It wasn’t until I
stopped writing for the market and started writing what I really wanted to
write did I realize that I was writing fantasy. And the more I wrote, the more
I loved writing about magic, other worlds, and supernatural creatures. Simply
put, I was completely in love with the limitless possibilities for imagination.
But how does one write a fantasy book exactly? Here are some tips and tricks
I’ve learned on my publishing journey:
Love Fantasy: Write what you love. If you genuinely love
fantastical things and stories, it will show. You’ll also be more likely to
create an original story since you’ll have a good idea of what’s already been
done.
Read Fantasy: Not all Fantasy books are 5,000 pages
long. Not all are cheesy. Not all have orcs. There are actually dozens of
Fantasy sub-genres.
Find the sub-genre that inspires you and study the popular books in these
categories. See what other authors have done and study how they did it. While writing my debut novel, Strange Luck, I was reading several Neil Gaiman books, The Neverending Story, The Princess Bride, The Maze Runner, and lots of H.P Lovecraft. These groundbreaking books really pushed me to try to think outside the box. Plus, they are so much fun to read! It also
doesn’t hurt to watch fantastical movies to help get your creative juices
flowing.
Do Your Research: If your story is completely fantastical,
anything goes, so have fun with it! Do you want to have a character who shoots
rainbows out of her eyes? Go for it! Why not? It’s your story and as a fantasy
author, you have the power to create something original and imaginative.
However, if your story is set in a specific period of history, like medieval times,
research medieval life and get your facts straight (e.g., types of clothing,
food, décor, etc). If something magical happens in the story, like there’s a
sword that doesn’t behave like a real one, be sure to explain its magical
properties.
Map It: Planning a magical world is hard world. Mapping your world with
pen and paper will help you write about places and their characteristics more
accurately. If you’re more advanced, use map making software. Including a
finished map in your book or on your website is an awesome extra for
readers.
The Rules: Figure out the rules of magic in your
story, including limits. If a character can do absolutely anything, then there
will be no suspense or struggle and your story will flop. Let your readers know
what the most important rules are and be sure to follow them. Let your
protagonist conquer obstacles and solve problems based on his or her abilities.
Be Original: Lord
of the Rings, Hunger Games,
Game of Thrones—they’ve all been
done. Be creative and use your imagination to create something never seen
before. Remember, it’s fantasy, so anything goes!
Keep Your Story Moving: It can be so much fun to create worlds and
creatures with their own histories, geography, and supernatural rules, but
sometimes these details can overshadow the actual story, leaving you with a lot
of awesome detail, but with a story where nothing is happening. Your main
character(s) should have a goal or problem that they need to solve. Throw in
some complications and you’re on your way!
Share Your Story: The most important piece of advice I can
give any author is to have other people look at your work. No matter how many
times you’ve reviewed your story, there will ALWAYS be an inconsistency or error. That’s just what happens when you’re so
close to something. Give your book to family and friends to read and ask for
their honest opinions. Once you’ve ironed out some bugs, give it to people who
love to read fantasy and see what they think. If you’re struggling to find people
to read your story, join a local writer’s group or look for one online. Once
you’ve ironed out any remaining issues, it’s time to hand it over to a professional editor.
Good luck on your
fantastical writing journey!
Have you checked out my other posts on
writing? You might enjoy these, too:
A.I. Winters is an award-winning horror and fantasy author. Her titles include Summoner of Sleep, Strange Luck, The Nightmare Birds, and A Darling Secret.
Born in Northern California, Winters has since lived in every region of the country, but now resides in Colorado with her husband. She has published numerous articles on writing and publishing, and has worked as a grant writer and copy editor for non-profits, municipalities, and major corporations.
When not writing books, she enjoys breaking a sweat in Jiu-Jitsu class, baking desserts, and traveling.
Learn more at: www.aiwinters.com
