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How to write Fantasy

Cultivate ideas.

Fantasy stories typically exist in fictional worlds or universes. If you want to write a fantasy story, you'll be creating a world for readers that's slightly different from our own. To start your fantasy story, try to come up with a fun idea for a setting.

Describe your world.

What does your fantasy world look like? If you want your story to feel realistic, you need to have a clear vision of your world. Try to make a detailed description of the planet, town, city, or universe where your story takes place.

Establish the location of your setting.

Where is your setting located? Some stories take place in worlds within our own world. The Harry Potter series, for example, involves a hidden world within the realm of modern England. However, The Lord of the Rings takes place in its own universe called Middle Earth

Figure out a timeframe.

Your fantasy world should be grounded in a certain moment in time. Some fantasy worlds take place in the future, and therefore technological advances are present. However, if you're writing something set in a more primitive society, people may not have modern technologies. Keep timeframe in mind when establishing your setting.

Make social classes.

A lot of conflict in fantasy stories is driven by divisions of class. In the Hunger Games, for example, the upper and lower class systems are very much divided, eventually resulting in a revolution. How is class divided in your world? Are there strict divisions between the rich and the poor?

Decide how supernatural elements work.

Supernatural elements are key to most fantasy stories. Maybe magic is an accepted part of your fantasy world. Maybe ghosts are real and can interact with humans. If you're incorporating the supernatural, you need to establish rules as to how elements of the supernatural work in your world.

Make decisions about weapons and supernatural objects. 

Fantasy stories often include advanced weaponry or supernatural objects. If you choose to incorporate such things into your own story, make sure you understand how such objects work. In Harry Potter, for example, the wand chooses the wizard.

Follow your own rules. 

When making rules for your fantasy world, be consistent. Audiences will get frustrated if rules are bendable based on the situation or conflict. Once you establish a rule, do not change it.

Create non-human creatures.

If you want to make your fantasy world feel real, include some non-human characters. Part of the fun of a fantasy world is seeing mythical creatures come to life. However, make sure your creatures read as realistic.

Keep character motivation in mind.

When writing fantasy characters, you can follow some basic storytelling conventions. All characters should have a motivation.

Decide on a hero.

Almost all fantasy stories have a hero. One character with unique strength and determination helps move the plot forward. This character will fight the main antagonist and solve the central conflict. Decide on who your hero will be before you begin writing your story.

Make a memorable villain.

A villain is an important element of a fantasy story. The hero should have a central antagonist to fight against as the story progresses. Spend some time developing a credible villain.

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