Fiction and fantasy novels are some of the most beloved forms of storytelling. In fact, fantasy books and science fiction generate $590.2 million in sales each year in the United States.
Whether it’s a magical world filled with dragons or an alternate version of our own world, these stories can captivate readers and bring them on an adventure.
As a novelist myself, I’ve come up with a few tips to help you write the best fiction and fantasy novels. Here’s what you need to know to create an immersive story that will draw attention.
Start With An Idea
The first step to writing a fiction or fantasy novel is coming up with an idea. Ideally, this should be something that has never been done before, as there is no shortage of books on the same topic. But, of course, you don’t want to copy someone else’s work either – make sure your idea is unique and something that no one else has ever thought of.
Make sure your idea will satisfy reader expectations within the genre – if you’re writing a fantasy novel, it features elves, orcs, dragons, etc. If you’re writing a romance novel, make sure it has the classic love triangle or heartbreak.
Brainstorm Scenes And Events
Once you have your main idea, start brainstorming scenes or events around it. These could be action scenes full of daring deeds or conversations between characters involving witty remarks. Either way, these will act as building blocks for your storyline.
Once you have all the necessary scene ideas jotted down, then it’s time to connect them into one cohesive story with a beginning, middle, and end. Again, try not to stray away from your main plot point too much, as this can confuse readers; keep things focused on how each scene moves toward the climax.
Develop Your Characters
Characters are essential in any work of fiction. Without them, the story cannot move forward. Plus, they capture the reader’s attention, so put extra effort into crafting believable characters with motivations they can relate to (even if they live in another universe).
Don’t be afraid to add layers and depth when creating characters – surprise readers by taking their expectations and turning them on their heads (or, better yet, use practical psychology!). This will also help move your plot along at an appropriate pace as characters progress through various stages, such as learning lessons or confronting fears; personal growth is the key element here.
Details Are Important
Readers should feel like they are truly part of the world you have created, immersing themselves within it while following along with the storyline you have crafted for them.
To do this, pay close attention to detail – background information about places and objects, such as food dishes from particular regions, all help build the atmosphere. These details make all the difference in whether people remember your book years after finishing it or not.
Editing Is Crucial
Editing may sound boring, but it’s essential when crafting good fiction/fantasy novels! Read through sections multiple times, thoroughly checking for spelling mistakes, wrong words, incorrect grammar, typos, etc.
If possible, use a professional to proofread sections. Having objective eyes combing your book can save you from embarrassing mistakes. In addition, authors who take editing seriously tend to leave lasting impressions on their audiences.
Wrapping It Up
Writing a great fiction/fantasy novel doesn’t just happen overnight! It requires dedication, hard work, and lots of patience. While I only touched on the basics here, these tips should be more than enough to get you started on your journey – so good luck and happy writing!
