forum Advice?

Started June 03, 2018 by @Paperok

tune

I want to write a fantasy novel, advice?

I wrote a full length, nearly 200,000 word fantasy novel. It took me three years and I did just about everything wrong. So, here's what NOT to do when writing a fantasy!

1. Do not go in blind. Create a plot, create a world, create your characters. Don't just have a vague idea and start writing. Fantasy books are BIG, and I don't mean lots of pages. For a lot of fantasies, you're making an entire world from scratch. Ground your world. Don't leave it ambiguous. Where is it? Does our world exist in this world? Is it hidden, or in another dimension? Or does our world not exist at all? What type of technology do they have? What races live there? These are just a very few of the questions you need to answer BEFORE you start. Not after. Not during. Before.

2. Make your main character important, but don't make the entire world revolve around your MC. So, no prophecies about your character being the chosen one (unless you have a really fresh twist on the concept), no ancient artifacts that choose your character to wield it, no oddly devoted subjects. Your character should be the focus of the story, but not of the world. If that makes sense.

3. Don't go off on random tangents! Side plots are good. They make the story more interesting, especially when they are tied back in with the rest of the plot. But, if they are extraneous, boring, annoying, or just plain nonsensical, cut them out! Scenes that don't contribute to the main plot line or character development are completely useless. Don't keep them in because you like the way they sound or the way they flow. They will bog you down in the long run.

4. Don't love your side characters too much. That sounds counter-intuitive, but it's true of any genre, including fantasy. I've noticed, at least for me, that if you adore your side characters too much, you tend to abuse them. You also tend to ignore your main character. If your side characters are over-developed, angsty messes, then you know you've focused on them too much. Side characters need to have fully fleshed out personalities and backstories, but they shouldn't overshadow your main character.

5. Don't procrastinate. Just don't. It makes things way harder. I started writing my fantasy when I was 13, and finished when I was 16. As you can imagine, I was a very different person by the time I turned 16. The writing style had changed entirely, the story had taken a bunch of odd twists, and nothing made chronological sense. I was proud of it! But I knew it sucked, and the inconsistency just made it worse. Write like you're running out of time! (Hence my user.) If you get writer's block, write small scenes/backstory, or draw your characters, or just write scenes in your head! It's not a race, and you don't have to finish in a month or anything. But the less you procrastinate, the better.

That's all the tips I have for now! Besides the obvious read in your genre, that is. Good luck! I love fantasy. :D

I would first suggest, reading about writing because that has helped me a lot. Another thought is to read a lot in your genre as well as in topics you are interested about using in your fantasy. Such as if you are interested in making a blacksmith as a main character, it would probably be good for you to read about metal smithing / jewelry smithing trades, watch documentaries, and so on. I would also suggest non-fiction reads the most over fantasy because and I feel a lot of people miss this, they use the internet way too much to do research and its way too hard to find applicable or valid references out there. We live in an era where everyone wants to be a blogger and an expert overnight and I can't tell you how many blogs I've read on certain subject that have turned out to be complete lies or have terrible information out of ignorance. I f888ed up on my knitting learning curve because someone said a pattern I was learning was a seed stitch when it was not and was really learning a rib stitch. If you read blogs or sites make sure to avoid people who quote a lot to "prove points" point without actually getting to the point or proving the point and make sure if they do quote it is a valid reason to quote such as proper citation "here is a link to where I got the information check out the site for further info on this topic/sub-topic." People can claim to be experts all they want but I have noticed the ones that tend to be the real experts let their experience speak for them and don't go around being dilettantes or patting themselves on the backs. For example: Person A Will probably talk a little about themselves, what they like- hobbies etc, and talk about their blog what its about and what they hope to achieve with it. They will probably site a few of their credentials so you can actually fact check them and look them up or even have a separate section all together with their credentials (resume). Person B Comes off as a narcissists and does all of the above but in a completely different tone. They will come of as condescending and even have a page about them that says what their credentials are but they don't provide proof to back it. Someone who usually says something like I've been studying this for 10-15 years or thinking about this topic a lot (and not actually applying it) won't really necessarily guarantee them as an expert. Essentially holding their persons up to the status of a PhD without being one.
I would much rather read a person who isn't a complete expert, who is willing to fix bad information and admit mistakes when they are wrong, and be someone that says I don't know but I know someone who does know. They will be trustworthy.
There are a lot of good advice articles out here on the internet but I have had to read a lot. I don't know if I had to guess with as much as I am reading online over the last two years at least a 1000 articles on the subject of writing and its sub-topics. That aside here is the danger that I had to learn the hard way. You will find great advice, advice that sounds great but really isn't after further digging, bad advice, what sounds like bad advice but it really good at its core and just presented poorly, and even contradictory advice. This all broke down for me, that there is not real right or wrong way to write a story, there is however a real right or wrong way to write in the grammar, structure, and style/tone way. You will develop that on your own however with practice.

Thanks for the advice guys. LadySeshiiria your advice seems to address all writing in general but that does not reduce its value :)

As long as you do these things you'll be fine:
1) DO NOT GO IN BLIND! World build until your eyeballs bleed.
2) Pick a date in history (1300's, 1400's, etc.) that has similar advances in technology and culture as your story to use as a reference point
3) Make friends with the history section of your library
4) There's other weapons besides swords and longbows
5) Don't forget about religion, superstitions, and holidays
6) Find other occupations for your characters besides farmer, soldier, noble, or blacksmith

Thanks for the advice guys. LadySeshiiria your advice seems to address all writing in general but that does not reduce its value :)

Yeah its just stuff I've picked up over that last couple years. I had some bad experiences. A lot of advice like this can still be applied not only generically but even genre wise. Like I was saying with research and creditable people: I've been doing a lot of research for my fantasy which is actually more so turning scifi-fantasy. I have to look into particles and stuff for mine since I'm using both magic and science. I'm actually mixing them and having them as separate as well in story. Hard to explain.
Its good to write in all types because it can help you refine your voice and style. Like as I've been working on my big project I've been keeping a journal and writing articles for a writing group on DA. Mostly to share links, but I throw in a tidbit here and there, and have been forcing myself to not short cut my writing even in the forums. I've been slowly eliminating bad habits by carrying over good habits everywhere. That means no short hand in texting either.