer image of a character in our minds. For example, you may have a villain in a story who’s wicked and cruel and punishes people without showing any mercy or compassion.

Here are some negative adjectives that start with Th:

Thankless – Unappreciated, receiving little or no gratitude.Thorny – Difficult or problematic, often involving complex issues.Threatening – Imposing danger or implying harm.Thick-headed – Slow to understand; stubbornly unintelligent.Thin-skinned – Oversensitive to criticism or remarks.Thuggish – Rough, aggressive, and inclined toward violent behavior.Thieving – Dishonest, inclined to take what doesn’t belong.Throttling – Suppressing or restricting in a forceful way.Throaty – Rough or hoarse-sounding, often unpleasant.Thralled – Enslaved, metaphorically trapped or dominated.Throttled – Limited, restricted, or controlled harshly.Thumping (in noise) – Overbearingly loud and unpleasant.Throttlesome – Restrictive or oppressive in nature.Thralldom – Bound in an oppressive or servile state.Throbby – Unpleasantly pulsating, often with pain or discomfort.Thornlike – Sharp or prickly in a figurative, irritating way.Thinned – Reduced in quality, lacking fullness or strength.Thirsty (for power) – Greedy and insatiable for control or influence.Throttling – Choking or stifling in effect, suppressive.Thrawn – Stubbornly difficult; uncooperative.Thralled – Controlled or bound in a negative way.Threadbare – Worn out, shabby, or lacking in substance.Third-rate – Inferior in quality or character.Thwarted – Frustrated, prevented from succeeding.Thievish – Having a sneaky or deceptive quality.Thumbless – Clumsy or uncoordinated in tasks.Throaty (in tone) – Gruff or harsh-sounding, often unpleasantly so.Thumping (in personality) – Overbearing, forceful, or too intense.Thunderous (in anger) – Overwhelmingly loud in a menacing way.Thin-blooded – Weak, lacking vigor or resilience.Scrabble Words That Begin With Th

If you’re looking to brush up on your Scrabble game, then here are a bunch of useful words that start with Th with good scores:

Thank – To express gratitude.Theme – Central topic or subject, often in art or literature.Thick – Dense or heavy in consistency.Thief – A person who steals.Third – Position following second.Thorn – A sharp, pointed part of a plant.Thumb – The short, thick finger on the hand.Thyme – An herb used in cooking.Throb – To pulse or beat strongly, as with pain.Throw – To propel something through the air.Thump – A heavy or dull sound from impact.Thigh – The part of the leg between the hip and knee.Thine – Archaic form of “yours.”Think – To consider or ponder.Three – The number following two.Threw – Past tense of “throw.”Throb – A strong, rhythmic beat or pain.Those – Referring to people or things previously mentioned.Thorn – A spiny or prickly part of a plant.Thrum – A continuous, steady sound, like a low hum.Discover More Descriptive Words

If you’d like to continue to expand your vocabulary, you’ll be pleased to learn that I have lots more guides packed with useful words and their definitions. Just click below to start reading:

Thanks for reading this guide on adjectives that start with Th!

The post The Best Adjectives That Start With Th appeared first on Richie Billing - Writing Tips And Fantasy Books.

We can never have enough adjectives in our vocabulary. And if you love to play games like Wordle, the more you know the better. So in this guide, you can find over 200 unique adjectives that start with the letter N specifically.

N is one of the most commonly used letters in the English dictionary and there are some fantastic words associated with it.

Below, you can find both positive and negative words, adjectives to describe character traits, and nice adjectives too.

ContentsPositive Adjectives That Start With NAdjectives That Start With N To Describe A PersonPositive Words To Describe A PersonNegative Words To Describe A PersonNegative Adjectives That Start With NNice Adjectives That Start With NDiscover More AdjectivesPositive Adjectives That Start With N

A positive adjective is a word that describes a noun in a favorable or complimentary way. In essence, it highlights a good quality or trait. For example, words like beautiful, intelligent, and brave are all positive adjectives because they express something desirable or admirable about a person, place, or thing.

Here is a list of 50 positive adjectives that start with N:

Nifty – stylish, clever, or useful.Nonconforming – creatively unique, not following the crowd.Nonchalant – calmly relaxed and unflustered.Noble-minded – having a generous and honorable outlook.Nurturing – providing support and care.Noteworthy – remarkable and deserving attention.Neat – clean, organized, and orderly.Neighborly – friendly and considerate towards others.Non-combative – peaceful and avoiding conflict.Nimble – quick and skillful in action or thought.Non-discriminatory – treating all people equally and fairly.Notable – important and worth mentioning.Nourishing – promoting health and well-being.Non-invasive – gentle and non-intrusive.Noble-hearted – generous, caring, and virtuous.Nurtured – well-cared for and supported.Non-judgmental – accepting and open-minded, without prejudice.Nimble-witted – quick-thinking and intelligent.Nifty-minded – clever and resourceful in thought.Non-toxic – harmless and safe for people and the environment.Nurturant – showing care and encouragement.Non-aggressive – calm and non-threatening.Noble-spirited – high-minded and full of integrity.Non-contentious – avoiding arguments or hostility.Noted – well-regarded or famous for a positive reason.Non-obtrusive – subtle and not imposing.Nimble-fingered – skilled with one’s hands.Nondescript – pleasantly simple or understated.Non-resistant – yielding without conflict, cooperative.Nurturing-minded – naturally inclined to offer care and support.Newfangled – innovative and cutting-edge.Noble-souled – having a generous and dignified character.Non-exploitative – fair and ethical, not taking advantage.Non-profit-minded – driven by purpose, not personal gain.Non-materialistic – valuing people and experiences over things.Non-confrontational – peaceful, avoiding disputes or fights.Non-competitive – collaborative and focused on teamwork.Non-polluting – environmentally friendly and clean.Non-restrictive – promoting freedom and flexibility.Non-partisan – neutral, fair, and without bias.Noble-visioned – having a grand and ethical vision.Non-threatening – calm and comforting, not causing fear.Non-dogmatic – open to new ideas, flexible in thinking.Non-exclusive – inclusive, welcoming all types of people.Non-dominating – respectful and not overpowering others.Nurture-driven – motivated by the desire to care for others.Non-reactionary – calm, not overreacting to situations.Non-hierarchical – treating others as equals, without superiority.Non-obligatory – voluntary, not forcing actions upon others.Natural-born – having an innate talent or quality.Adjectives That Start With N To Describe A Person

Knowing the right words to describe a person can be tough. Here’s a list of adjectives that start with N you can use to describe a person:

Positive Words To Describe A PersonNoble – having high moral principles and ideals.Nurturing – caring and supportive, especially toward others’ growth.Nice – kind, pleasant, and friendly.Nimble – quick and skillful in movement or thought.Neighborly – friendly and helpful to others, especially those nearby.Noteworthy – deserving attention or recognition.Nurturant – showing care and encouragement for others.Noble-minded – possessing generous and ethical principles.Neat – tidy, well-organized, and presentable.Non-judgmental – open-minded and accepting of others.Nifty – clever, resourceful, or stylish.Nimble-witted – quick-thinking and mentally agile.Non-confrontational – avoids conflict, promotes peace.Nurtured – well-cared-for and developed.Non-aggressive – calm and peaceful, not forceful or hostile.Noble-hearted – having a generous and kind spirit.Nonchalant – cool, composed, and unbothered by stress.Nonpartisan – fair and impartial, without bias.Non-resistant – cooperative, not combative.Non-selfish – selfless, putting others before oneself.Natural – genuine, authentic, and easygoing.Nourishing – helpful, providing support and care.Non-dominating – respectful, not overpowering or controlling.Nurture-focused – naturally inclined to care for others.Non-materialistic – valuing people and experiences over possessions.Negative Words To Describe A PersonNarcissistic – excessively self-centered and self-admiring.Neglectful – careless, not giving proper attention to responsibilities or others.Nasty – unpleasant, mean, or offensive in behavior.Neurotic – overly anxious, emotionally unstable, or obsessed with minor issues.Narrow-minded – unwilling to accept different ideas or perspectives.Nagging – constantly finding fault or repeatedly urging someone to do something.Nefarious – wicked, immoral, or criminal in intent.Negligent – irresponsible, failing to care for something properly.Noncommittal – indecisive, not showing dedication or certainty.Nauseating – causing disgust or extreme annoyance.Nosy – overly interested in other people’s affairs.Nondescript – lacking distinctive or interesting characteristics.Nihilistic – rejecting all moral values and believing life is meaningless.Nonchalant – seeming indifferent or unconcerned, sometimes perceived as uncaring.Narcotic – dulling and lethargic, suppressing vitality.Niggling – constantly causing small annoyances or discomforts.Noxious – harmful or unpleasant, often describing a toxic personality.Non-cooperative – refusing to work with others or to be helpful.Niminy-piminy – excessively delicate or affected, often in a negative, fussy way.Nitpicky – overly critical about minor details.Negative – pessimistic, always seeing the downside of things.Narrow – limited in scope or understanding, resistant to new ideas.Nervous – excessively anxious, often causing discomfort to others.Nonchalant – when used negatively, can imply indifference or lack of concern.Non-communicative – unwilling or unable to share thoughts or feelings effectively.Negative Adjectives That Start With N

A negative adjective is a word that describes a noun in a critical or unfavorable way, pointing out a quality or characteristic that is undesirable or unpleasant.

These adjectives help convey disapproval or dissatisfaction with someone or something. For instance, words like rude, ugly, and boring are negative adjectives because they highlight faults or flaws.

Here is a list of 50 negative adjectives that start with N:

Narcissistic – excessively self-centered and concerned with one’s own needs.Nasty – unpleasant, offensive, or spiteful in behavior or attitude.Neglectful – failing to give proper care or attention to duties or people.Neurotic – overly anxious or emotionally unstable.Narrow-minded – unwilling to accept different ideas or perspectives; intolerant.Nagging – constantly criticizing or complaining in a bothersome way.Nefarious – wicked, immoral, or evil.Negligent – careless or irresponsible, especially in fulfilling duties.Nauseating – causing disgust or revulsion.Nosy – overly interested in the private matters of others.Niggling – persistently causing small annoyances or problems.Noxious – harmful, toxic, or unpleasant, often applied to behavior or attitudes.Nonchalant – indifferent or appearing unconcerned, sometimes to the point of neglect.Nihilistic – rejecting all religious and moral principles, believing life is meaningless.Noncommittal – unwilling to commit to a decision or opinion.Narrow – lacking broad-mindedness or tolerance; restricted in views or understanding.Nitpicky – overly concerned with trivial or minor details; critical.Non-cooperative – unwilling to work with others or be helpful.Noxious – harmful or destructive, often toxic or poisonous.Negatory – expressing negation or disapproval; dismissive.Non-compliant – refusing to follow rules or cooperate.Nonplussed – confused or unsure how to react, often in a negative context.Narcotic – dulling the senses, causing lethargy or inactivity.Nefarious – evil or morally corrupt.Nondescript – lacking distinctive features or qualities; dull or unremarkable.Non-functional – not working properly or serving its purpose.Narcissistic – showing extreme self-interest and disregard for others.Non-empathetic – lacking the ability to understand or share the feelings of others.Non-productive – not producing useful or desired results.Non-conforming – refusing to follow accepted standards or norms.Needy – excessively dependent on others for emotional or material support.Nonchalant – appearing uncaring or detached, especially when attention is needed.Non-receptive – unwilling to accept or consider new ideas or information.Negative – consistently pessimistic or critical.Non-responsive – unresponsive or indifferent to situations or people.Non-agreeable – unwilling to agree or cooperate with others.Nauseous – causing or feeling disgust or nausea.Narcissistic – obsessed with oneself, often to the detriment of others.Narrow – limited in vision or scope; not open to new ideas or broad thinking.Non-professional – lacking professionalism or proper conduct.Nitpicking – overly critical about insignificant details.Non-apologetic – unwilling to acknowledge faults or mistakes.Negligible – so small or unimportant as to be not worth considering.Non-assertive – lacking confidence or the ability to express one’s views.Nondescript – lacking distinctive qualities or features.Non-sympathetic – showing no compassion or empathy for others.Nonchalant – displaying a lack of concern or interest in important matters.Noxious – unpleasant and harmful, often related to personality traits.Non-punctual – frequently late or unreliable in meeting deadlines or appointments.Neurotic – displaying anxiety, nervousness, or excessive emotional reactions.Nice Adjectives That Start With N

We all love those nice adjectives. Here are some that start with N:

Noble – having high moral principles and an honorable character.Nurturing – providing care, support, and encouragement to others.Nice – kind, pleasant, and considerate towards others.Noteworthy – deserving attention or praise for an achievement.Nimble – quick, light, and agile in movement or thought.Neighborly – friendly, helpful, and considerate to those around you.Nurturant – showing care and affection in a nurturing manner.Noble-hearted – generous and kind-spirited.Neat – tidy, orderly, and well-organized.Nonchalant – calmly relaxed and not easily upset by things.Nonjudgmental – accepting of others without being critical or making judgments.Nifty – clever, resourceful, and stylish in an appealing way.Notable – remarkable and worthy of being recognized.Nimble-minded – quick and sharp in thinking or reasoning.Nourishing – providing sustenance or emotional support.Non-confrontational – peaceful and avoiding conflict.Nurtured – well-cared for, showing growth and development.Noble-minded – having or displaying strong ethical principles.Natural – genuine, authentic, and without pretense.Non-threatening – safe, comforting, and not intimidating.Discover More Adjectives

If you’d like to discover even more adjectives, I have many more guides on the site. You can head here to learn some awesome words to describe teachers. Or head here to discover a huge list of adjectives to describe a person. I also have this awesome guide packed with words to describe a book.

For more adjectives that start with N, please get in touch!

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Loaded language is a group or category of words that are designed to stir emotions in people, sometimes positive and sometimes negative.

This group of words, adjectives and phrases can carry significant power as a writer, and it’s well worth understanding what loaded language is, how it’s used, and the impact it can have. To help you with that, you can find a complete definition below, along with scores of examples of emotive words.

ContentsWhat Is Loaded Language? A Look At The DefinitionWhat Impact Does Loaded Language Have?Loaded Language Examples And WordsPositive Loaded WordsNegative Loaded WordsHow To Use Loaded Language In Your WritingDiscover More Emotive WordsWhat Is Loaded Language? A Look At The Definition

Loaded words or language refers to words or phrases that carry strong emotional connotations, often used to influence an audience’s perception or sway their opinions.

These terms are crafted to evoke a specific response, bypassing rational analysis and appealing to feelings like fear, anger, or sympathy. For example, calling a protest a “riot” versus a “demonstration” can change how it’s perceived, even if the events described are identical.

The power of loaded language lies in its subtlety. It can be used to frame a narrative in a way that aligns with the speaker’s intent, often without the audience realizing it. This makes it a potent tool in rhetoric, politics, and media, where the goal is often to persuade rather than inform.

Recognizing loaded language is crucial for critical thinking, as it helps us to see beyond emotional manipulation and assess the true intent and meaning behind the words.

So that’s what loaded language is, let’s take a deeper look at the impact before turning to consider some examples.

What Impact Does Loaded Language Have?

Loaded language has the potential to shape a person’s perceptions, emotions, and decisions without them being fully aware of it.

When someone encounters loaded language, it triggers an emotional response that can override logical thinking. This can lead them to adopt certain beliefs or take actions that align with the speaker’s intent, often without critically analyzing the situation.

For instance, words with negative connotations like “terrorist” versus “freedom fighter” can frame individuals or groups in vastly different lights. Loaded language can also polarize debates, creating an “us versus them” mentality that hinders constructive dialogue.

The emotional impact of these words can deepen biases, fuel fear or anger, and make it harder for individuals to consider alternative perspectives.

Loaded Language Examples And Words

So now we understand the impact loaded language can have, let’s look at some specific words and examples we can use to trigger both positive and negative emotions.

Positive Loaded Words

As the name suggests, a positive loaded word is one that triggers a good emotional response. Here are some examples:

Heroic

Loaded Aspect: Implies bravery and moral superiority.Example Sentence: “The firefighter made a heroic effort to save the child from the burning building.”

Innovative

Loaded Aspect: Suggests creativity and forward-thinking.Example Sentence: “Her innovative approach to solving the problem won her the company’s highest award.”

Courageous

Loaded Aspect: Conveys strength and fearlessness in the face of danger or adversity.Example Sentence: “The soldier’s courageous actions on the battlefield earned him a medal of honor.”

Resilient

Loaded Aspect: Implies strength and the ability to recover from difficulties.Example Sentence: “Despite the setbacks, the resilient community rebuilt their homes after the flood.”

Visionary

Loaded Aspect: Suggests exceptional foresight and leadership.Example Sentence: “The company thrived under the visionary leadership of its CEO.”

Charitable

Loaded Aspect: Implies generosity and concern for others.Example Sentence: “The charitable organization raised millions to help those in need.”

Inspiring

Loaded Aspect: Suggests that something or someone motivates others positively.Example Sentence: “Her inspiring story of overcoming adversity moved the audience to tears.”

Noble

Loaded Aspect: Connotes moral excellence and integrity.Example Sentence: “He made a noble decision to donate his entire fortune to charity.”

Empowering

Loaded Aspect: Implies giving strength or confidence to others.Example Sentence: “The workshop was empowering for women seeking to start their own businesses.”

Compassionate

Loaded Aspect: Suggests deep empathy and kindness.Example Sentence: “Her compassionate care made a significant difference in the lives of her patients.”

Dynamic

Loaded Aspect: Conveys energy, activity, and progressiveness.Example Sentence: “The dynamic speaker captivated the audience with his enthusiasm and ideas.”

Honorable

Loaded Aspect: Implies adherence to high moral standards.Example Sentence: “His honorable actions during the crisis earned him widespread respect.”

Generous

Loaded Aspect: Suggests a willingness to give or share freely.Example Sentence: “The generous donation helped the school build a new library.”

Triumphant

Loaded Aspect: Conveys victory and success.Example Sentence: “The team felt triumphant after winning the championship against all odds.”

Dedicated

Loaded Aspect: Implies commitment and unwavering effort.Example Sentence: “The dedicated volunteers worked tirelessly to improve the community center.”

Graceful

Loaded Aspect: Suggests elegance and refinement.Example Sentence: “She delivered a graceful performance that left the audience in awe.”

Optimistic

Loaded Aspect: Conveys a positive outlook and hopefulness.Example Sentence: “His optimistic view of the future inspired everyone around him.”

Passionate

Loaded Aspect: Implies strong enthusiasm or commitment.Example Sentence: “The passionate teacher inspired a love of learning in her students.”

Inclusive

Loaded Aspect: Suggests fairness and equality, welcoming diversity.Example Sentence: “The inclusive policy ensured that everyone felt valued and respected.”

Supportive

Loaded Aspect: Implies encouragement and help to others.Example Sentence: “Her supportive friends were always there when she needed them most.”Negative Loaded Words

As you can no doubt guess, a negative loaded word is designed to trigger a poor emotional response in a person, such as anger or outrage. Here are some examples:

Tyrannical

Loaded Aspect: Implies oppressive and unjust rule or behavior.Example Sentence: “The tyrannical leader suppressed any form of dissent with brutal force.”

Manipulative

Loaded Aspect: Suggests deceitful and controlling behavior.Example Sentence: “His manipulative tactics in the negotiation left the other party feeling deceived.”

Corrupt

Loaded Aspect: Implies dishonesty and moral decay, especially in positions of power.Example Sentence: “The corrupt politician accepted bribes in exchange for government contracts.”

Incompetent

Loaded Aspect: Conveys a lack of ability or effectiveness.Example Sentence: “The project failed due to the incompetent management of the team leader.”

Greedy

Loaded Aspect: Suggests excessive desire for wealth or power at the expense of others.Example Sentence: “The greedy corporation put profits before the safety of its workers.”

Vindictive

Loaded Aspect: Implies a desire for revenge and spitefulness.Example Sentence: “Her vindictive actions after the breakup hurt not only her ex but also mutual friends.”

Destructive

Loaded Aspect: Conveys harm and damage, either physically or metaphorically.Example Sentence: “The destructive policies led to the downfall of the company.”

Ignorant

Loaded Aspect: Implies a lack of knowledge or awareness, often willfully so.Example Sentence: “His ignorant remarks about the issue offended many people.”

Cowardly

Loaded Aspect: Conveys a lack of courage and moral strength.Example Sentence: “His cowardly refusal to stand up for his beliefs disappointed everyone.”

Hypocritical

Loaded Aspect: Suggests insincerity and double standards.Example Sentence: “The politician’s hypocritical statements were exposed when his own actions contradicted his words.”

Arrogant

Loaded Aspect: Implies an inflated sense of self-importance and disdain for others.Example Sentence: “His arrogant attitude alienated both colleagues and friends.”

Dishonest

Loaded Aspect: Conveys a lack of truthfulness and integrity.Example Sentence: “Her dishonest behavior during the investigation led to her dismissal.”

Malicious

Loaded Aspect: Suggests intent to cause harm or suffering.Example Sentence: “The malicious rumors spread quickly, damaging the victim’s reputation.”

Disruptive

Loaded Aspect: Implies causing disorder and interrupting normal function.Example Sentence: “The disruptive students prevented the class from progressing smoothly.”

Intolerant

Loaded Aspect: Conveys an unwillingness to accept views or behaviors different from one’s own.Example Sentence: “The intolerant attitude of the group made it difficult for new members to feel welcome.”

Deceitful

Loaded Aspect: Suggests deliberate misleading and dishonesty.Example Sentence: “His deceitful actions during the deal betrayed the trust of his partners.”

Oppressive

Loaded Aspect: Implies unjust and cruel treatment, often by those in power.Example Sentence: “The oppressive regime silenced any voices of opposition through fear and violence.”

Selfish

Loaded Aspect: Conveys a lack of consideration for others, focused only on personal gain.Example Sentence: “His selfish decision to abandon the project left his colleagues struggling.”

Hostile

Loaded Aspect: Implies aggression and antagonism.Example Sentence: “The hostile takeover of the company left many employees uncertain about their future.”

Untrustworthy

Loaded Aspect: Conveys a lack of reliability and integrity.Example Sentence: “After breaking several promises, he was considered untrustworthy by his peers.”How To Use Loaded Language In Your Writing

Using loaded language in your writing can be a powerful tool to influence your audience’s emotions and shape their perceptions. Loaded language consists of words or phrases that carry strong connotations, either positive or negative, that evoke an emotional response beyond the literal meaning of the words. When used effectively, it can enhance persuasion, emphasize a point, or subtly guide readers toward a particular viewpoint.

To use loaded language, first identify the emotional response you want to elicit. For positive emotions, choose words like “heroic,” “innovative,” or “inspiring” to paint your subject in a favorable light. For negative emotions, words like “corrupt,” “manipulative,” or “vindictive” can cast your subject in a more critical or hostile light.

Next, consider the context and your audience. Loaded language should align with your overall tone and purpose. In persuasive writing, such as speeches or opinion pieces, it can strengthen your argument by appealing to your audience’s values or fears. However, be cautious not to overuse it, as excessive loaded language can make your writing seem biased or manipulative, potentially alienating readers.

By carefully selecting and strategically placing loaded language, you can subtly influence your audience, making your writing more compelling and impactful.

Discover More Emotive Words

If you’d like to continue to expand on your vocabulary beyond the loaded language found here, check out the guides below which have lots more, plus their definitions.

To discover words to describe a teacher, head hereTo uncover adjectives to describe a person, check this page out for a mega list of wordsAnd to find a big list of adjectives beginning with A, head here.

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Welcome to this detailed guide on how to write a premise. It’s interesting how attitudes change. When I first began writing I viewed the plot as the most important element of a story. If characters live a static existence, then what’s the point? The more time I invested in improving my writing, I realised the error of my ways. Character is, in fact, king. It’s their conflicts, their struggles, their journeys that glue hands to books and eyes to pages.

But I was wrong again. The element that presides over everything else is something I never paid much attention to, something I rather hoped emerged from my stories rather than weaved it into their fibre. The king of kings, the emperor, the god, is premise.

ContentsWhat Is A Premise In Writing?Does A Story Need A Premise?Understanding Premise In WritingPremise And ConvictionWhy Is Premise Important?Romeo and JulietOthelloHow To Create A PremiseMore Guides On How To Write A Premise and Literary ThemeWhat Is A Premise In Writing?

A premise is the goal, purpose, central idea, or thesis of the story. The formal definition is an assertion or proposition which forms the basis for a work or theory.

So in other words, it’s the foundational idea or concept that serves as the backbone of your story. It’s the central question or statement that your narrative seeks to explore or prove. Think of it as the seed from which your entire plot grows. The premise is not the plot itself, but rather the core idea that drives the plot forward.

For example, in a fantasy novel, a premise might be: “What if a young farm boy discovers he’s the last heir to a powerful, magical kingdom?” This premise sets up the expectations for the story, hinting at the adventures, conflicts, and character development that will unfold as the narrative progresses.

The premise is crucial because it guides the direction of your story, providing a clear focus for the plot, characters, and themes. It helps keep your writing coherent and ensures that all elements of the story are working toward a common goal. Whether you’re writing a short story, a novel, or even a screenplay, having a strong, well-defined premise is key to creating a compelling and engaging narrative.

Does A Story Need A Premise?

Now, not all stories have to explore a premise or theme. Some stories are just damn good tales. The books that have remained alive in my mind longest, though, have been the ones that have explored a premise, sought to answer it, have tried to bring clarity to a point, such that when you put the book down you feel like you’ve learned something. That’s what I want my writing to do, the kind that can help people, and hopefully, make a difference.

The premise is the sat nav. It will show you the way, lead you to a satisfying conclusion. It will suggest the one and only road the story must follow. Alexandre Dumas summed it up quite nicely:.

            “How can you tell what road to take unless you know where you’re going?”

Understanding Premise In Writing

Let’s break down premise into its core components.

In 1946, the Hungarian playwright Lajos Egri published The Art of Dramatic Writing. His first chapter is on premise. It changed everything for me. It all made so much sense. If you can get a hold of a copy of this book, do it.

“The very first thing you must have is premise . And it must be a premise worded so that anyone can understand it as the author intended it to be understood. An unclear premise is as bad as no premise at all.”

Egri was very much of the view that premise provided direction, a way to get to the conclusion of the story. Characters and plot are the vehicles to get there and the fuel required to propel them to that end is conflict. It is these three elements—character, conflict, conclusion—that Egri says every premise must have.

Let’s clear this up with an example:

Great love defies even death.

The premise of Romeo and Juliet. Can you identify each element in this sentence?

Great love represents character.

Defies suggests conflict.

Death is the conclusion.

Make sense? Let’s try another:

Frugality leads to waste.

Frugality represents character.

Leads to suggests conflict.

Waste suggests the conclusion.

Knowing a premise must have these three ingredients makes things so much easier, don’t you think? And these short, snappy sentences make for a fine thumbnail synopsis for your story. Here are a few other examples. Can you identify each element?

Honesty defeats duplicity.

Dishonesty leads to exposure.

Ill-temper leads to isolation.

Egotism leads to loss of friends.

Bragging leads to humiliation.

Premise And Conviction

Don’t run off in joyous abandon just yet. There’s something else Egri says a premise must have, and that’s conviction.

A premise cannot be a question. It’s a statement. It doesn’t have to be a universal truth, but you, or at least your characters, must wholeheartedly believe it.

“Until [the author] takes sides, there is no [story]. Only when he champions one side of the issue does the premise spring to life.”

 So in effect, you could pick a premise such as murdering your dog leads to happiness, and as long as you can establish and prove it in your story, that’s a legitimate premise. Egri was of the view that if you did not wholeheartedly believe in your premise then you would be destined to fail. I don’t share that view as long as you can immerse yourself in the mind of someone who does. It’s certainly easier if it’s something you do believe, though.

Can a story have more than one premise? Egri says no. It ultimately leads to confusion. “Nobody can build a [story] on two premises, or a house on two foundations.” I’m a never say never kind of guy, though, so if you can make it work, go for it.

 You may disagree with every word I’ve scribbled here. I entirely understand if that’s the case. The most wonderful thing about writing is there is no right or wrong way to do it. Some people never write with a premise in mind, others reveal it during editing, and some cannot start without. What works for someone may not work for you. All I say is, give it a go. Write a short story beginning with a premise. Build your characters and plot around it and let the premise direct you. Then make up your mind.

Why Is Premise Important?

A story must have a purpose, a point, a goal— words we established are intertwined with the premise. If there’s no goal, how can a story work sequentially toward a conclusion? How do you know what steps to take to build your way to the end?

The premise, in essence, is the path to the conclusion. It is the argument you want to put across, the conviction you want to make. The plot, the characters… they’re all just vehicles for getting you there. Cannon fodder. You bend and manipulate them so you can state your purpose, make your point, prove your premise. 

Still not having it? A premise example or two might help.

Romeo and Juliet

This is a play about love. But it’s no ordinary kind of love. It’s a love so great that it transcends death. They could not be together in the living realm, so chose to be with each other in that of the dead. The premise here is great love defies even death. 

Othello

When Othello discovers a handkerchief belonging to Desdemona in Cassio’s home, envy consumes his heart. He kills Desdemona and then himself. The premise here is jealousy destroys itself and the object of its love.

How To Create A Premise

Creating a strong premise begins with identifying the core idea or theme you want to explore in your story. Start by asking yourself: What is the central conflict or situation that will drive your narrative? This can be a “what if” question, a moral dilemma, or a fundamental truth about human nature or society that you wish to examine.

Next, consider the main characters and setting that will bring this idea to life. Think about who the protagonist is, what they want, what obstacles they face, and how the world around them influences their journey. Your premise should hint at the stakes involved and the potential for growth or change.

Once you have these elements, distill them into a concise statement that encapsulates the essence of your story. A good premise is clear, specific, and intriguing, sparking curiosity about how the story will unfold. For example, “A young wizard must navigate a world of dark magic to stop an ancient evil from destroying his kingdom” gives a strong sense of the conflict, stakes, and setting.

Finally, ensure that your premise is flexible enough to allow for creativity in the plot but focused enough to keep your story on track. This balance will help guide your writing and maintain the coherence of your narrative.

More Guides On How To Write A Premise and Literary Theme

Thank you for checking out this guide on how to write a premise and write with a literary theme. Below, you can find links to some other guides you may find useful.

Click here to check out my list of fantasy publishersOr head here to see a list of over 150 fantasy magazines and journalsAnd I also have a guide on characterisation you may enjoy. Head here for more writing tips and guides

 Thanks for reading this guide on how to write a premise. 

 

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