Fantasy

So, you have a brimming tale in a magical world, where readers battle dragons, ghouls and goblins, but you don’t know where to begin. With this cauldron of boiling ideas and hardly a way to properly execute them, the story can fade away because you’re so overwhelmed with everything that must happen in fantasy. Hopefully, with a little perspective and guidance, writing down the fantasy idea feeding at your brain will be a little easier.
First thing’s first – to label a fantasy story from other stories, you must know some elements that make up a fantasy novel:

1. Plot – Every story should have a plot, but the plot is even more important in a story where a new world or concept of reality is being created.
2. Setting – The place where your story takes place is key to fantasy because it can be different than a typical story’s setting. Settings should be described. Paint a picture for the readers.
3. Some sort of magical element – The magic is what makes fantasy so unique to other genres. It’s a wonderful part, but make sure the kinds of magic or fantasy elements are still understandable to the reader. If they can’t follow the storyline or unfamiliar magic isn’t explained, the novel will likely be set down and not touched again.
4. A world set apart from this world – Most fantasy tales happen on another land, or a land that is similar but not exactly like this world. It’s fun to create new places for your characters to go.
5. Memorable characters – Characters are possibly the most vital part to any story. They make a story worth reading. Characters that readers can relate to, express feelings for, discuss with people in their everyday lives, and fall in love with can make a good story great. Try picking unconditional characters in roles you’d never thought about, instead of the typical types of creatures. Be careful to explain their personalities, features, behaviors, etc.

Other Key Tips to Help You When Writing Fantasy:

1. You can’t write about what you don’t know, so it’s a good idea to get a feel for your story’s genre by reading some successful novels in the same genre. Experiencing a fantasy thrill will help you get a better handle on knowing what’s effective in fantasy and what is required. Here are a few examples of well-known fantasy novels and some of their fantasy elements:

1. Harry Potter – From knowable character types, like witches, wizards, elves and trolls to magical elements found in horcruxes and wands, Harry Potter lets us escape into a world unlike any other. Harry Potter and his friends leave a lasting impact on readers as they take a life-altering journey with him.
2. The Lord of the Rings -  Possibly one of the most complex storylines in literature, this series is definitely one to look up to. Tolkien’s depth of his world is breath-taking. He leads readers into a world where they can find their way alongside him, while still journeying across uncharted waters. His use of details to help the reader understand unknown characters or elements is important to notice.
3. Twilight – This series is a bit different, as it has powers instead of pure magic, but it still is partially a fantasy novel. It also takes place in a true location, but the characters and legends help it gain the “fantasy” element. Technically a young adult fictional romance fantasy, this series also shows you can have more than one genre make up your novel. However, the fantasy is mainly made up in the character types – vampires and werewolves, which don’t exist in the real world.  

2. Don’t be afraid to ask specific questions about foreign objects, characters or places in your story. Just a few of many questions you can ask yourself are:

1. Objects:
   1. What makes this object significant to the story?
   2. What does the object do or look like?
   3. Are there any hidden abilities or characteristics about the object?
2. Characters:
   1. In what ways will this character hurt/help the task at hand?
   2. How do I want this character to appear? Good, evil, comedian, a helper, a hurt, etc.?
   3. How can I make this character impact readers the most?
   4. What feelings do I want to evoke from the readers regarding this character?
3. Setting:
   1. What characteristics of this setting will help or hurt the main character’s mission?
   2. Are there any elements within the setting that have been unexplained to the reader?
   3. What does the setting look like? Does it have other magical/unreal properties that need more explanation?

 
3. Include the 5 senses when describing unknown objects or people – make sure the reader understands completely the personality and characteristics of important things and people in your story.

4. Be sure to remember your details and never stray from them. Your characters and characteristics of objects need to be consistent. Make notes if you must, but make sure you never take your eye off the essence of the people and things in your novel.

5. Make the times and places believable. If you have a time where fantasy creatures lived in the 1800s – and they aren’t time travelers, which merits a whole new article topic – don’t have characters wearing a digital watch or asking Alexa where the nearest telephone is.

All that you read on fantasy is simply a guide to help you achieve the maximum potential your story might have – and these only scratch the surface of what all you can do in the realm of fantasy. Play with it, change it, create it, but don’t leave the readers behind when traveling through your journey.
 
Works Cited: 

“Five Tips For Planning A Fantasy Novel.” Tips on Writing a Fantasy Novel, The Writer's Bureau.
 
Trometter, Mrs. “Elements of Fantasy Literature.” LinkedIn SlideShare, LinkedIn, 30 Nov. 2011. 2 Mar. 2018.
 
Rodriguez, Julie. “Dos and Don'ts For Fantasy/Sci-Fi Writers.” Creative Writing Solutions, Creative Writing Lesson Plans and Resources.

Anamika, et al. “5 Essential Elements Every Fantasy Novel Needs.” Writer's Edit, 21 Nov. 2017.