If you are hoping to write a fantasy novel, you might be wondering where to start. You might even be wondering what a fantasy novel is. Is it dragons and heroes? It can be, and that is one of the best aspects of writing fantasy. There are endless possibilities and tons of room for creativity.
You might still be wondering how to write a fantasy novel for beginners. After all, fantasy is a broad genre with countless niches and subgenres, each offering different possibilities. The key is to find an approach that works for you. In this guide, we will explore a beginner-friendly method.
What Makes Fantasy Different from Other Genres
Genres help set expectations for readers. They also function as a frame for what writers should include in their stories. Romance focuses on love. Horror creates fear. As a writer, it would be natural to know that your romance book should not feature a scary killer without any hint of romance. This makes it easier in the plotting and writing process to determine the direction you are headed in. Furthermore, you can target the right audience for your story.
If we examine what is said above, we can identify some signs that indicate something is a fantasy. Fantasy is often referred to as a world with illogical concepts. For example, creatures that cannot exist, or people being able to practise magic.
What sets fantasy apart from other genres:
Fictional world: A fantasy story can take place in a made-up world or an alternative version of our own.
Supernatural elements: Magic or other fictional concepts exist within that world.
Mythical creatures: There are fictional creatures such as unicorns and witches.
How to Write a Fantasy Novel for Beginners (5 Steps)
Let us break down the process into practical and beginner-friendly steps.
Step One: Start with the Core Idea
Your fantasy novel begins with a central concept, a core idea that you can expand upon. It can be a statement or a question. This is your “what if?” scenario.
Ask yourself:
- What if humans could shapeshift into an animal?
- What if every child in the world went into an eternal sleep?
- What if you could get whatever you wanted by simply wishing for it?
Some advice for those who are still unsure. Start with something that can affect the world in some way. It can be global or just local. Then place your protagonist in the middle of it. Figure out what they have to do with it and how they can change it.
Step Two: Define the Conflict
Every story should not only be built on conflict, but it also has to be. Every good narrative has a conflict. Something that has interrupted your character’s world and is forcing things to change for them.
This can look like:
- A character faced with the option of choosing between good and evil.
- Someone who is fighting their destiny.
- A character rebelling against injustice.
- Taking on a quest to retrieve something powerful
Whether it is epic or humble, ensure it is valuable to your protagonist, and they cannot ignore it. Importantly, it is something your hero is afraid to lose and is willing to fight for.
Step Three: Build Your World
Worldbuilding can be intimidating. What is important when worldbuilding is taking it step by step. Do not rush yourself; you will figure out everything by the end. More importantly, start with what matters most to your story.
Focus on:
Geography: Unless your world takes place in our reality, you need to figure out the geography of your fictional world. Where does it take place? On mountains, in a forest, or in space?
Magic: What kind of magic exists there? Is it bound to objects or people? If people can use magic, is it restricted or used by all? Figure out what the rules are and what the cost is.
Culture: Regardless of whether it is based in our world or a secondary one. There will be some sort of culture. Who is populating that world? What do they believe in?
Politics and power: Who is in charge? What is acceptable in that world? Do they have a proper legal system? These things can tell us much about what kind of world it is.
If you want to dive deeper into worldbuilding, we have a guide on how to create a fictional legal system and how to create believable societies.
Step four: Create Characters with Depth
In fantasy, especially in a high fantasy setting, the spotlight is on the world and the plot. Characters can get pushed aside and fall flat. As you probably know, characters are the beating heart of the story. It is the reason readers keep coming back. It is worthwhile to spend time developing characters.
Create characters readers can resonate with:
- Give them flaws and strengths.
- Make them desire and fear something.
- Let them fail and grow.
You can read this guide to character creation 101.
Step Five: Develop a Plot
You have an idea of what you want your fantasy novel to be about. The next step is to shape that idea into a fully developed plot. There are several techniques to do that; some people prefer story structure, which I highly recommend.
It gives you a clear idea of what you need to include in the story. It also helps you stay organised during the writing process. Therefore, it makes it less chaotic to write.
Common Misunderstandings About Writing Fantasy
Let us clear up a few myths about fantasy that can confuse writers:
“You can do anything in fantasy because it’s magic.”
While fantasy offers endless possibilities, the best fantasy stories are grounded in our world. Fantasy fiction should be logical to readers. Generally speaking, unless you say something is different in your novel, readers will assume it is the same as real life.
“I need to build a whole world before starting to write.”
The best advice I can give any writer is to just write. Write regardless of not having everything figured out. You can always go back and edit.
“Fantasy needs to be an 800-page book in a long series.”
There is no rule in how you decide to write your novel. If you want to write a long book as part of a larger series, do so. However, there is no requirement to do so.
Tips for Beginner Writers
Read widely in the genre: If you want to write a fantasy novel, you have probably read a few already. What is smart to do is pick some classic fantasy books, bestsellers, and your favourites, and just read. You will unconsciously pick up recurring elements and get inspiration.
Let your story grow: As you are writing, you will notice that the direction of the plot changes or that your character develops differently than you had expected. Do not restrain yourself from going off script and essentially just changing the plot. That is the fun part of creative writing.
Keep track of your story: Have a notebook or a file where you write down important details of your novel. For example, you can put maps, character profiles, or chapter outlines in there.
Have fun: Writing for many is a fun experience. You get to be creative and create something out of a small idea. You create a world readers wish to live in, characters people want to befriend. The writing itself is an adventure.
Practice, Patience, and Persistence
If you are looking to learn how to write a fantasy novel for beginners, then you have found a solid place to start. Although there is no right way to write a fantasy novel, there are simpler approaches than others. It is about understanding what fantasy is and how you can write one.
As with all things in life, writing takes practice, in a large volume. Show up whenever you can. That does not always mean every day, since life can be hectic, but it means to put some time aside and try. Use this guide; it might just be the missing piece.
