How To Write A Fantasy Book In 6 Amazingly Simple Steps

What is a fantasy book? A story that’s been told to you by a stranger, overheard from the corner of a coffee shop, or even something from your imagination. Fantasy as a genre can be difficult to define because it often overlaps with other genres. Typically, however, these books include talking animals and/or mythical creatures; settings that have no connection to our world (e.g., Middle Earth); and plots based on magic and folklore rather than science. There may also be some elements of horror in there too if we’re talking about darker fantasies such as “The Lord of the Rings.”

Writing a good childhood, or coming of age story is one of the most difficult things that an author can attempt. J.K. Rowling nails it with Harry Potter, just as Phillip Pullman was able to do with his creation Lyra Belacqua and her daemon Pantalaimon: “no character,” said Umberto Eco, “can be successful if he does not talk about himself incessantly.” What manner of the protagonist are we dealing with? This will indicate what type of character arc they will go through for the novel/series. A classic coming of age story will involve the protagonist discovering more about themselves, who they are, and where they come from.

While a fantasy book can certainly be a great way to explore these universal truths, it also can take us on wild adventures to other worlds; to introduce us to fascinating and colorful characters that we would never meet in our day-to-day lives. So how do you write one? 

What is a fantasy book and what are some of its main characteristics? 

Determining the main characteristics of a fantasy book will allow you to better determine what type of protagonist, plot, and setting are best suited for your story. Think about the books that you enjoyed reading when you were younger, as well as the main story and message you want to send across to the reader. Once you have the idea it is a good thing to look up fantasy book illustrators for hire, they can help bring your characters to life early on. It can help you imagine them if you have a few illustrations ready at hand. Usually, fantasy books have a protagonist and several supporting characters, a strong challenge and/or quest that the protagonist is trying to complete, and a unique setting.

Come up with a great idea for a fantasy book. This may seem difficult but it can be as simple as brainstorming off of a single sentence or phrase. For example, “What if there was a world where every person had a magical creature called a daemon?” This will give you an idea of the plot, setting, and characters that you’ll want to develop further. 

Decide whether your character is an animal or human

Most fantasy books have one protagonist that follows their unique journey. If they are an animal then it would be wise to ask “Do animals talk in this world?” You can always make up the rules; we don’t know if dragons breathe fire on all other creatures or if they simply keep to themselves and live among humans undetected. Do certain types of animals talk and others don’t? How would they communicate with humans and how would the humans discern them as sentient if they didn’t speak our language? 

Determine what type of protagonist you want to write about. Think back to those childhood stories that may have inspired your dream story: was there a particular type of protagonist that you enjoyed reading about most? Were they usually heroes who saved the day, or flawed characters who had to make up for their mistakes by the end of their journey? Maybe there were no “typical” protagonists at all. Coming-of-age novels often explore different sorts of people and cultures: innocent country bumpkins; haughty city folk; revolutionaries; disgruntled teenagers.

Create a believable and unique setting

The best fantasy books are ones that feel like you’re stepping into another world. You don’t have to be too specific as to where this world is, but it’s important to determine the basic characteristics: is it a medieval-style world with swords and sorcery? A future world with advanced technology? An alternate history where magic exists alongside technology? 

Once you’ve determined the main characteristics of your book, begin thinking about the plot. What is your protagonist trying to achieve? Is there an antagonist who is preventing them from reaching their goal, or are they simply trying to survive in a hostile world? Even though it is okay to borrow ideas from your favorite writers, books, series, etc. Try to be as unique as possible as you would now want your credibility questioned due to plagiarism.  

Develop your characters

No one wants to read about flat, two-dimensional characters who only exist to advance the plot. The best fantasy books are ones where you feel as if these people could exist, with their internal struggles that influence how they interact with others. Would your protagonist be opposed to slavery? Do they have a moral code that will clash against the antagonists’ methods? If there is no antagonist, what are some of the challenges/obstacles your protagonist has to overcome to achieve their goal? What happens if they fail?

Here’s where all those character thoughts can come into play. How would this protagonist handle meeting another person for the first time? How do they speak when angry vs. calm vs. sad? Do they have any quirks or habits that reveal their personality? Dialogue is a great way to hint at the back story and world-building without bogging down the main plot.

Write a detailed outline and/or create an extensive character map

A fantasy book will likely have many complex characters, all with distinct personalities and agendas. Make sure to list the major players as well as those who may make brief appearances in your story. The same goes for locations (e.g., towns, castles), items (weapons, swords), or even creatures that readers would expect in a typical fantasy novel. Is this also a good time to start determining the tone of your book: somber and dark? Comic or lighthearted?

Brainstorming can be done in several ways: by simply writing all ideas down in a stream-of-consciousness style; through mind mapping or spider diagrams; or through index cards which you can then move around and organize into different sequences until you have a solid storyline. 

Begin writing your first draft

Now that you’ve got all of the important details sorted out, it’s time to start putting your words onto paper (or screen). Don’t worry about making everything perfect at this stage – just get the story down in its entirety. You can always go back and revise later on.

Fantasies are a type of literature that is often hard to define, but we know it when we see it. The varied and imaginative worlds that fantasy writers create can take us on adventures as no other stories can. From the epic journeys across Middle Earth in “The Lord of the Rings” or J.R.R Tolkien’s fantastical world with wizards and elves to Catherynne M Valente’s beautifully illustrated fairyland; from Neil Gaiman’s dark fairytales to Philip Pullman’s richly imagined parallel universe where everyone has a daemon animal companion, these tales have all captured our imaginations and taken us on incredible journeys through lands unknown. But what makes a story qualify as being considered a “fantasy?” How do you go about writing one of your own?

The main characteristics that set a fantasy book apart from others are its setting, plot, and characters. A good fantasy book will transport the reader to another world entirely; whether it’s an alternate version of our planet, a completely made-up land, or even a different dimension. The plot is often driven by the protagonist’s quest or challenge, which can be anything from saving the world to finding a missing loved one. And lastly, the cast of characters in a fantasy book is usually quite large and varied, with each person (or creature) having their unique personality and backstory.