Writing Fantasy Jodi McIsaacCalgary Public Library Writers’ Weekend 2014www.jodimcisaac.com

What makes a book “fantasy”?

Fantasy subgenres

Sword and Sorcery

Urban

Paranormal Romance

Contemporary

Historical

Fairytale

Alternate History

Comic

Superhero

Juvenile

Mythic

Dark Fantasy

1. World-building

2. Characters

3. Magic systems

1. World-building

• Religion• Politics• Gender roles• Military• Economics

• Role of

science• Role of

magic• Natural laws• History• Education

1. World-building

• Borrow from existing mythologies/history

• Use a story bible or spreadsheet

• Don’t info-dump

2. Characters

Give them weaknesses

Avoid stereotypes

Make them easily distinguishable from each other

Pronounceable names

3. Magic systems

Hard magic (Kingkiller Chronicles, Superman)

Soft magic (LOTR, GoT)

Sanderson’s First Law of Magic: An author’s ability to solve conflict with magic is directly proportional to how

well the reader understands said magic.

3. Magic Systems

“Magic comes with a price, dearie.”

Cost

Limitations

3. Magic Systems

Questions to ask:

• How do people gain access to the magic?

• What can the magic do?

• What are the limitations of the magic?

• What are the costs for using magic?

• Can the magic be undone?

• What do you need to use the magic?

• How does magic make life worse for your characters?

Questions?

jodi@jodimcisaac.com

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