How to write a fantasy novel – tips on writing |
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Ever since the epic Lord of the Rings was written, an
enormous amount of time and effort has been invested
into understanding the magic (sorry!) ingredients. Many
have attempted to find out how
to write a fantasy novel, so that
they might emulate the amazing tales written by Tolkien
and other masters of the genre. NewNovelist novel writing
software can help you in your own voyage of discovery,
by guiding you through some of the key points.
The first point to remember, is that fantasy novels
- as all novels – require a structure. Most will
start in an ordinary world, and then transport the characters
– and the reader – to an extraordinary world.
Eventually, the key character (the hero) will be returned
to the ordinary world. Along the way, the hero will
encounter a number of experiences and will undergo a
degree of character transformation. The learning point
of the story is largely communicated through the development
of the hero’s character. To this extent, there
is no difference between a fantasy or any other type
of novel. Where fantasy novels are very different of
course, is the dimensions of the characters and places
– which by definition are restricted only by the
creativity of the writer and the imagination of the
reader. It is this element that makes them such an irresistible
genre for author and reader alike.
By describing some of the key elements on how
to write a fantasy novel we take
you though some of the colourful features of NewNovelist.
This software provides you with the structure and helps
you with tools – so that your creativity and imagination
are given full license to explore new fantasies, and
describe worlds that will engage and fascinate your
readers.
Most fantasy novels involve a quest. What is the hero
or heroine aiming for? A cave full of treasure, rescue
a faraway land from a Dragon, defeat a dark lord who
means to enslave the earth? There will usually be a
clear purpose for the main character in a fantasy novel,
and a path littered with trials and tribulations, agonizing
setbacks and constant challenges to the hero’s
motivation to complete the quest. (within the quest
format our structure becomes important –
please see ‘overview’ for more NewNovelist
features that can help with this aspect of the writing).
The enemy is never far away. There is often a single
main antagonist in a fantasy novel,
although there will also be a host of antagonist’s
helpers. Characterisation becomes important here, and
you will need to develop an extremely compelling back
story for your villain, bearing on a vivid and detailed
profile. Our novel writing software has been specifically
designed so you can make notes on a great number of
levels to create depth and life for every one of your
characters. In a fantasy novel this becomes even more
important when characters are introduced who bear no
immediate similarity with beings with which we are familiar.
Mention “Lion” and the reader’s imagination
immediately fills in a great amount of detail. Mention
a Vidor and the reader awaits descriptive prose. To
deliver this in a way that doesn’t clumsily interrupt
the narrative is a particular challenge to the writer
of a fantasy novel.
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| General
Information about NewNovelist:
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Creative writing and learning how to write a novel can
be exceptionally hard. First, you have to learn the
basics, then you have to practice….and practice…and
practice. And you also have to research what makes a
successful novel. The vast majority of novels adopt
a basic formula, and we incorporate these within NewNovelist.
Whilst throughout these additional information pages
we have provided tips and “how-to” advice,
the real gold dust is in our software program (available
on CD or to download). It is based on tuition from the
leading university Creative Writing course in England
(University of East Anglia), and uses templates to provide
you with the structure you might otherwise spend years
researching. These templates can teach you the basics
to writing all different types of novel: crime, mystery,
detective, fantasy, childrens, thrillers, military and
many many more. In short, it provides you with a virtual
tutor.
In addition to the template structure, there is context
sensitive help available – advising you on timing,
tone and beat – and scores of examples drawn from
modern and classical literature. For beginners this
will be a revelation. For more experienced writers it
provides a welcome refresher.
Whatever your standard of writing, and whatever your
motivation, if you want an all-in-one writing course,
advice, tutor, editor and note taker you should buy
NewNovelist today.
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