How to Write Fantasy Like a Pro

I’m honored to be on Kori Miller Writes for a guest post, How to Write Fantasy Like a Pro. Read the excerpt below and check out the full post on Kori Miller Writes.

Tips on World-Building by Farah Oomerbhoy

Fantasy is not a creation of the modern world. In fact the roots of fantasy go back thousands of years to an age of myths and legends, when wandering storytellers sat by a fire and recounted fantastic tales of wondrous worlds, populated by gods, heroes and monsters. Starting from the ancient epic of Gilgamesh and the tales of King Arthur to the fairy tales of the Brothers Grimm and J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan; fantasy is the longest surviving genre in the world of stories.

One of the most important aspects of writing fantasy is the creation of your world. It could be a vast land with many kingdoms like The Lord of the Rings or a world that is hidden and exists within our very own, like the wizarding world of Harry Potter. Enid Blyton wrote about worlds at the top of the Faraway tree, magical lands that could only be reached by climbing a ladder into the clouds. And C.S. Lewis’ Narnia is a childhood classic.

In order to write a fantasy novel, it is important to first have a complete idea of what your world is going to be like. There are five basic steps that can be used to build a believable and consistent world. Although your fantasy world is a creation of the mind, and can be anything that you desire it to be, there are certain rules that we must follow to make sure your world makes sense. Otherwise when you start writing your book, inconsistencies in the details of your world can lead to greater problems later on.

1. First we look at the type and setting of your world. You have to decide what kind of world you want your characters to live in. Is it a pseudo-medieval sort of world, a dystopia, or an alternate history? It could also be a modern fantasy set in our world and in the present time.

The most popular fantasy setting is usually a pseudo-medieval world, where there is a lack of technology. Riding horses, fighting with swords and encountering magic has an adventurous appeal that readers enjoy.

Medieval settings should be properly researched. But it is not necessary for the society to be based on a European medieval society. It could be Norse, Celtic, Asian or even Indian, what matters is it is well constructed and suspends belief.

Full Post on Kori Miller Writes.