If you love creating epic stories, unforgettable characters, and vast imaginary worlds, fantasy is an ideal genre for you. Writing fantasy is a great way to get your imagination to work.
Writing your own novel could be the culmination of magical adventures, especially if you have always enjoyed reading fantasy.
If you are considering writing a fantasy novel soon, here are some of the most important things to consider beforehand.
1. Know Your World Better
One of the most important things you must understand before building a fictional fantasy world is that everything is based on reality. You cannot build an engaging world out of thin air. If it is not relatable, it will fail to engage your audience.
One of the best things you can do while writing fantasy books is to know the world around you better. Different parts of the world have different cultures. Looking into every new culture can inspire you to imagine your new world. If you have not seen many parts of the world, it is always a good idea to take a trip and meet new people.
Seeing new cultures and learning new languages can help you discover a unique balance between global influences and your creative imagination. This intriguing blend can inspire the development of your fantasy world.
2. Learn About Characters
The characters of a fantasy fiction novel accompany the readers on their reading journey. If you make your characters interesting, your readers will be interested in continuing the reading journey, leading to the ultimate success of your work.
You must pay attention to all your characters, but remember that the protagonists matter the most. It is always a good idea to work with one or two primary characters. You can have a handful of secondary characters and many minor characters to propel your story forward.
While every fantasy fiction novel can have a varied number of characters, one of the most important things to remember is that your characters must always serve the plot in some way. If a character does not serve your plot, they do not have to be a part of your fantasy fiction novel to begin with.
3. Master the Plots
Besides well-rounded characters, the plot is one of the most important aspects of a fantasy fiction novel. A plot is more than just a series of events. If your novel does not have a strong plot, the readers will not have any motivation to keep on reading.
While you may need to plan every aspect of your fictional world beforehand, there is no need to follow the same approach with your plot. You do not have to know every detail about your plot before you start writing.
Once you know the direction in which you want your plot to head, you can leave some aspects to be filled later as you write. While it is good to be adaptable, ensure that key character details, such as strengths, weaknesses, and arcs, are defined in advance.
4. Keep the Subplots in Mind
It is rare for a single plotline to lead to an amazing fantasy fiction. Subplots are an opportunity for you to give another dimension to your work and add to its believability. After all, no event in real life exists in isolation. Everything is interrelated.
Even if your subplots revolve around secondary characters, it still gives life to your main plot. You can consider the plot as a tool to give your readers a satisfactory and rounded ending. Fantasy novels without subplots are considered dull and unsatisfactory.
While subplots do add dimension to your fantasy fiction novels, remember that it is easy for them to get out of hand. Sometimes, writers make the mistake of concentrating too much on the subplot and might get distracted from the main plot.
Another important thing you must know is that you do not have to resolve every subplot. A subplot should not risk the integrity of your main plot. It can lead to your readers feeling frustrated. Your main plot must always be your primary focus
5. Polish Your Conflict
All successful fantasy stories are based on conflict in one way or another. If you think that conflict only means your main character’s battle with the antagonist over a major disagreement, it’s not. It is a lot more than that.
There are several types of conflict. Your character may be challenged by their fate, society, or even the supernatural. Whatever you choose, the most important thing to remember is that you cannot progress your fantasy fiction without several conflicts. If there are no conflicts, the reader will not have any reason to stay.
An important thing to remember is that conflict does not always have to be external. Your characters may also face internal conflicts based on guilt, memories, or choices they have to make. A seemingly common struggle for someone to overcome their own mind and body can also make for a great story.
6. Work on the Backstory
The backstory of your characters holds as much importance as their current circumstances being shared with the readers. Every reader deserves to know what happened to their characters in the past and how it will affect every decision they will make in your story.
Most characters are formed by events in their past. When you share these details with the readers, they can be more engaged in your work and anticipate some of the events to determine their motivation and get to know them better.
While it is not always necessary to reveal your character’s background, you must ensure that your story and its events are engaging enough to keep the readers interested. You can also choose not to share the backstory of your characters to give them a sense of mystery.
If you decide to share a backstory, even in flashbacks, ensure it has enough tension and subject matter to keep readers engaged. Otherwise, it is a better alternative to skip this endeavor altogether.
