Antique Shoppe

The Inspector paused under the street lamp, peering through the mist-covered streets. This late at night, she was a prime target for the human monsters searching for their next meal.

Human monsters she could deal with. Those that lingered in the shadows were far worse.

Gaslamp fantasy is a subgenre of historical fantasy set in the Victorian era. Whereas steampunk is driven by technology and innovation, Gaslamp fantasies draw on gothic horror tropes, and use magic and the supernatural to build atmosphere.

Whilst this may feel similar to urban fantasy, those stories are usually set post 1980, utilize modern technology, and explore modern relationships and issues. Gaslamp fantasy focuses on Victorian-era sensibilities instead.

Think Carnival Row, where faeries and centaurs live alongside humans in an industrial city filled with steam technology and gas-lit streets, creating a new backdrop for dealing with immigration and prejudice. 

Or Critical Role’s Candela Obscura, an actual-play series that follows investigators dealing with supernatural horror and occult mysteries. Class structure and technologies blur when the eldritch threats beneath the city emerge.

Whether TV show, book, or video game, Gaslamp fantasies build up settings that feel wondrous and sinister, making readers check the shadows even as they can’t help but turn the page.

Writing a character is like meeting someone for the first time: whilst we may know parts of their backstory, and what they intend to do in any given situation, their true motives remain a mystery… but not for long.

A character interview allows you as the author to get to know your character in a way that character sheets can’t. Instead of a dry report, it’s a conversation to expose their personality and voice. Ask questions like:

• What is a small, seemingly unimportant memory you can’t forget?
• What is the one lie you tell yourself most often?

When you know who the character is, you can write their actions in a way that feels relatable to the reader.

For an immersive experience, you can also use AI to become your character, based on the “case file” of their character from your Codex. Interrogate them and see what gems can come up. Try a prompt like this:

You are my character Delilah. I am a detective questioning you. Answer as Delilah would.

You’ll be surprised at how your characters react when under pressure, and what they reveal! If you disagree with the AI output then that’s good! It shows you’re getting a clearer picture of the character, and you can change their Codex entry accordingly.

A story’s tense isn’t simply a grammatical detail. It helps you shape your reader’s experience, and control its emotional tone.

Past tense is the traditional storytelling choice. It signals that events are finished, making readers feel safe and allows you to effortlessly jump between different time periods. Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series shows this perfectly. Percy tells his adventures like he’s sharing personal stories, creating a warm feeling, like listening to a friend describe their crazy summer vacation. Along with fantasy, this approach is common in crime fiction, adventure, and historical novels.

Present tense, on the other hand, throws readers directly into the story. Everything is happening right now. The Hunger Games is a brilliant example of this, building urgency and suspense as we experience Katniss’ fight for survival. We feel her fear as we discover each threat alongside her. You’ll often find this immediacy in YA dystopian fiction, psychological thrillers, and erotica.

So, how do you choose? Ask yourself: do you want readers to hear about what happened, or live through it as it happens?