TOPIC IN FOCUS - for new authors to discuss why they write fantasy

[M.L.]

JohnViril wrote: "Phoebe wrote: "Is fantasy really hard to write?"

I know this is a question posed early on in this thread but I wanted to respond.

I think good fantasy is VERY hard to write. Consider that you pre..."

Totally agree!

[Prue]

Writing fantasy? It's hard from the POV that the author has to create a believable world, one that sustains a reader's interest and that has credibility. It is the kind of genre where there are rules and there are also no rules, if that makes sense. Rules of consistency in world-building, but no rules that bind an author to the KIND of world he/she must create

I would say that in order to engage, create reaction and be believable, fantasy is as hard to write as any genre. The author must still pay attention to the rules of writing: structure, plot, characters, dialogue etc. but I truly think the hardest thing of all, for me anyway as I write each of The Chronicles of Eirie, it's consistently coming up with a truly original storyline - one that just might settle into a reader's mind as a fable, a myth or a legend. To be able to do that is a like mining for the elusive vein of gold...

[Robert]

“Fairy tales are more than true; not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten.”
--G.K. Chesterton

I try to keep this in mind, particularly when tempted to be swayed by the modern nihilistic bent in fantasy. There must be a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how dark the tunnel, or you are no better than a swine wallowing in the mire. True fantasy is redemption and renewal at its core, and within the most florid and imaginative prose should lie a kernel of truth.

[Nichelle]

YAY!! Thanks for starting this thread. I know authors get a bad rep here if they talk about their book or try to promote it which is completely understandable. I hate spam as much as the next person, but at the same time we love our babies LOL and want people to love them too.

As for why I write fantasy I'm not sure. I think it's because in a world of magic and fantasy anything can happen. The impossible can happen and does happen all the time. "Impossible" like lighting and fire coming out of hands and dragons and other magical qualities like that. Also for me, I just love reading fantasy stories and want to be a part of the fantasy author world.

However in a lot of ways though, writing fantasy wasn't really a choice of mine LOL My characters kinda just came to me and they happen to be of the fantasy element. Plus I just had so much fun writing their story and so much of it came to be so easily that fantasy sort of became my genre by default... Or perhaps accident LOL

[Harrison]

I was looking to write something new other than thrillers. I needed a little escapism, something new to get the creative juices flowing.

The ideal solution seemed to be fantasy, and boy did the bug bite big, so much so that I've planned sixteen fantasy novels.

Thrillers are great, but fantasy opens up a whole new dimension and freedom to write pretty much anything you like.

The sheer power of creativity and imagination flows like nothing else when creating a fantasy world, and I surprise even myself with the amount I can write.

Thank you muse.