| Over the years of my own fantasy novel writing, | | | | their own fantasy novel, but didn't have the time |
| I've come across a few ideas that have helped | | | | to read, I would be a lot wealthier. Excellent |
| me in my writing. I've tweaked those ideas which | | | | fantasy novel writing starts with reading the |
| have helped me to become a published author. I'm | | | | classics. Read Tolkien, Robert Jordan, The Dragon |
| going to show you a few points that will help you | | | | Lance books. This is just a few examples, but the |
| with your fantasy novel writing as well. | | | | point is that if you know the development of the |
| 1. World Building- This is a big one. Many people do | | | | fantasy genre you are less likely to have cliched |
| not take the time to work on their world building. | | | | fantasy novel writing. Then go out and read some |
| This is a crucial step to fantasy novel writing as | | | | more. In fact, read everything you can get your |
| the verisimilitude of the characters and the history | | | | hands on. Good writing stems for voracious |
| of your world need to be there. Even if much of | | | | reading. |
| the history of certain places or people never | | | | 4. Names- Every now and then, I will come |
| actually make it into the writing, you will know | | | | across a fantasy novel that has names that I |
| why people are acting and behaving in a certain | | | | couldn't pronounce let alone spell. This is a problem |
| fashion. You have the history to back up what | | | | for the reading and pulls them out of the story to |
| they do. This will come through in the quality of | | | | deal with the odd name given. You don't want this. |
| the writing and can also lead to more plot points | | | | When devising names try to think of something |
| throughout the fantasy novel. | | | | that sounds related to the person. Use names |
| 2. Magic System- I've seen many writers who are | | | | that are almost real names but with a fantasy |
| voracious readers of other fantasy novels, but | | | | twist. This way you will have names that sound |
| when they start to do their own fantasy novel | | | | like they should be there, but aren't distracting to |
| writing, they ignore this step. The magic system | | | | the reader. |
| of your world needs to be almost as detailed as | | | | 5. Draw Maps- One thing I've found over the |
| your setting. Limitations need to be set for those | | | | years of fantasy novel writing, is that when I'm |
| that can cast spells and then your spell casters | | | | stuck on a plot point and don't know where to go |
| have to live by the consequences of those | | | | with the story, I will draw a map. Maybe it is a |
| limitations. This helps to avoid creating super | | | | map of an inn, or a city. Possibly it is a dungeon |
| powerful wizards who achieve the same goals | | | | or a piece of the larger world map. Whatever I |
| your main characters are trying to achieve | | | | draw, it often helps ideas burble up to the surface |
| without having to do the work. | | | | when I feel stuck. For those who suffer from |
| 3. Read- If I had a nickel for every time someone | | | | writer's block, this is a great trick to get past it. |
| told me that they are in the process of writing | | | | |