Fantasy is one of the most-read genres in fiction. It helps the reader escape the chains of reality and indulge in another world filled with adventures. And, of course, it’s an amazing journey for writers to write fantasy novels too.
In the fantasy world, the only limitation you may face is your own imagination. Otherwise, you can create your own rules, taboos, religion, and magic spells. But it’s not going to be an easy journey. A random mix of magic and reality cannot get the reader’s attention.
The authors of fantasy literature require a lot of research and planning to make their stories amazing and believable for the readers. Because most of what you write in fantasy may not exist in the real world, it’s up to you to indulge the reader in your story.
If you are unsure where to begin writing your fantasy novel, here are a few essential tips to help you.
Read Before You Write
Fiction has been around humans for decades. It can help the reader escape reality and enter the world of imagination. When someone wants to cut off from reality for a while, it’s best to switch to fantasy novels.
As interesting as fantasy novels can be, you must understand every aspect before you start writing. When you are recommended to read, it’s not simply skimming through the lines. Rather, you must understand all the elements that play important roles in acclaimed fantasy novels.
One of the best practices to help you is writing a book review of each fantasy novel you read. This practice will give you a clear understanding of this genre’s essentials. In addition, you will also get to know about the best and worst things you can add to your fantasy novel.
If you see some interesting pages in your reading list, bookmark them and leave a detailed note on why you like them. This way, when you go back to these pages, you will remember exactly why you liked this part in the first place.
Create a Fantasy Maps
Everyone has seen a map at least once in their lifetime. Of course, a first glance may be overwhelming, but things can make much more sense when you look closely. When you look for reliable fantasy map generators, you will find that fantasy maps are not much different than real maps.
As the name suggests, fantasy maps are the maps of your fictional world that give the reader a glimpse of your world. It can play an essential role in helping the reader feel that your imaginary world is real. That is why this little part of your fantasy novel holds great importance.
After you create a detailed plan for the landmarks and landscapes in your fantasy, you can draw a map yourself or hire the services of an illustrator to help you through the process. Regarding the first draft, you only need a pen and paper to create an idea.
Do not stress this step too much; try to have fun instead. Having an objective set of eyes to help you is always a good idea. Ensure you contact a professional cartographer and join online communities that can help you with their objective set of eyes.
Understand Your Readers
Every author has their own reasons to indulge in writing. Some want to pursue a career in writing, and some look forward to leaving a legacy in this world. In any case, the main goal of every author is to engage the maximum number of readers.
That is why, when writing your masterpiece, you need to consider the readers you expect to engage with your work. When you know your target audience, you will automatically manage the writing style, idea generation, language style, and settings you need for your fantasy world.
In addition, when you know your target audience, you can also choose the right fantasy subgenre to engage them. Here are a few of the most-read fantasy genres worldwide.
- Epic Fantasy
- Low Fantasy
- Magical Realism
- Dark Fantasy
- Fables
- Fairy Tales
- SuperHero Fiction
Once you choose the right sub-genre for your readers, the next step is to consider your target audience’s age. A younger audience may appreciate a simpler story with a happy ending. Meanwhile, the adult audience will look forward to more twists and turns.
Be Descriptive
A fantasy author creates their fictional world from scratch. They spend hours and weeks on research and planning. So yes, it will be fair to say that no one can understand your fantasy world better than you. The reader requires your guidance to navigate through this world.
You do not have to include all information directly. However, as your novel progresses, you can tell your audience discreetly about the little details such as norms, currencies, climate, and much more. This practice can help you make your fiction world more believable.
But do not spend too much time and lines describing everything. This practice may annoy the reader and restrict their perspective. That is why leaving some things to the reader’s imagination is better.
Create Relatable Characters
No fantasy world is completely fictional. Of course, its basis is always grounded in reality. To make your story more admirable and believable for the writers, you must make your characters believable for the reader. The best practice to do so is to figure out the flaws and weaknesses of your characters beforehand.
Once you establish their grounds of relatability, you can thicken your plot by putting your characters in a relatable problem. These problems range from mental health disorders to emotional distress and ethical dilemmas.
A healthy balance of fact and fantasy can make your work readable and relatable to the right readers. Now, you can add a magical twist to these problems or let your character visit a wizard to seek a solution for their problems. It all depends on the direction you want to take your story in.
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