Fantasy Writing and Editing

Perhaps the one defining element of fantasy fiction is authors’ penchant for constructing entire fictional worlds and universes, an act known as worldbuilding. However, the existence of an entirely fictional universe is not enough for a work to be categorized as belonging to the fantasy genre. What sets Game of Thrones apart from Star Wars is the presence of magic. Elements essential to fantasy include magic or magical creatures of some kind. Furthermore, medieval elements and characteristics are popular tropes of the fantasy genre.

Works of fantasy draw from history and mythological origins. From the Epic of Gilgamesh to Harry Potter, imaginations of the magical and mythological have pervaded human storytelling traditions. However, in the modern age, fantasy has evolved to encapsulate a genre defined by its strict adherence to certain conventions and its welcoming of the reimagination of certain concepts and boundaries. Works of fantasy are also often defined by the narrative nuances interwoven into the protagonists’ adventures. Critical readers can often find sociopolitical commentary on real-world situations; fantasy can often incorporate elements of satire to wittily comment on inequities and other social issues.

However, oftentimes, the first-time reader could miss these intricacies. Therefore, most writers go through a whole slew of test readers with the most important among them being their editors. Fantasy writing is often the product of not only genius world building, storytelling, and writing, but it has also often been buttressed by the work of a fantastic editor who is not only well-versed in the genre but a master in fostering excellent writing.

ELEMENTS OF FANTASY

The fantasy genre is defined by its employ of the magical and mythical. Without magic, a work cannot be considered fantasy. Furthermore, the magic system often defines and is integral to the work in question. For example, Harry Potter wouldn’t make any sense without a magic system centered around witches and wizards and literally magic. Magic is what sets Harry Potter apart from the real world and allows the world to be uniquely different from others. The Lord of the Rings is defined by its integration of many mythical beings and concepts: orcs, ghosts, elves, wizards, and giant flaming eyes.

Percy Jackson reimagines Greek mythology by finding ways to integrate the Greek gods’ existence into the modern-day world. As such, magic is indispensable to a work of fantasy.

The second most important element of fantasy is worldbuilding. Worldbuilding is the act of building entire alternative realities/mythological alternative dimensions. These worlds can include their own physical laws and realities, systems of governments, social constructs, history, geography and ecology, invented languages, etc. The more thorough the construction of this world (i.e., the more detailed and well constructed these worlds are), the more believable these worlds are. When reading a work of fantasy, a reader should feel as though he/she/they are being transported into an alternative reality.

What sets fantasy apart from other genres is its ability to make readers think “that’s so cool I would love to live in this world” (thus inspiring the modern-day culture of cosplay) and to force readers to imagine themselves in these worlds. Often, readers will find maps in books and visual aids that help the readers visualize the world they are reading about. These are all elements that assist readers visualize the world that has been built by authors and are all elements that authors and editors would have thought about to make the “reality” of these worlds impenetrable.

BUILDING YOUR WORLD

Apart from the abovementioned essential elements of fantasy, here I list some elements essential to the creation of a powerful work of a fantasy narrative fiction. These tips can be applied to broader novel writing in general, but I have catered them to fantasy writing specifically.

First, to tackle the act of worldbuilding; if you are reading this article, chances are, you have already imagined parts of the world you intend to create. Fantasy writers are inherently creative and imaginative; they are often lost in their own thoughts and imagination, dreaming up of reinventive ways to tell stories that have already been told in ways that are new and unseen. Perhaps you are inspired by your favorite manga or anime, having played Dungeons & Dragons, or simply want to dabble at rewriting the last season of Game of Thrones because you are done with your quarantine Netflix binges.

To build a world that feels undeniably real, try the following editorial tools as a checklist to strengthen not just your writing skills but to help you find holes in your imagination.

Try writing short stories to begin. The complexities that tie dragons and ice zombies together in the Game of Thrones universe are strategic, and most of all, extremely complex. Rather than beginning with your worldbuilding task by immediately imagining all elements you’d like to include and the central storyline you wish to follow, consider writing short stories about side characters or essential characters to build up your world and how your world can be realistically integrated and woven into the plot.

You might have heard that lots of practice makes good writing; this is a simple and effective you can practice your worldbuilding strategies. Use short stories to build a road map of essential elements you wish to connect together.

Develop your setting and plot. Now that you’ve written your short stories and you have an idea of how your world is interconnected, think about further developing this world. The success of The Lord of the Rings comes from overimagination: develop your world beyond what you need for the central story. Imagine the map of the nations quarreling/fighting, imagine how this map is tied in with the essential storyline, and think about using all five senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch.

Use overly descriptive language to inform readers of the setting’s visual elements; is the sun always orange? Is the sky pink? How does magic affect these elements? How do the animals and creatures in this environment sound? Does the wind move through the trees differently? Do pools of lava mimic the sounds of running water? Think about your characters and their lived existence; another element of The Lord of the Rings that succeeds is that Tolkien even imagined the way bread might taste.

What do the characters and creatures in this environment eat? What are their favorite drinks? Are there festival/celebratory foods? Human memory is also extremely linked to senses of smell; can you make your world more realistic by describing the smell of rotting corpses on the battlefield? The musty scent of swamps? The flowers on the side of the road? Lastly, one important element that helps people imagine a world is realistic descriptions of touch. How would dragons feel underneath the palm of your hands?

Does elevation lower the temperature in this world as well? Would flying on a dragon through an ice storm make your cheeks sting? Would your fingers begin to feel numb from gripping onto the reins of a horse? The more you can overimagine the elements of your world, the more realistic it becomes.

Now that your setting and world have been created, think about your cast of characters and how setting ties into the larger plot at hand. No matter how fantastic the world you have created, an essential element of any work of fiction is the main conflict. You must carefully consider who the main character is and why they should be the main character. Main characters do not have to be your most interesting character or your most likeable. Instead, they should be the protagonist because they are the one best equipped to drive the story forward and the best equipped to be a character foil for other characters.

All characters should be connected to the main character in some way. Furthermore, the character should be faced by a conflict that is difficult to solve and worthy of an entire novel. Think about the complexities of the conflict; a reader shouldn’t be able to argue that certain twists and turns are unjustified. The pacing must be appropriate in building up tension and anxiety for the end. While building up the conflict, readers should not be able to see an immediate resolution while having enough information to imagine their ideal resolution.

Now that you have a well-thought-out universe, a thought-provoking premise/conflict, and a host of supporting characters as well as a main protagonist, think about elevating your work and integrating commentary on real-world issues. While works of fantasy can simply be an escapist narrative that delivers to your reader a break from reality, the best works of fiction are those that make readers think. If your work can occupy a reader’s thoughts even when they do not have the book in hand, your work has likely succeeded as a work of thought-provoking fiction.

Think about how your work comments on your gender politics, social issues, environment, or race. Is there are definite hierarchy in the way different creatures are treated? Is there a deep-rooted misogyny in the culture that is meant to be addressed in a significant way? Is there an undead creature meant to be a symbol of impending environmental destruction? Make sure that these elements are appropriately tied into the main conflict, that they make sense as seemingly insurmountable issues, and that they contribute to the plot in an essential way.

A WRITER’S MOST FANTASTIC RESOURCE

Now that you have completed this checklist, what more can you do to make sure your book not only gets published but flies off the shelves? There is one simple answer: send it to an editor. There is no better way to ensure that your book has an audience and that it has all the essential elements than to get it vetted by an editor. Editors are the bridge between readers and writers; editors make sure that your work meets market demands while narrowing your audience for you.

Would your book work as a work of general fiction? Is it more suitable for the young adult crowd or would its themes be better understood by a mature reader? Are you sure your book meets all the conventions of the genre? Depending on the stage in which you engage an editor in your writing and editing process, you can get invaluable and necessary developmental, stylistic, and proofreading advice. Editors help you

Make sure your work is polished grammatically and syntactically

Find all plot holes

Find elements inappropriate for the genre

Find elements missing from the genre

Write well-rounded characters that undergo essential development

Highlight unique and unseen elements that will set your work apart from all others

Find clichés, redundancies, and awkward ideas that are underdeveloped

Ensure your work is significant and will find a place in today’s sociopolitical climate

I am confident that you have written a fantastic work that is unparalleled but running it by an editor is essential (especially if you intend to self-publish). Publishing houses have endless resources regarding reader statistics, SEO optimization, marketing money and strategies, sales forces, and other ways to get a book into readers’ hands. Their most valuable asset, however, is the editor, the individuals seasoned by their extensive repertoire of experience, knowledge, and expertise. To compete against publishing giants who dominate the industry and against canonical works, ensuring that your work is of the highest quality is essential.

Furthermore, a trial readership is also extremely important. You can find an easy avenue to both via an editor or editing service.