Think about the first fantasy movie that took your breath away. Or the first fantasy novel that left you wishing you could go there. What was it about those masterpieces that left you aching for more? Was it the ageless characters? Maybe it was the masterful setting, or thrilling plot.

Writing fantasy is like putting together a puzzle; you’re never quite satisfied with the final product unless all the pieces are in their places.

Building The World

Settings, in fantasy, are as important as the characters. Crafting a world is often the first very step. Settings can influence both the plot and the character.

Draw a map—even if you’re not a very good artist. Flesh it out, pretend it’s your masterpiece; discover for yourself what makes your world unique and intriguing. The Game of Thrones, benefitted greatly from the map that rolled during the opening credits, constantly changing.

Getting It Down

Keeping track of everything can start to get really, really messy, so the next thing you should do is get everything down. After crafting the world, your mind will be brimming with ideas just begging to get put out on paper. For some, it’s jotting down a list, or a story map, and for some it is just getting that first draft out of yourself.

It’s hard to write that draft without constantly going back to nitpick and edit it, but it has to be done or you’ll spend more time drafting and rewriting than you will anything else. Once you’ve got the draft down, like laying out all the pieces of the puzzle, so to speak, then you can really start putting together your fantasy masterpiece.

Creating Characters

The next aspect of creating a fantasy brimming with life are the characters. A diverse world requires a diverse cast. Think about what you love and hate about people, what confounds you about a person, and your favorite book characters. Make a list of it all and make sure to show it, through their actions and words.

Characters don’t wax poetic about how brave the others are, or strong, or foolish and brave. They show this, through actions and what they themselves say, the way they treat each other and themselves.

Fleshing It All Out

Up to now you have created the bones of your manuscript, the rest is just fleshing it out. Fill in the gaps of your plot, and rearranging your scenes until it all finally clicks together and the puzzle reveals itself. Once you’ve gotten that draft down on paper, these are what will draw in your readers to fall in love with it.

It’s important to remember that this is only the first draft, and you will revise this beast of a book until you’re struggling to remember why you’re putting yourself through this mental marathon. But, once you’re holding that final copy in your hands, it will all be worth it.

Unleash the novel inside you

with compelling characters,

intricate worlds,

and fine-tuned prose.

“Linda has published numerous books. She blogs about the publishing world, posts useful tips on the challenges a writer faces, including marketing and promoting your work, how to build your online platform, how to get reviews and how to self-publish. She has mentored many authors and edited their work.” 

#selfpublish #author #success #wordsmith #motivation #marketing #authorlife #creativity #motivation #career