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I don't talk much about actual writing on this here "writing" blog, and I decided it was time to change that. Over the next weeks, some friends and I are going to give you tips for writing different genres. We've got sci-fi, steampunk, mystery and more coming up, but this week I'm kicking it off with none other than my favorite genre ever, fantasy.
So, what are some ways you can improve your fantasy writing?
Setting
Okay, so this is a fantasy, right? Which means it's make-believe, right? Fake. Not real.
So why is most fantasy based on medieval England? Seriously, people. The awesome thing about fantasy is that you can literally do whatever you want(within reason, of course). Combine real-life cultures. Tweak an existing fantasy world. Make one up from scratch! You, my dear fellow author, are the creator of this world. You've got infinite possibilities, so make good use of the opportunity.
(Let me just say one thing, though. A generic European-based fantasy world can totally work; we've just seen a lot of it. With a creative plot, unique culture, or interesting characters, you can pull it off.)
Research
"But Krissy!" you say. "This is a fantasy! I don't need to research. That's for historical fiction writers!"
Wrong. Wrong wrong wrong.
Research is actually really important. From sword-fighting and battle strategies, to politics, court life, and hunting and farming techniques, there's a lot of basic info that will make your writing better and more realistic. You don't need to be an expert, but your characters shouldn't do ridiculous or impossible things, just because you didn't feel like doing a Google search.
Also, if you're including mental illnesses or different sexualities in your story, please please please do your research. This applies to all genres, not just fantasy. Romanticizing or inaccurately portraying these things is both insensitive and harmful. Do your research, guys.
The "Brick" Epidemic
(no I didn't just make that term up for this blog post what are you talking about)
If you ask someone to list some famous fantasy writers, chances are J. R. R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson, and J. K. Rowling will show up on there. And what are something all three(and many other fantasy writers) have in common?
The biggest, thickest bricks books known to mankind.
I don't know about anyone else, but I definitely feel some pressure to write books like that. Not only are they very long books with very long chapters, but they also have a very distinct writing style. You know what I'm talking about, right? It's almost thick, very flowery and descriptive.
Your writing does not have to sound like that.
When I was first writing Children of the Nameless, I felt so much pressure to write chapters of equal length, full of generic fantasy prose. And as a result, my writing sucked. It was so uncomfortable and awkward. My writing flowed much better when I wrote how I wanted, not how I felt I should.
If writing like that comes easily to you, write like that. If not, write however is easiest for you. Don't force yourself to write like Tolkien if you aren't Tolkien.
Your writing does not have to sound like that.
When I was first writing Children of the Nameless, I felt so much pressure to write chapters of equal length, full of generic fantasy prose. And as a result, my writing sucked. It was so uncomfortable and awkward. My writing flowed much better when I wrote how I wanted, not how I felt I should.
If writing like that comes easily to you, write like that. If not, write however is easiest for you. Don't force yourself to write like Tolkien if you aren't Tolkien.
Worldbuilding
This part is so, so important. Worldbuilding is one of my favorite things about fantasy. A world rich in detail does wonders for a story. My advice?
Almost overdo it.
Note the "almost". That's very important. We writers can get caught in the surprisingly-sticky web of worldbuilding, creating a detailed backstory for the king who lives two countries over because "it's writing!" My friend Lily wrote an excellent blog post about the dangers of this.
When creating a fictional world, figure out all the necessary information, and then a little more. I love when authors slip in extra details; it makes their story come alive. Something as little as mentioning that your character "looked up at the moons" reminds the reader that something is different, in a very good way.
Some important details you might want to include are climate(weather, mountains, seasons, foliage), religion(most/least common, god(s), worship technics), culture(common phrases, "swear" words, acceptable/unacceptable behavior), and politics(local and central government, law enforcement, war strategies).
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| I felt the need to include this. |
Pronounceable Names
There's actually a really easy cure to this one. Write the names of different characters/countries on a piece of paper, hand it to a random stranger, and ask them to read it.
Just kidding.
A better bet might be asking a friend, family member, or fellow author. You know how the name is supposed to sound in your head, so the spelling makes sense. Others, however, might be really confused. Also, a friend's pronunciation might sound better than yours and prompt you to officially change the pronunciation of a character's name. True story.
But remember, starting out right is easier than fixing a mistake. So, when you're creating character names, make sure that they're readable and don't sound too much like the name of a different character/place.
Cliches
"To cliche or not to cliche" is the question every writer asks. Cliches are time-tested, but that's exactly the problem. We've seen too much of them, and it can get really annoying. The best way I've found to combat this is to twist the cliche.
The main character is the Chosen One? Maybe he finds out he really isn't, halfway through the story. Or maybe the Chosen One is the sibling/best friend/love interest/niece of the main character.
The old bearded mentor character dies? Maybe that's not such a bad thing after all, because he was secretly working for the enemy.
The princess character kicks some major bad guy butt? Give her a secret(or not so secret) love for shoes, frilly dresses, or boys with curly hair.
While this isn't the only way to keep a story from being dreadfully cliche, it is a fun one.
So there you have it. While is is by no means a comprehensive list, it'll definitely liven up that awesome fantasy novel you're writing.
And, since I'm fond of lists and have lots of great friends, here are some resources to help you even more.
- A very factual post about how to write a successful fantasy
- A discussion on strong female characters
- Tips to improve your novel's Big Bad Guy
- (and how to write a good prequel about him)
- A post about mapmaking
- How to create your world's history
- A post about storyworld, with links to a bunch more posts about how to create a storyworld
- How to have a strong cast of characters
- Tips for writing archery
- Writing about forests
- Types of government
I hoped this has helped some of you! Be sure to check in next Tuesday; I've got an awesome guest poster for you.
