Fantasy Tips

I am a writer. My blood is made of ink, my heart is fabricated with inspiration alone and my mind has wrinkles and divots of old parchment paper. My skin is radiant with mythological facts and histories. My eyes will swallow you like the depths of the ocean and my soul whispers the lines of old gods.

I didn't become this. This is what I was born as. From within the womb, I'm sure, this has become me.

Should this resonate with you -- I hope this little guide I have composed may help you better than the guides I have seen. Vague answers like; "Write a draft", "Pray its good", "Don't forget grammar!", and our favorite: "Submit! What are you waiting for?"

So, you want to write fantasy? Fiction? You want a world that will rival the best writers out there? Stop limiting your imagination, erase all doubts in your mind for a moment and let your story bleed from your heart like a gushing wound with no bandage or pressure. Should you refuse to limit it, but rather guide it, I promise it will all flow together - lets begin.

Characters

Now, of course, you know of characters. Some people believe that starting with a map is best for a story. Others believe starting with the worlds rough draft is... But I start with my characters and notes! Write all of it down. It can look however you want but for me, this is how my actual thought process moves.

What species is my character?

What feels like the right answer? I can see her...

Her?

A Dragonoid. Yes! Her scales... they're like obsidian shards. All black with imperfect shading of white.

Her eyes?

Her eyes, I cant think of their color yet. I know they're empty but full at the same time. It feels as though, if you were not careful, your soul could fall endlessly in those eyes - falling through nothing at all. But they hold so much... Perhaps she had a hard life? No... but she is wiser. I mean, far more wise than her age shows.

Age? Yes, what is her age?

Her age is not what matters, yet. An adult, I feel, but a specific number, I cant say. For now, though, Age is the correct question! More specifically, time. How does time move in this world our little Dragonoid exists? Are there seasons? Are there even clocks? Why would time matter? Is farming necessary or does she eat in some other way? Energy perhaps?

This is a fantastic way to kick start even a novel. Because now you have a character and you see how even as I describe her appearance alone -I am able to touch on simple things? Simple but huge! Like; time, her past, are there seasons? Trauma's? Is there even farms? What's the Agriculture? Etc... Its important! SO IMPORTANT! To talk to yourself as a writer vs reader perspective. You will find so much more growth and development this way than you could any other way. Having that dialogue with yourself will always lead the right direction. This leads me into: Dialogue!

Dialogue

A lot of people struggle with this so much and it is so simple but only because I use the trick above. So if you use the dialogue trick it will feel and look like as shown earlier:

What type of ground is there?

Its a ground made of lava. It has some molten rock that's easier to cross on - Sort of functions like natural roads and pathways.

However, it would be in character and in the scenario. I'll give another example.

Her pointed ears flexed as she heard the lava churn and boil. Every pop of the lava made her scales tingle in a fit of nervousness as she carefully glanced up at the guide. (Try to consistantly describe how your character is feeling what they are seeing, hearing, etc... We will get into that more later but its important to do lightly now. It gives you a feel for the personality you are shaping here.)

"Is there... any other place I could walk? I..." She nervously gulped and darted her gaze around once more, trying to answer her own question before the guide did. "I don't want to- You know..."

"Die?" The guide snorted, a fume of smoke releasing from her snout. "I don't imagine anyone does. Though, if it wasn't life threatening, it wouldn't be called Death's Gulch."

"So I... I just uh..." It was getting hard for her to breath. She could feel a panic attack coming on. This wouldn't be an issue if she could just fly! But she was born without wings. It was a deformity and a rather common one at that. She closed her eyes, and could suddenly hear the voices of her family in her head. "Some of us just were not meant to fly." She was told. "At least its common. Couldn't imagine if you were a freak." "I heard there were artificial wings coming out! Maybe you could try one of those!" "Artificial? I suppose there would be no risk for her unless they malfunctioned. Then she would probably plummet to her Death."

"Uh... I.... Artificial... Death..." The thoughts were so overwhelming she could see her own vision blur while the heat made it harder and harder to breath. Suddenly, everything went black.

That is something that will make-up and be apart of the rough draft. Now a rough draft goes through so many changes its like a caterpillar to a butterfly. Its so complicated and simple and boy does it have its stages!

Drafting

I think the idea that a rough draft is one solid presentation of a book or an excerpt or whatever, is the biggest misconception that literally kills a writing career before it even begins. Because a lot of the time, the writer becomes so obsessed with making the Draft perfect instead of using the draft to make the perfect book. Lets get into it.

A draft is already a lie. Let me further explain.

Its not ✨ One ✨ Draft. Okay? Not "A Draft."

Especially not for a book. You should easily have 3 or 4 separate drafts. If you're like me, you have 3 or 4 frequently used drafts, with another 3 or 4 docs for notes on plants, environment, Stars, Time, people, history, "Easter Eggs", surprises, plot twists, names I love and still need to use, foods, etc... AND a separate doc with the "final product" where I compile it all.

I will not lie to you, its the most disorganized mess in my entire life and I love it and hate it all at the same time.

But that is, what writing is. I firmly believe it is different for everyone. However, I could go on and on about fantasy writing tips. Like details, structure, Maps, how to keep with trends, keeping a realistic aspect so things are easily or scientifically explainable in your unique world, etc... Those are all examples of tips I would be happy to continue publishing here!

So if you like my tips, please drop a comment, ask for a subject or ask a question and I'll see if it fits a subject! Give me a follow and I will be happy to keep sharing more tips in the future!

I hope this helps!

Much love and may your ink last!