Writing Gritty Worlds One Layer at a Time
A Conversation with Damien Larkin
In today's episode of The Truth About Storytelling, I’m joined by author Damien Larkin for a wide-ranging conversation about realism, military-influenced worldbuilding, and letting stories grow organically.
Damien describes himself as a pantser, someone who discovers the story by writing it—and compares his drafting process to assembling Frankenstein’s monster, layering history, culture, and conflict over time rather than locking everything down too early.
We talk about how his military background influences the way he writes terrain, equipment, and strategy, and why authenticity matters, especially for veteran readers who recognize when details ring true. Damien also shares how darker scenes can be emotionally surprising to write, and how storytelling itself can be a form of processing lived experience.
From dinosaurs instead of dragons to societies shaped by centuries of warfare, this episode is packed with insight for writers who want their worlds to feel dangerous, grounded, and real.
🎧 Listen to the episode
📚 Explore Damien’s books
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