How to write

The Lord of the Rings has been used as a template in so many fantasy stories; a young, naïve character must take a trek across many lands, encountering a slew of cultures and creatures along the way.  Most of the names can’t be pronounced and the bad guys are usually called Orc.  The reason The Lord of the Rings is amazing is because it is the original.  Every fantasy story written in homage is a pale comparison.  If you want to know how to write a fantasy story, begin by forgetting all the fantasy stories you’ve read and focus on your story.

1.  You are God. Take at least seven days to create a new world full of life. God imagined a platypus, a penguin, an octopus and an ostrich, what species can you dream up?  Imagine your world’s terrain: are there deserts, forests, swamps, mountains?  How to Make Your Own Fantasy World

2.  Once you populate the world, write the history and refine the cultures.  Tolkien spent years developing the back story of middle Earth, going so far as creating new languages for the characters that populated his world.  Many of these details won’t make it on the page, but they will provide continuity in the facts that do.  Consider the following: 

               a. Politics - What type of government exists?  Is it a dictatorship, a democracy or an autocracy?  Is there peace or unrest? 

               b. Religion - What is the spiritually of the people? Do they have Gods, if so, who are their Gods?  Are the people superstitious?  What are their legends? Who or what do they fear?

               c. Commerce - What is valued?  How do characters earn a living? Are they farmers, magicians or warriors?   

               d. Society - What role do men, women and children play in society?  Are there specific rules in a family?

These first steps will help you put your story into context. 

3.  If you have a couple of good ideas for your story flush them out with simple questions.  For example, your story may revolve around someone’s death - Who?  Why? When? How?  What is the impact on other characters?  How did it change the world?  Include secondary events to the major plot, such as personal events and back stories.  These will eventually twist the plot and fill your story with a sense of humanity.

4. Who is the protagonist(s)?   Are they female or a male?  What is their role in the story?   While you’re considering characters: who is the antagonist?  Consider their personalities, strengths, weaknesses and motivations.  Be sure to give your protagonist room to grow.  Include a supporting cast; characters who will be affected by the decisions of your protagonist.

5.  Plan the chronology of your story.  Where does it begin?  What events propel the action and what obstacles delay your protagonist?  Don’t make it too easy for your protagonist to accomplish their goals.  

Write it all down: the type of world, the characters, the major and minor events and your goal in telling the story.

And - the most important step to write a fantasy story -

6.  Be creative. Let your imagination soar.  Don’t limit your creations to elves, dwarves and goblins.  Don’t rely on stereotypes.  Create complex characters, with good and bad traits.   A hero who stumbles or a sympathetic villain will create even more conflict in your story and with your readers.  The heart of every story, regardless off genre, is the characters.

How to Write a Story