Do you feel inspired after reading the legends of King Arthur, Tristan, Isolde and other epic poems? Would you like to write a fantasy-style story?
Steps
Method 1 of 1: Create your Fantasy Story
Step 1. Choose your point of view
The most common points of view are the first person, who has the ability to deeply express the feelings of the character, and the third person, who is more general and gives the possibility to follow more characters. There is also the second person, which is an unusual point of view and tells the story as if it were happening to the reader. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each point of view before choosing one.
Step 2. Think about the setting
What kind of world does your story take place in? How large is it? Where are the various civilizations found?
- Give your world texture, but not too much. Make your world real, but not all the same. Think about our world: people are similar, but we have different cultures, ideas, opinions etc. Think about all this in the world you want to create. How different are the cultures from each other? How do the various races mix? For example, if your world is based on ancient Scandinavia and one part is techno-futurist, you need to be able to explain why, otherwise it will appear inconsistent.
- Draw a map of your imaginary world. Feel free to make changes that agree with the various connections in the plot, but always remember that the story will need to be consistent. Either way, the map forms the basis of the story. Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by a map when he wrote Treasure Island.
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Create a story for your world.
- Start with the map.
- Insert dots for the various civilizations.
- Imagine the differences between two countries, for example, always fighting the border, attributing characteristics. Consider the various stereotypes of the populations of our world, such as those related to small territorial disputes or the refusal to help allies in battle and so on.
Step 3. Creatures and races
Get some common races from the fantasy genre (elves, dwarves, goblins, dragons, etc). Edit them and add your own personal touch. If you prefer, create new races. Add a bit of history (again, the map can help you, as can a timeline). Make each breed have a unique purpose or characteristics. Include culture, religion, divinity, and beliefs to explain why people behave the way they do. Explain their holidays. Give each race its strengths and weaknesses and explain why. Races don't suddenly appear, how and why were they created? (Explain if they were created by a god, if they have different evolutionary processes, if they are the result of an experiment of another race …)
Step 4. Create complex, deep, multifaceted and memorable characters
Think about this: what prompts the hero to start his quest? What he wants? What do you learn? Why is the enemy opposed to the hero? Who does the hero meet on his journey? Is he being helped or penalized? Because?
- Your hero can be a swordsman, a kid (or girl) good at solving problems; the enemy can be an evil master to conquer the world. Give depth to your characters: avoid the tough hero and the evil enemy. The less stereotyped they are, the better off they will be.
- Create as rich a background as possible and as many characters as possible (especially more heroes and enemies). While many of them won't play a major role in the story, it will help you have realistic choices.
- Create an interest that triggers the search. Whether it's saving a loved one, revenge for an unforgivable crime, running away from someone or something, preventing something terrible from happening, etc. Explain well what will happen if the hero fails.
Step 5. Ask yourself:
what is the narrative theme of the story? Having a theme in mind will help you develop the plot and not go off topic.
Step 6. Put the hero to the test and see how he fares
The hero should also face very difficult situations and suffer.
- Sometimes you may find that it is facing a tragic fate. It will be painful, but a little bit of tragedy is always moving. Conflicts and battles are very exciting. Tragedies are those stories that often remain in the memory.
- If you don't want your hero to die, find an alternative. A minor character previously saved by the hero could save the hero himself at the end of the story, driven by gratitude. Or the hero could have a winning weapon, given to him by a friend at the beginning of the story; or it could convince an anti-hero to save both of them as the only possible way out. Avoid using the “deus ex machina” ploy. If there is nothing or no one who can save the hero, let him die. If you need another hero after the first one dies, choose a friend who can become his successor.
Advice
- You can always write a sequel, so don't be rushed, but at the same time don't make your story too slow or it will be boring.
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Characters of secondary or minor interest can enrich the story, but always keep them in check. They are always complementary characters and should never overshadow the main ones.
- The secondary characters should help reveal or develop the story of the main one. How?
- If they are well developed, they may even have their own history. While not a fantasy genre, the story "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern (Hamlet) Are Dead" is a prime example.
- Characters have to develop slowly, gradually and subtly. It would be even better if they are not aware of these changes. The changes can be simple or complex depending on the story. Avoid abrupt and sudden changes (such as epiphanies), otherwise a character will lose its thickness. The epiphany is traumatic and upsetting, if you choose to use it, build it little by little so that the change does not happen suddenly out of nowhere.
- A fundamental aspect of epics is that a lot of things happen. The reader wants a story full of events. Whether it's a story of war, political intrigue, fighting monsters, going to mythical places, wanting revenge (classic theme), looking for treasure or anything else interesting, remember that something has to happen. The more events there are, the more interesting the story will be for the reader, but everything must be connected perfectly.
- Try to include themes that are dear to you. Tolkien created his own language out of nothing. Some suggestions are: poetry, art, storyteller, myths and the like. Whatever you like!
- To create a more interesting story, add growth paths in the stories of individual characters, connecting them to the central theme of the story. Some examples include: a teenager becoming an adult, a hero's downfall, atonement, redemption, maturation, seeking consensus, becoming a better person, and overcoming prejudice. There are many paths that a character can take in his evolutionary path.
- Remember that you are not required to follow the steps in the order indicated here. If you want to create the characters before the setting, that's fine too.
- History doesn't have to be written in order. If you are inspired or have a great idea for a part of the story, you can very well write different pieces and put them together later.
- Take inspiration from other poems, but don't copy them. The more original you are, the better it will be.
- Try to empathize with the protagonist and consider how he behaves with other characters. By doing so, you will be able to show how his story develops in relation to the other characters.
Warnings
- Do not copy other authors. You can be inspired by them, but don't copy them!
- Plan for future events, but not too far ahead, otherwise you will start thinking about the sequel instead of the current book.
- It's very easy to forget the story, so just focus on the world you created.
