Can someone tell me some tips for writing a fantasy story?

Question

I am trying to write a long fantasy story and it would be helpful to receive some tips or maybe even plot ideas because i am kind of stuck.... The story is sort of like the book Eragon....the story itself isnt but the setting is; it has dragons, elves, dwarves, magic, and swords. Thanks!

Answer 1

Worldbuilding is key to a long fantasy story. Even though it may take quite awhile, it's worth it. Sometimes in the course of worldbuilding, you'll come up with things that give you ideas for the actual story. As I was writing the history of one country, suddenly I realized something could be a good sideplot for one of the characters.

It's good to vary your governments and cultures. Not every country in the world should be an absolute monarchy, and if you say two peoples are different, then really show it. Develop different worldviews for different cultures, and conflict will make more sense. Also, it might be good to look up some basic rules of climate and geography. Don't randomly put a desert next to a rainforest or anything - stuff like that. Think about how enviornments might affect your people and their beliefs. Harsh lands and lifestyles generally lead to harsh worldviews - that sort of thing.

Be careful with magic. Make set rules about it, that no one, even the hero, can break. Otherwise it's too tempting to go all "OMG PWNAGE MAGIX" on your readers with your main hero. Make magic users gifted, or innovative in the way they use normal magic, but not completely overpowered compared to everyone else. They could loose their human weaknesses if you don't, and you'll have to pull a lot of crap out of nowhere to limit them again (Robert Jordan *cough*)

About the elves, dwarves, dragons, etc... there's nothing wrong with the Tolkien-esque races if you don't adhere to strict stereotypes, but maybe you should try to be more original. Make your own fantasy race, something completely different from the usual mountain-dweller-treasure-loving dwarves and dignified-mysterious-beautiful elves. Break the mold and have fun with it! Look up some other mythical creatures in our world and base it off of them - there's more mythology out there than Nordic mythology.

Swords are cool. But remember the other weapons. The hero doesn't always need a sword, and in our own world back in the day, swords were only for the very wealthy unless there's a massively organized government issuing them (i.e. Rome). Regular soldiers made it along just fine with spears, axes, etc., and peasants had their staffs.

As for how many perspectives... I can't say. I've read books that have, erm, about 8 plus, and I never got lost due to fantastic characterization. But I'd say four is a good maximum number generally.

And finally, characters are key. Make them human, and keep them that way if you have to beat them with a sledgehammer. Let them make mistakes that any of us would make in the heat of the moment. Give them real flaws that actually affect what they do. Try to get inside of their heads and make the feeling you get from doing that unique to each character. Ask yourself, would they really make such a decision, based on their lives and ideas?

Good luck, and happy writing!

Answer 2

Uh... well I'm writing a fantasy and everyone says mine is turning out okay so far... but here's what I think a good fantasy story should have -- Plot: Everything is explained in the end. No cliff-hangers at the last book in the series. That just bugs me with fantasy. I think the magic should be explained. Like... how is magic possible? You should have a reason for it, other than, "Oh, it's just there because I want it to be," I think the magic should be used wisely. Like... you don't have a never-ending supply. And make sure that your particular race of creatures (if any) aren't better looking or acting than all the others for no apparent reason. And if they are, you'd better have a good reason. Something Twilight didn't explain at all, which really ticked me off. Don't go too overboard on details. Fantasies are very creative and, in order for the reader to get a clear picture, you're probably going to be like, "Oh well I should go in-depth on this...." and then you end up writing a page and a half about a polkadotted mushroom that the main character sees. I did that once, believe it or not. Characters -- The main character should have equal strength with his friends. There's no real excuse for that. Unless you, for some reason, NEED to have the hero stronger. The villian should have a REASON for being evil. Not just saying, "I'm only evil because the protagonist is here, and I don't like him so I'm going to blow up three galaxies just because..." NO. And it'd better be a GOOD reason too. Like... Voldemort never hhad a real good reason, unless you count the fact that he had a crappy child hood The other characters should cause conflict. Like... the friends should fight or hook up and break up, get mad, you know... don't make them all nice and happy, or all sad and mopey toward each other all the time.

Answer 3

First, remember that while the setting may be fantasy, the conflict and characters always reflect real issues.

The essence of a story is always the conflict between forces, it could be a love triangle, it could be an issue of revenge or over-coming evil (good vs. evil). One question you might want to ask yourself is, 'what is the greatest personal conflict I face today?' By writing about what you know about, it will be easier.

Next, keep it simple. Don't go crazy with eight dozen characters. Use three principle characters, in some sort of relationship triangle, and the add on some others, just who need to fill in the story. Have a very specific setting: That is, a time and place. Remember, all a fantasy story is, ultimately, is a story from today that is put into some time in the future, or in the distant past, of that includes characters or animals that do not exist. There are powers, but don't let the secret powers resolve all the issues. Ultimately, there has to be at least one internal conflict, where the character struggles with them self.

Answer 4

1. Buy the top 100 books in the genre in which you wish to write.
2. Read them, noting every thing about them (I cannot begin to list "everything" you should notice.)
3. Plot out your story in minute detail. You have to be your characters' benevolent Creator, knowing every hair on their head and motivation in their heart.
4. Write.
5. Place your characters in a vice of some sort. See who pops.
6. Print off your first draft, delete it from your computer, put it in a drawer, out of reach.
7. Scratch out everything from your plot detail that was poor. Do not add to it unless you have a major error in the story (in which case you may as well start back at #1.)
8. Start over with your story.
9. Revise.
10. Throw your words against the wall. Whatever sticks is worth eating. The rest goes back in the pot.
11. Repeat #9 & #10 until someone publishes it.

I am not kidding, even a little. If you cannot do those things, whatever you write will be mediocre (if you have phenomenal writing talent.)

Answer 5

Continuity is the key!
Fantasize about your hero and live the part in your mind. As a fantasy it can't be wrong as you are the creator. But make it so it has some semblance of believability. In other words, draw your reader into the world you are writing about and with smooth flowing of one scene to another, it should read as a normal change of events without seeming "jumpy."
On a long story, I found that keeping "notes" attached to the manuscript, (Mirosoft WORD and others also have that capability) was a great helper to check back, over and over again, to rearrange the flow of the story.

Answer 6

In addition to all the above, find out when and where a nearby science fiction/fantasy convention will be--NOT a purely "media" (Star Trek, Lost, whatever) con. I've no idea where you are, but yes, there's at LEAST one within driving distance sometime in the next year. Make sure there is at least one writer as a Guest of Honor and that there will be panels on how to write. Then sign up as soon as possible (it's always cheaper when you get your "membership" early) and attend!
If you don't care about distance (and waiting a year), or if Salt Lake happens to be close, check out http://conduit.sfcon.org/ . We'll have our 18th annual con in May 2008.

Answer 7

Make the setting of your story seem like a real place. With all it's own language, cultures, traditions. I write a little myself and what has always helped me was writing out the characters past like a biography. I give them childhood names, good and bad memories, favorite colors and foods, even an astrological sign with their birthday. A lot of the information doesn't even make it into the book but when I know my characters well it reflects on paper and the characters have a history. Try it.

Answer 8

Have a great imagination