Does writing a fantasy novel interest you? Writing one about aliens as the main theme could have crossed your mind at some point. Having to write a book with fantasy ideas is not an easy task and can make your imagination go beyond any boundaries. Don’t worry! Some starry fantasy writing tips in this article will be helpful. An award-winning one will be the icing on the cake.

Fantasy ideas in a novel can transfer book lovers to an assortment of fictitious aspects with a realistic depiction. Authors with fantasy ideas are harbingers of creativity. In some form, they can pour out fantasy ideas and let out steam. It helps both ways. The author would love to receive fabulous reviews. There is bound to be a steady cash flow. The reviews will boost sales of the novel and make it a best seller. A fantasy novel is a representation of creativity with no limits. A good creative writing course is beneficial to any new writer of a fantasy novel.

What are Fantasy Ideas?

Fairies, wishing chairs, wishing wells, and aliens are some examples of fantasy ideas. Remote countrysides surrounded by dragons, an urban setup with superhuman beings arriving in time to avert a disaster, stalling the life of a human being for 500 years, fight for supremacy and characters who are good and evil are other examples of fantasy ideas. Authors have several ideas, but it helps to have a more structured piece to be in the race for an award-winning novel with fantasy ideas that can create a real impact on its readers.

Fantasy writing tips are useful for new authors to develop creative writing skills at the start of their careers in this genre. When there is no pressure, the flow of fantasy ideas is smooth and makes for pleasant reading. The following fantasy writing tips are ones that can be a stepping stone to writing an award-winning novel complete with fantasy ideas.  

8 Tips for Writing an Award-Winning Fantasy Novel

1. Be a Voracious Reader

If you want to write, you must read. Most writers already have vast knowledge and can write effortlessly with a seamless flow of ideas. The main reason is because of their immense love for reading. It is the structure to weave their fantasy ideas into the script that they need to master. A prospective writer can imbibe fantasy writing tips by spending time intensely reading fantasy novels. Researching books that have the fantasy genre helps you know the author’s stance. It is interesting to study the author’s standpoint and navigate the plot and other overwhelming characteristics of a novel with fantasy ideas. Writing is a craft, and the best way to emerge successfully as a writer is to steer through books thoroughly. Reading opens a path to new ideas. You will be able to hit upon your areas of interest.

If you like books like the series of Hunger Games and Maze Runner, then your writing preference is that of depicting a society that has unimaginable suffering. The Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings are novels that follow traditional fantasy ideas.

Researching and reading provide a plethora of knowledge on the subject. It helps to know why the trending authors are successful. Telling an original story comes with a tremendous amount of background knowledge. Pay attention to minute details in a good book, and you are going to improve your writing skills. Impeccable writing happens only after consistent reading. Re-reading enhances your observation of the plot, characters, dialogue, grammar, fantasy ideas, and sentence structure. The various options to read are classics, bestsellers, and those by award winners. Learning from the best will improve your writing by leaps and bounds.

2. Know Your Target Audience and Tap the Market

A good fantasy writing tip for new writers of novels with fantasy ideas is to identify your target audience. Who is your target audience? Is it children, millennials, professionals, or older readers? The target audience can stretch to any extent. Then there are the subgenres to consider.

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The various themes are:

  • Fantasy with no boundaries – Stories with extreme flights of imagination. High and low fantasy consists of fairy tales, magic, witchcraft, superhero fiction, fables that impart morals, and animal stories. Then there are Dark Fantasy stories of horror that can unnerve the reader.   
  • Steampunk – Alternative history worlds that operate with high-powered technology
  • Dystopian – This denotes a society that is in an imagined state where great suffering and injustice are prevalent.
  • Paranormal – denoting events that are beyond the scope of scientific understanding. Such phenomena connect to unknown entities or that of an invisible presence. This mystic depiction has varied expectations from the audience.

By identifying your market, you can facilitate the strategy of selling your books. A creative decision can pull off a winner. The popular genres that are invading the market today should be in your realm of awareness. Why are those genres and series of books selling so successfully? Fans tilt towards the characters, plot twists, region, state of mind, or anything unique. It should be in your power to identify what it is that makes a bestseller. Success stories inspire new writers who want to publish stories with fantasy ideas. Harry Potter became an overnight sensation, and then the author cashed in on the initial success to come out with a series of novels. The features of fantasy are immeasurable. In-depth research and gut instincts are factors that efficiently make in-roads into the market.

3. A Point of View – That’s a Must!

A novel with fantasy ideas needs to form a shape and a theme. It needs to have linkages to the general idea. One of the fantasy writing tips is to have a point of view. This way, the reading happens with a flow without any confusion. The description could be in the first or third person, one character, or many. There is no limit to fantasy ideas. It pays to be innovative. The approach could be to lead readers to discover instances in a phased way, or it could be in through a surprise element. Suspense also has readers yearning for more. 

Starting with a fresh perspective can carve a niche in readers’ minds. The presentation of the story has a massive impact on how the reader understands it. Put yourself in the place of the reader, and try to figure out the viewpoint. The attitude of the reader will vary depending on the cultural, educational, and social background. You decide how the reader is going to deal with your fantasy ideas and how it is going to unfold.

For instance, the following queries may arise:

  • Will the reader be receptive to single or multiple characters?
  • What could the reactions of the reader be if the protagonist is human, superhuman, aliens, fairy, or any other character that the author projects?  
  • Should the writing be in a narrative or a descriptive form? 
  • Is writing as a third person recommended? 
  • Does it help to leave out bits of information and make it a gripping one?

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It helps to make your choice early so that you can progress writing with more clarity. 

4. Create a Plot for Your Fantasy Novel 

At the onset of starting a novel with fantasy ideas, it is a fantastic writing tip to create a plot. A plot is essential because, in stories with a mix of fantasy ideas, the whole concept can get confusing. As the author progresses writing, the reader is bound to get confused if there are too many loopholes. It is also unknown how it will unfold in the readers and their level of understanding. It can be frustrating when you realize halfway through the novel that you have missed a few connections. As a writer, you don’t want to be the one to find glitches in the entire structure. It shows you in a grey spot, and it can be a very unsatisfactory experience.

Practically, fantasy writing tips related to creating a plot will be useful to any novice: 

  • Take small steps – A fictional universe comes with several intricacies. Delving into writing a novel in an imaginative setting can be an enormous task. Some authors start by writing short stories that involved their characters. It is useful when you want to give shape to fictional work with fantasy ideas. What is even better is that it reduces the pressure on the write without pressure.
  • Move it up a notch- When a writer decides to write a piece with fantasy ideas, it is equivalent to creating a new world. The imagination spreads far and wide and includes the location, traditions and customs, cultural background, and the past. An interweave of ordinary fine points can result in a commendable plot. This creative freedom is an asset to any writer. 
  • Create a Series in an Organized Sequence – Logically mapping the series helps the audience make quick connections. It creates ample space for the plot to progress. It can be a standard alone novel, a trilogy, a tetralogy, or in any way the author decides to fashion the series. 
  • Settings are Crucial – While creating an imaginary world, you will be relocating your readers to that setting. The dramatic narrative must be impressive enough to give the reader a realistic experience.

The creation of make-believe surroundings could lead to certain doubts about how the novel will turn out to be. Once you have a plot, you can outline your story and start creating a scene by scene. It is a practical way to keep track of the timelines and the twists and turns of the story. Writing a novel is not the easiest and indulging in one with fantasy ideas is challenging. The following are the possible deviations:

  • Infrastructure 
  • Travel and Communication
  • War or peaceful setting
  • Stark differences from what is the real thing
  • Cultural and social facets 

5. Meet Your Characters

Avoid complex characters. It helps to bring them as close to reality to prevent the readers from losing interest. Drawing the characters or writing a description of each one of them is one of the best fantasy writing tips. Create a set of questions about each character, like asking about their cultural habits, attitude, emotions, vision, history, family, and social background. An author should have a vivid portrayal of each of the characters. It also helps to elucidate physical qualities, special skills, a unique network, and other significant characteristics that are essential to make a great story with fantasy ideas. Some characters change their attitude and approach as the story progresses.

6.Write Genuine and Realistic Dialogues

Effective dialogues and styles of speech are ways to reach out to your readers. Instead of twisted speech depiction, a clear explanation of the plans of action, one-to-one conversations, and group activities or exploits would make enjoyable reading. It assists the characters to be noticeable in the story. Take your time and write methodically. Real-world themes are more relevant. Some authors reveal their concerns about the ways of the world, be it violence, culture, politics, environment, and racism. Sharing your perspective in a fantasy world may help others to come to terms with what is going on in real life. This fantasy writing tip is one that requires complete certainty before incorporating your views in an impending bestseller.

Importance of Realistic Dialogues

Readers are often surprised by the growth and maturity of the characters. This development keeps them at the edge of their seats, and they can’t wait to see what’s next. At times it’s the other way round when someone who portrays the role of a hero ends up as a villain. Introduce your characters in phases. It is easier to keep track and avoids overload. Most fantasy writers reveal too much too soon, and then there is mayhem in the minds of the reader. Readers are impressed by fascinating characters, so work on those. The best are those characters that are closer to the real ones. So, the stress on credible dialogues intrigues the reader.  

7. Make Your Own Rules and Stick to Them

Fantasy ideas have limitations and it is up to you to draw the boundaries. Any scenario should believable to a large extent. Real-world topics like the economy, politics, technology, robotics, and artificial intelligence can be your line of research before you embark upon writing your first book. If a rule that you make grounds you by following its parameters, then there are high chances that your book will have a natural and pragmatic feel. It helps to align your story to functional facets of daily life as well. People constitute society.

By bringing in components of what holds society together combined with the fantasy ideas that you want to incorporate, it will shape up a believable fantasy novel. It is sensible to integrate this feature as it is one of the best fantasy writing tips. If magic is part of your setting, it is ideal because it projects some form of authenticity in a novel that has a social backdrop. 

What is most important is not to break your own rules. Try not to digress too much, as the reader will get distracted. Maintaining consistency is the key to a credible plot. For instance, if a person is tired after casting a magic spell, don’t show him or her as the central character or the show stopper of the story. Be a practical writer with uniformity in your presentation. A list is the most useful method of developing a novel. You could make the list chapter wise. 

8. What is World Building? A Fantasy Novel Requirement

World Building is a course of action that assembles diverse fictitious constituents that form an imaginary universe. Experienced writers who suggest fantasy writing tips have to include this as a crucial one. This task is essential. Some features are:  

  • Plot and world-building must be on a similar path
  • To be unique, stick to originality
  • Dramatic descriptions are catchy
  • Create memorable characters
  • Connect to the stages of the environment and season 
  • Ask questions as it is a powerful tool
  • Fascination is at its height if the plot focuses on one selected venue, like a village, a house, or just a wall
  • Rational fantasy ideas make better sense to the reader
  • Make use of the five of your senses in world-building. 
  • Being imaginative, mysterious, magical, creative, and yet write in detail works well to shape up a good novel
  • Get feelers from the latest trends and weave your fantasy ideas accordingly

Fantasy writing tips like creating a believable world for the reader to invest their time in is a great one to follow. Each piece of the make-believe world that you have stitched together requires personal consideration. Think like a cinematographer. A movie –like picturization in the minds of the readers will prove to be a hit. 

Poignant Fantasy Writing Tips:

  • Stick to a method while introducing your characters
  • The first book should create an impact to endure future publication of a series
  • Make it action-packed
  • Venture into newer avenues
  • Invest in creative energy
  • Right or wrong doesn’t exist
  • Research helps, but innovation stand s out

After advocating enormous fantasy ideas in your award-winning book, you may be the next creator of a new genre of fantasy.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is it that makes a fantasy novel successful?

Readers connect effortlessly to the settings of a fantasy novel. It is a form of entertainment and induces a sense of tranquility. 

  1. Why are fantasy novels popular?

The characters portrayed in fantasy novels are iconic. Their worlds are unique. Readers are often attracted to a different perspective.   

  1. Who is the founder of the fantasy genre?

Internet sources reveal that Homer is the founder of a broader perspective of fantasy. George MacDonald initiated the fantasy genre in the modern-day.

  1. Why do authors write a fantasy novel?

Life is full of ups and downs. Fantasy ideas weaved into stories are refreshing and divert readers from the nuances of daily life. 

  1. What is significant about fantasy?

Fantasy is thinking out of the box. Stretching beyond the imagination of the readers illustrates a superior creative outlook. 

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2 Comments

  1. Well done!! Excellent research, style, delivery and pitch. Would like to read more blogs written by you.

  2. kuldeep sikhawat Reply

    The tips and tricks about content writing shared in this blog are of immense help. I was looking for a content writing course and now I know my options.

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