Everything You Need To Know About How To Start Writing A Fantasy Book

Writing a novel is tough. Writing a fantasy novel is even harder.

Not only do you have to nail the standard elements of writing, like creating memorable characters and interesting plotlines, but you have to build a world from scratch and populate it with people, histories and cultures.

However, the task isn’t as daunting as you may think. In this guide, we take a look at some of the best pieces of advice on how to start writing a fantasy book.

1. Build Your Fantasy World

One of the defining features of writing fantasy compared to other genres is the creation of fictional worlds.

A lot of great fantasy authors begin with their world, their setting. Award-winning author Adrian Tchaikovsky, for example, said in an interview on The Fantasy Writers’ Toolshed podcast that he always begins with the setting.

Building a fantasy world, or worldbuilding as it’s otherwise known, is also one of the most enjoyable parts of the process. It’s here you can let your creative juices flow unabated.

However, be careful not to get too bogged down. It’s easy for authors to spend too much time building worlds. So, some helpful advice is to build only what you need for the story. The rest you can fill in later.

Begin with your physical world—the mountains, oceans and rivers. Then look to the man-made side—the towns, cities, cultural landmarks and so on.

From there, you can zoom in and define things like fashion styles, tastes in food and political systems in greater detail.

Magic Systems

A popular aspect of many fantasy books is the magic system featured within. You could opt for a well-defined magic system, like in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn books, or you could opt for something vaguer, like in George RR Martin’s A Song Of Ice And Fire/Game Of Thrones series.

Understanding how magic interacts with the world is important. Magic users could be revered, for example, or they could be hunted and killed. So it helps to think about this when building your worlds.

Fantasy Creatures

Another key consideration for when it comes to writing a fantasy book is the creatures, monsters and beasts you want to feature in it.

One of the go-to fantasy creatures is the dragon. They come in various forms, from monstrously huge beasts to shape-shifting humans. John Gwynne’s The Shadow Of The Gods is a great example of a popular contemporary dragon-based fantasy.

2. Think About Your Characters

One of the main reasons why readers stick with a story as long as a novel is because they develop an attachment to the characters.

Just think about some of the fantasy books that you’ve read and the reasons why you enjoyed them. Harry Potter, for instance, is one character that people stuck with for seven books. Game of Thrones featured a whole host of characters, and readers developed strong attachments for them.

So, when it comes to writing a fantasy book, take some time to think about your characters. Try to get to know them on a deeper level. Famous playwright Lajos Egri said that you should know not just what they want for breakfast, but why they want it.

It also helps to understand what your characters’ fears are, as well as their greatest desires. Also consider how they change as they navigate the challenges of the story.

3. Consider The Conflict And Plot

Everyone approaches writing a fantasy book in different ways. Some people start with characters, others start with plot. And there’s a strong argument for why. If nothing significant happens in the story, readers may get bored.

However, plot can be a lot easier to come up with once you understand your characters. When we consider what they want to achieve in the story, for example, Frodo Baggins destroying the One Ring, we then have a clear idea of what plot points could happen—essentially anything and everything to stop Frodo from reaching Mount Doom.

In other words, we create points of conflict, or obstacles, and place them in the paths of our characters. Their struggle to overcome them births the plot, and oftentimes their responses and reactions to those obstacles can contribute to their development as individuals.

4. Develop A Solid Writing Process

While starting the task of writing a fantasy book is important, the real knack to finishing the project is to stick with it. To help you achieve that, it can help to develop your own writing process.

Everyone writes in their own ways and styles. Some people need complete silence. Others like to write in bustling coffee shops. Understanding what works best for you is vital in helping you complete your project.

In Summary

There’s no right way to start writing a fantasy book. Everyone is different and everyone has their own styles and preferences.

However, if you’re struggling to get going, the tips here offer an effective structure: begin with your setting, think about your characters and what they want to achieve, and then consider ways to stop them getting that. And developing a sound writing process can help you achieve it before you know it!

Book Review: THE FAMILIAR

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