How to Write Fantasy: Unleash Your Imagination

Understanding the Fantasy Genre

To write fantasy, Let's dive into the magical world of fantasy literature, shall we?

First things first, what exactly is fantasy? It's a genre that takes us beyond the boundaries of reality. Introducing elements of magic, supernatural creatures, and imaginary worlds. But it's not one thing. 

A few fantasy subgenres are high fantasy and urban fantasy. High fantasies have their magical worlds created from scratch. Urban fantasies are on the other side of the spectrum, famous for blending current society with magic. Even going further into Cyberpunk worlds.

The history of fantasy is as rich and varied as the genre itself. We can trace its roots back to ancient myths and legends. While modern fantasy, as we know it, really took off in the 19th century. From Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" to J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings," fantasy has evolved and expanded over time.

But what makes fantasy unique? It's all about the impossible becoming possible. Magic, mythical creatures, alternate worlds - these are the building blocks of fantasy. 

And let's not forget about those beloved characters or plot archetypes we all love!

From "The Chosen One" to "The Quest" narrative, these familiar elements can be powerful tools. The key is to put your spin on them, giving the reader a sense of familiarity while keeping them engaged.

Pillars of every Fantasy story

Every fantastic book has a good combination of five pillars: Characters, Plot, Worldbuilding, Conflicts, and last but not least, Promises and Payoffs.

The Key Elements of Unforgettable Characters

Well-crafted Characters are what readers connect to the most. They are fundamental to how much your book will carve itself into history. There are incredible forgotten best sellers throughout history. Even non-readers know Harry Potter's scar, Gandalf's magic, and John Snow's bastard name. A few things usually fuel a good character:

The Burning Drive

Think about what gets you out of bed in the morning. Your character needs that same fire in their belly. Give them a desire so strong it keeps them awake at night. Maybe they dream of finding their lost sister or are desperate to prove everyone wrong. This burning should push them to take risks, make mistakes, and keep trying when things get tough. The stronger their desire, the more your readers will root for them.

The Human Touch

Nobody's perfect and that's what makes us interesting. Your character should stumble and mess up, too. Give them a quick temper, a habit of lying when scared, or maybe they trust the wrong people. These flaws aren't weaknesses in your writing. They're the gold that makes characters feel real. Think about your struggles, and don't be afraid to let your characters face similar ones.

Even overpowered characters have human aspects. I'll give you an example for those pondering about anime OP characters (I also love them):

Saitama's overwhelming strength is matched by a low-level intellect. The combination creates many of the show's funny moments. His carefree personality also enhances portions when he gets serious and more mature than expected. 

The Web of Connections

Life is full of people who drive us crazy and keep us sane. Your character needs them, too. Create a best friend who tells hard truths, a mentor who pushes too hard, or a rival who brings out their worst. Each relationship should pull your character in different directions. Make these bonds messy and complex – just like real life.

You'll notice that fantasies introduce a friend or a pet for the protagonist. The reason behind this is that dialogue is one of the amazing tools in our arsenal.

As authors, we need to convey information... Isn't a good dialogue better than a vast block of text?

The Unique Spark

Last but never least, make your character stand out. Maybe they crack jokes when nervous or see poetry in garbage cans. Give them odd habits that only they would have. Think about how they talk – do they use fancy words or street slang? Love military precision or ramble on with stories? This unique flavor makes readers remember them long after the last page.

Remember: A great character feels like someone you might meet tomorrow, yet they're unique enough to fill a whole book with their story.

Plotting Your Fantasy Story

The Initial Hook

Start with something extraordinary— a hidden power awakening. A mysterious map appears. An ancient prophecy is coming true. Make it big enough to change your character's world forever.

Books have changed in recent years. The slow start we saw in the past is gone, and now early chapters are a glimpse of what will come. That way, the reader can taste the adventure they will embark on in the first chapters. 

The Personal Quest

Give your hero a clear mission. It might save the kingdom, but it must also matter to them personally. Maybe they're seeking their lost family or trying to break a curse. Connect the big mission to their heart.

The development of this quest will keep your readers engaged, and give a sence of progess to the story. With good promises and payoffs, readers will turn page after page with a sense of fulfillment.

The Rising Darkness

Every fantasy needs worthy challenges. Create obstacles that grow bigger and scarier. Mix magical problems(if you have a magic system in your fantasy) with personal ones. A dragon might guard the treasure, but facing it means confronting deep fears, too.

Fantasy Worldbuilding: Two Essential Layers

Worldbuilding is the cherry on top of all the pillars. It is not fundamental, but if done right, it can reap benefits for years to come. For example, most J.K. Rowling books and movies take place within the same worldbuilding.

But remember, many best-seller romances happened within an ordinary earthly city.

I love Brandon Sanderson’s physical and cultural worldbuilding. It makes creating a world feel less scary.

The Physical World

Everything that would exist if no sentient beings existed. 

• Geography and climate

• Plants, animals and creatures

• Natural resources

• Magic systems (if they're natural laws)

• Weather patterns

In another post, we will dive into magic systems, but you remember Arthur Clarke’s quote, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”. Sci-Fi advanced technology can be a type of magical system as well. 

The Cultural Layer

On the cultural side, we have everything that exists because of sentient beings.

• Cities

• How advanced society has become

• Tools and crafts

• Languages and art

• Laws and customs

• Religions and beliefs

• Social hierarchy 

We only have so much to fill our book. I wouldn’t have more than two of each category to start with. 

Sinergyzing It All: Conflicts, Promises and Payoffs

Any fantasy will have conflicts throughout the story. Conflicts are what glue the plot, characters, and worldbuilding together. These conflicts are stepping stones for characters or plot progression. Let me be clear: conflict does not mean a fight, battle, or war. But the challenges and hurdles our story presents for its participants.

As they present themselves, anticipation grow within readers. Any expectation your words generate is a promise to the reader. They will hold on to this feeling. Connecting the dots until the fulfilling payoff in future scenes.

Conflicts also allow you to write in an active rather than passive tone. If things happen page after page, you can focus on making them exciting.

You should know that these three can make or break a book.

Promises and payoffs could be compared to gifting someone. What happens if you create the expectation of a fantastic car toy for a child and offer them a plant instead? A sense of disappointment will likely appear. What about the opposite? You hint that something may happen, but when it does, it is more impressive than what they expected...

This is a mastery that will provide you with outstanding reviews.  

Bonus Content!

Readers will be more lenient toward your style as your fan bases grow. The following tip is aimed at early writers or hobbyists who are starting. Try enriching the impact of your words instead of using many of them. Very Hungry could become famished or ravenous if the character is aggressive.

Math may not be the author's favorite subject, but please bear with me.

A 150-page book will have nearly 50,000 words. If we divide our book into the previous portions of this article, each will have 10,000 words.

That seems like a lot when you first look at it, but let’s go one step further. 

If you have four characters, each will fill only 9 pages within your 150 pages. Much less than we think, right?

10.000 words can run out for big-name authors like J.R.R. Token in the blink of an eye. He had more than a few 600-word long scene descriptions within his books.

Yes, you read it correctly. Token could use 10,000 words to describe 20 unimaginable scenes within his world.

Few authors can hold their readers for such a description, so be careful!

Start as soon as possible

The most important thing for you to do and learn is to try.

The building blocks are there, and theory can be found everywhere, but none matters if you don't start.

Do it small. Is there a type of plot you like? Write it down. Are there sceneries you wish to write about? Excellent, create a note. Magical creatures that fill your mind? Just let it out on the page.

You can even be bolder and go straight to writing your first paragraph! No answer is perfect for everyone. There are incredible discovery authors who prefer not to outline anything before starting.

At the same time, outlining has no limits. If you don't push yourself to start writing, you may lose yourself in any of the pillars mentioned.

I started by writing my first 100 words on a Saturday. My mind went into overdrive, and I wrote another 200 the following day. 365 days later, I had my first draft. The phrases, paragraphs, and chapters won't be perfect initially, but that is also fine.

If you focus on writing 120 words a day, you have yourself a book within the following year.