How to Write a Fantasy Novel

Guide Note

Fantasy takes us away from our mundane, everyday lives and plants us firmly in the middle of worlds governed by magic and populated by strange, mythical beasts. If you've always wanted to write your own fantasy novel but weren't quite sure where to start, read on for some tips that will help you put your fantasy into words.

Table of Contents

Fantasy Writing Tips

  1. Read as much fantasy as you can.
  2. Review basic storytelling.
  3. Brainstorm an idea.
  4. Create the world you wish to write in.
  5. Create believable characters.
  6. Research elements that will lend credibility to your world and characters.
  7. Put together an outline of your plot.
  8. Begin writing your first draft.
  9. After completing the first draft, begin editing.
  10. Revise and workshop until you are happy with your final draft.
  11. Consider publication.

Introduction

The Lord of the Rings has rekindled interest in fantasy. (Creative Commons photo by Bandita)
The Lord of the Rings has rekindled interest in fantasy. (Creative Commons photo by Bandita)
  • Fantasy. Upon hearing that word you only need to close your eyes before images of dragons sweep across the sky, carrying great warriors into battle. On the ground below, dueling wizards form a circle of protective magic around a treasured artifact that could destroy the entire world if it falls into the wrong hands. Dark elves swarm in from all sides in a flourish of flaming arrows, but in the chaos they overlook a young boy slipping through the battle as if protected by some cloaking spell. Clutched in his hand is the artifact, and as he reaches the edge of the woods, battle rages on behind him. He makes out the image of his master, wand lifted in mid-cast. He can almost hear the ancient words spilling from the wizard's lips when a shadow rises from behind and hacks the old man down with his sword...

Step 1: Read, Read, Read!

  • No matter what genre you want to write in, reading is an essential part of the writing process. In fact, reading is probably what inspired you to write in the first place. When you want to specialize and write in a specific genre like fantasy, you will want to read as many fantasy books as you can get your hands on for a number of reasons.
  1. For inspiration.1
  2. To make sure your idea is not too close to another writer's work.2
  3. To recognize overused clichés so you can avoid them.
  4. To familiarize yourself with the different cultures that often appear in fantasy worlds.
  5. To recognize the story arcs many fantasy novels follow.3

Step 2: The Basic Elements of Storytelling

Read what others have created. (Creative Commons photo by Jennifer Murawski)
Read what others have created. (Creative Commons photo by Jennifer Murawski)
  • Think back on the novels you've read in the past. Whether they were fantasies or another genre, the similarities between them all are the elements the storyteller used to orchestrate the plot. Before you can begin writing, you'll need to know what comprises a successful story.
  1. Theme: The central, driving force of the story. It is often a reflection on life or human nature.4
  2. Plot: Consists of the setting and conflict and drives the story from one point to the next.4
  3. Characters/Protagonist: The creatures and beings affected by the central action of the story.5
    • In a fantasy, characters can be anything from people and magical animals to talking doors or whispering trees. There are really no limits in fantasy.
  4. Setting: The place and time during which the plot of the story is set.6
    • Often fantasies are set in a unique otherworld or a twisted version of the world we live in today.
  5. Conflict/Antagonist: The conflict is the force that works against the characters.
    1. Conflict is usually established in the beginning.4
    2. The action in the plot rises naturally as the conflict builds up.
    3. The antagonist is often another character working against the protagonist.5
  6. Climax: Turning point in the plot. The action and conflict reach a boiling point, and there is no turning back.4
  7. Falling Action: Begins to wrap up the loose ends through the story.4
  8. Resolution: All major points of conflict are concluded.4

Step 3: Mining for Ideas

  • Before you can get started, you'll need to come up with an idea. The more unique the better in a world of recycled plots. Here are some ideas to help you come up with an idea worth writing about:
  1. Borrow from old legends, fables, fairy tales and folk stories.1
    • We've all heard that saying, "There's nothing new under the sun." Why not take something old and put a new spin on it?
  2. Ask yourself how you can make every day situations into something fantastic.7
  3. Try taking a favorite story or film plot and putting a unique twist on it.7
  4. Brainstorm ideas for a unique quest for your characters.8
  5. Start with a catch phrase, quote or title and see what inspiration follows.8
  6. Don't worry, hearing voices doesn't make you crazy. A lot of authors can hear their characters very clearly. If you have a character that has been nagging at you, listen to what they have to say. Their life story could be the basis for an incredible novel.
  • No matter where you mine for your ideas, the most important thing to remember is to let your imagination run wild.

Step 4: Creating Magical Worlds and Characters

The Magical World

  • How does one go about creating a magical world?
  1. Magic is an important part of most fantasy stories. It can affect everything from climate, weather and landscape to the history and the future of a world.9
    1. Determine who has the ability to use magic.
    2. How much does magic play a part in the societies of your world?
    3. Understand how magic works, and don't overuse it to solve everything.10
  2. Spend time mapping out the landscape and take into consideration water resources, farmland, industrial areas and forest.11
  3. Consider the climate throughout your regions and how it will work for and against your characters.11
  4. Write a history for the world that includes everything from religion and politics to wars and natural disasters. Any major points that would stand out to the inhabitants will help strengthen your world.11
  5. Think hard about the types of creatures that will inhabit your world. Will your environment sustain merpeople or unicorns?12 13
  6. Don't complicate or try to reinvent the familiar.14 Complicating every day activities like riding a horse, wielding a sword and baking bread will just act to confuse your readers.
  7. Be sure to incorporate time and era factors into your world. If your world is set in a medieval period, maintain that setting consistently throughout the entire world.15
  8. Take a look at the world we live in and draw inspiration from it. Even though you're writing fantasy, you still want it to contain elements of believability.15
  9. Don't be afraid to make your own statement. As long as it is believable, you have free reign to create worlds no one has ever been to before.16

Peopling Your World

What creatures will be in your fantasy world? (Creative Commons photo by Jimd2007)
What creatures will be in your fantasy world? (Creative Commons photo by Jimd2007)
  • Once you've set up the world you want to write in, it's time to start thinking about its inhabitants. One thing that people like about fantasy is that it allows them to escape the mundane, everyday world. On the other hand, they look for elements in fantasy that they can relate to, especially in the characters.
  • Here are some important things to consider when creating fantasy world characters:
  1. What type of creatures are they? Are they human or non-human?15
  2. If your characters are non-human, make sure they don't act completely human. They may share some characteristics with humans, but keep in mind that the actions that shape and mold us all are based on the environments we grew up in.17
  3. What do they look like? Know everything about them from hair and eye color to body type and secret scars or birthmarks.18
  4. Whether they are human or non-human, give them emotional characteristics human readers can identify with.16
  5. If characters are mythological, do research to make sure you understand the pre-set rules about those beings before you start creating characteristics.15
  6. Plan out the cultures in their world. Determine how that culture has developed their personality.16
  7. Take some time to interview your characters. Ask them their most intimate secrets and take those into consideration.
    • If you know your main character is deathly afraid of magic, how will he respond if he wakes up in an enemy's wizard camp?
  8. Be creative, but don't forget that if the characters are too far-fetched, readers won't be able to identify.

Step 5: Research and Outlining

  • Creating a whole world and all its people is a lot of work. Both research and outlining can help you keep organized during the creative process.

Research

  • Even though you're writing about a fantasy world you'll be doing a lot of research. Taking time to understand things like the way politics work, society functions and how cultures develop will give you a greater understanding for the people you are writing about. You will also want to familiarize yourself with how weather and terrain effect people. Architecture will put you in touch with building cities and villages, and if your people go to war you'll need to understand different types of battle strategies.
  1. Take advantage of your local library.
  2. Use the Internet, but don't rely on just any old page.
    1. Make sure the information comes from a reliable source.
    2. You can also cross-reference information with several different sites to see if it matches up.
  3. Take care not to jumble the creative process as you research. Remember, writing fantasy is a creative endeavor, and you should be making up the most interesting parts on your own.19
  4. If you're creating an entire world from scratch, know it inside and out. Even the most minute details are important because they create a familiarity within you as you're writing, and you never know when you might draw on them in the story.20
  • Since you'll be dealing with everything from maps and character sheets to city outlines and political structures, keep all of your notes and research organized in a binder. You may even want to go one step further and color code the different types of information you're storing for easy reference.

Outlining

  • A basic outline is a great way to keep track of where you want the story to go, while still allowing you the flexibility to be spontaneous and creative.
  1. Having a basic idea of the plot structure will help you finish your novel.21
  2. Think of an outline like a map of your story. It will allow you to check all alternative routes to make sure they still wind up at the end you planned.20
  3. Try storyboarding (writing things down scene by scene) on note cards that you can flip through whenever you need a refresher.22

Step 6: The Writing Process

Soon your masterpiece will be complete. (Creative Commons photo by Inkswamp)
Soon your masterpiece will be complete. (Creative Commons photo by Inkswamp)
  • If this is your first novel, you may want to take some time to familiarize yourself with some of the tools of writing, such as point-of-view, dialogue, grammar and showing versus telling.
  • Here are some tips that will help you put your fantasy novel idea into writing:
  1. Make a commitment to writing so you see your novel through until the end.
  2. Set a writing schedule and stick with it.1
  3. Avoid as many distractions as you can while writing.
  4. Find a place to write where you won't be disturbed.
  5. Keep your research handy at all times in case you need to reference something.
  6. Beware of solving plot conflicts too easily.23
  7. All novels tend to center around theme. Once you've established yours, try not to refer to it directly.23
  8. Try to avoid typical fantasy clichés.23
  9. Just because you're writing fantasy doesn't mean things don't have to make sense.24
  10. Make sure all loose ends and conflicts are resolved before the end of your plot.16

Step 7: The Revision Process

  • When you're ready to start the revision process, here are a few things to keep in mind:
  1. Read over the first draft and take notes you can refer to later when revising.
  2. Be sure to double check for plot and character consistency.
  3. Print out copies and ask your writers group for some feedback.25
  4. Listen with an open mind to all criticism.25
  5. Compare their notes with yours and begin making revisions.
  6. Once you have a second draft, start the process over again, this time also allowing yourself to note any spelling and grammar mistakes.
  7. Don't be afraid to make changes or even cut out entire sections if they don't fit into your vision.25
  • Keep in mind that it could take three or more draft revisions before you feel confident with the end-result.

Conclusion

  • Fantasy is a competitive market, but don't be afraid to put your work out there. Once you feel your manuscript is in top shape, you can start looking for a publisher. Keep in mind that many publishers will not accept unsolicited manuscripts, so you may have to find an agent to represent you. You may also consider self-publishing.

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References for How to Write a Fantasy Novel

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 eHow: How to Write a Fantasy Novel
  2. ↑ eHow: How to Write a Fantasy Novel for Tweens
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Inspired Author: How to Write a Fantasy Novel
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 ThinkQuest: Parts of a Story
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Arcanum-Butler Local School: Creative Writing
  6. ↑ Wikipedia: Setting
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 MsJellicle.com: Creating Storylines
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Rick Walton Children's Author: Coming up with Story Ideas
  9. ↑ Inspired Author: Learn the Magic of Fantasy Writing
  10. ↑ HollyLisle.com: Fantasy Is Not for Sissies: Real Rules for Real Worlds
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Inspired Author: How to Build a Fantasy World
  12. ↑ Wikipedia: Mermaid
  13. ↑ Wikipedia: Unicorns
  14. ↑ Fantasy Factor: Reinventing the Wheel
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Fantasy Factor: World Building for Science Fiction or Fantasy
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Inspired Author: Logic and Consistency in World Building (October 2, 2007)
  17. ↑ Fantasy Factor: Aliens and Faeries: Non-Human Characters Acting Badly
  18. ↑ Squidoo: How to Write a Fantasy Novel
  19. ↑ Pohangina Pete: How Thoroughly Should You Research Your Novel? (May 9, 2004)
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 HollyLisle.com: How to Start a Novel
  21. ↑ Deep Genre: How to write a Novel (Part 1) (January 15, 2008)
  22. ↑ Steampunk: Advice on Novel Writing by Crawford Kilian
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 23.2 Fantasy Factor: Top Eight Rules For Writing Fantasy
  24. ↑ The Fantasy Guide: Tips to Writing a Fantasy Novel that's different and unique
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Deep Genre: How to Write a Novel (Part 2) (January 21, 2008)


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