There’s a lot to learn when it comes to knowing how to write a fantasy novel. Not only do authors have to create interesting characters and plots, but they also have to create an entire fantasy world too.Â
Countless challenges crop up along the way, especially when it comes to writing fantasy series. George RR Martin will confirm that one.Â
But help is at hand. In this guide, you can find a treasure trove of useful information to help you learn how to write a fantasy book.Â
We cover every aspect of storytelling, from plotting and theme to finding inspiration for your worldbuilding.Â
Choose A Chapter
- Writing A Fantasy Novel – The Challenges
- How To Write A Fantasy Novel
- Worldbuilding
- Finding Inspiration For Writing Fantasy
- Things to Consider When Writing Fantasy
- Creating Characters
- How To Plot A Fantasy Novel
- Theme
- Dialogue
- Viewpoint And Tense
- Editing
- Getting Published
- Getting Book Reviews
- More Guides On How To Write A Fantasy Novel
Writing A Fantasy Novel – The Challenges
Writing a fantasy novel can be one of the most exciting things you can do. Other times, you’ll feel like setting it all on fire, and the first to go would be those stacks of world building notes.
The issue I’ve personally encountered with writing fantasy, and one I know a lot of writers experience too, is the scale of the challenge before us. When it comes to writing fantasy involving secondary worlds, we have to build everything from scratch. Landscapes, social structures… everything down to the flowers and the insects that pollinate them, that is if you’re J.R.R. Tolkien.
While it’s a challenge, it’s part of the reason I love writing fantasy so much. There’s nothing more thrilling than creating your own world, populating it with your own stories and characters, and letting it all unfold for you and others to enjoy.
Over the years, I’ve invested thousands of hours studying the craft of writing, writing fantasy, and learning from some of the best fantasy writers, living and dead, from J.R.R. Tolkien to Brandon Sanderson. Everything I’ve learned I’ve chronicled on my blog and below, I’ve organised those posts into a complete guide on how to write a fantasy novel.
What I hope this will give you more than anything else is structure when it comes to writing fantasy stories, especially novels, or even series (you know how they go… 10 books down the line).
I know first-hand the awful knots that you can tie yourself up in, and with this fantasy writing guide, I aim to give you the tools to unravel them!
For a more general guide on writing and how to write a book and get that book published, you can get Thoughts On Writing for free if you join my Community of Writers. You can find out more by clicking here.
How To Write a Fantasy Novel
In the sections below, you can find links to articles and guides on the essential subjects when it comes to knowing how to write a fantasy novel. They’re each filled with lots of tips and ideas on everything from where to start, world building, and coming up with fantasy novel ideas, to the ideal fantasy novel word count and finding fantasy novel publishers. Just click to go right there.
Worldbuilding
A Complete Worldbuilding Guide
Worldbuilding: Battle Tactics I
Worldbuilding: A Minimalist Approach
r/Worldbuilding – The Best Community Of Worldbuilders
Finding Inspiration For Writing Fantasy
A Lordly Life (the life of lords during medieval times)
A Fantasy Writer’s Guide to Armour
A Fantasy Writer’s Guide to Medieval Weaponry
A Guide to Castles and Keeps: Part One (structures)
The Pesky Peasantry of the Middle Ages (life for peasants during medieval times)
A Guide to Castles and Keeps: Part Two (defensive features)
Killer Diseases of the Middle Ages
A Guide to Castles and Keeps: Part Three (the siege: bringing down the walls)
Things to Consider When Writing Fantasy
The Many Sub-genres of Fantasy
A Guide to Making a Fantasy Map: Part One
A Guide to Making a Fantasy Map: Part Two
Creating Characters
How To Plot A Fantasy Novel
Plotting: Architectural Suspense
Theme
Dialogue
Viewpoint and Tense
Viewpoint, tense and narrative distance
Editing
Getting Published
List of short story fantasy publishers
List of fantasy novel publishers
Getting Book Reviews
I hope you’ve found this guide on how to write a fantasy novel useful. If you’d like to stay up to date with all of the latest writing and fantasy-related content, why not join my community of writers? Simply complete the form below.
More Guides On How To Write A Fantasy Novel
- Fantasy writing
- How to write battles and fight scenes
- Elven names generator and guide
- Fantasy character names
- The knight of chivalry – medieval knights
- Demon name generator
- Human name generator and guide
- The best communities for fantasy writers
- Fantasy archery – a complete guide
- Orc names generator and guide
- Worldbuilding in fantasy
- Fantasy name generator
- Worldbuilding guide and tips
Most nights you can find him up into the wee hours scribbling away or watching the NBA.
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