Disclaimer
This post may contain several affiliate links, meaning I’ll earn a small commission if you purchase through these links with no additional charge to you!
Welcome back to the blog! If you’re here but haven’t yet read Part 1 mistakes to avoid in fantasy writing, I suggest clicking here to get caught up! In the last post we went over five mistakes I often see writers make when writing fantasy novels. As a freelance editor of this genre I see authors run into these issues quite frequently. So I thought I’d put together my extensive list here for you to check and make sure you’re not falling into one of the pitfalls. Whether you’re an advanced fantasy author or a complete newbie, anyone can make these mistakes. Check it out below and see all the tips I give to try and avoid them!
1. Lack of character growth
Now this topic can be said of ANY genre. But just because us fantasy nerds love to see some good world building does not mean we get to neglect our characters. We must nurture and cherish them but not be afraid to put them through some trials and tribulations! There’s a number of ways to ensure your characters have some growth throughout your novel. This includes, developing compelling character arcs, developing characters through conflict, and avoiding static characters.
Designing Compelling Character Arcs
Creating a compelling character arc involves a protagonist facing and overcoming challenges as well as undergoing significant transformation. This transformation often includes gaining new insights, skills, and personal growth. This will make the character’s journey so much more satisfying for the reader.
When plotting the book (if that’s your jam, totally fine if you’re a pantser!) try to also develop a compelling character arc in your outline. If you’re a pantser and like to go with the flow, try to be developing your character’s backstory as you go along. Come up with their favorite music, hobby, food, drink, etc. to really dive into the character and see if their faults stand out to you. This may start to help your brain understand their story and it will begin to find its way into your novel.
Character Development Through Conflict
Conflict is essential as it acts as a catalyst for character development. Through struggles and overcoming obstacles, characters reveal their true nature and evolve. This evolution includes learning from mistakes, acquiring new skills, and developing resilience, which adds depth and relatability to the characters. Don’t be afraid to really put your characters through some hard times as this builds better character.
Avoiding Static Characters
To maintain reader interest, it’s crucial to avoid static characters who do not grow or change throughout the story. Dynamic characters, who show significant transformation in response to the story’s events, keep the narrative engaging and provide a fulfilling experience for the reader. Characters should face challenges that test their beliefs and push them to evolve, making their journey more intriguing and relatable.
2. Staying consistent with the world you’ve built
Maintaining internal consistency is crucial in fantasy writing, not only for the characters but the world itself. An internally consistent world, regardless of its fantastical elements, helps maintain the reader’s suspension of disbelief. For example, altering fundamental laws, like gravity, requires careful consideration to ensure that the changes won’t disrupt the story’s logic. This consistency forms a trust pact between the writer and the reader, allowing the latter to accept and engage with the fictional reality.
Balancing Fantasy and Realism involves finding the right mix of imaginative elements and believable scenarios. Writers should aim to blend these aspects seamlessly, ensuring that even the most fantastical scenes feel plausible within the story’s context. This balance helps in crafting a narrative that resonates well with readers, providing them with a relatable yet escapist experience.
Addressing logical inconsistencies is also essential for maintaining narrative integrity. Avoiding plot holes and ensuring that the story adheres to its established rules prevent readers from becoming disengaged. For example, inconsistencies in character behavior or the story’s timeline can confuse readers and detract from the overall impact of the narrative. By carefully plotting the story and adhering to its internal logic, writers can create a compelling and cohesive fantasy world.
3. Weak Narrative Voice
Crafting a unique narrative voice in fantasy writing is crucial for setting the tone and engaging the reader.
Developing a Unique Writing Style
As one seasoned author noted, finding one’s voice can take time and requires patience as well as experimentation. Emulating great writers initially offers a foundation, but eventually, you must venture into a unique style that truly resonates with the story being told. It’s essential to listen to your instincts during this process; discomfort when writing can signal a deviation from your true voice, necessitating a course correction.
Point of View in Fantasy Writing
The choice of point of view (POV) significantly impacts how a story is perceived and received. Understanding POV involves selecting the voice for storytelling—whether it be first, second, or third person—and deciding whose perspective carries the narrative. Limiting yourself to one perspective character per scene helps maintain clarity and strengthens the reader’s connection to the narrative. This approach prevents the common pitfall of head-hopping, which can confuse readers and dilute the narrative’s impact.
Creating Immersive Narratives
Immersion is key to captivating readers and making them feel present in the fantasy world. Consistent and detailed sensory descriptions play a critical role in this. However, maintaining immersion requires avoiding pitfalls like excessive exposition, which can disengage readers. I also talk about this in Part One of this blog series! Instead, focusing on the protagonist’s immediate experiences and ensuring clear, impactful scenes can significantly enhance the narrative’s depth and appeal.
By integrating these elements, writers can develop a strong, distinctive narrative voice that not only engages but also resonates deeply with readers, enhancing the overall impact of their fantasy story.
4. Neglecting side characters
Supporting characters play such a pivotal role in enriching a fantasy story, providing depth and complexity to the narrative. They are not merely side figures but essential components that influence the protagonist and the overall story arc. Plus, you can have so much fun with them!
Developing Rich Secondary Characters
To avoid the pitfall of one-dimensional characters, it’s crucial to develop secondary characters with their own goals, fears, and transformations. These characters should possess distinct personalities and backstories, contributing to the narrative’s richness and plausibility. Remember that character development we did in the beginning of this post? Now it’s time to do it for the secondary characters. By integrating detailed character development, you ensure that supporting characters are not just fillers but are integral to the story’s progression and thematic depth.
Using Supporting Cast to Enhance Worldbuilding
Supporting characters can significantly influence worldbuilding by establishing or disrupting the status quo within the story’s universe. For example, characters like Gale in The Hunger Games help define the normalcy of the protagonist’s world, which sets the stage for the dramatic shifts that follow. By leveraging the supporting cast in this manner, you can create a more immersive and believable world that resonates with readers.
Avoiding Throwaway Characters
It’s essential to give supporting characters a purpose beyond merely advancing the protagonist’s plot. They should interact with the world and affect the story in meaningful ways, whether by aiding or obstructing the main character. This approach prevents characters from becoming forgettable and ensures they add value to the story, making the fantasy world feel alive and dynamic.
By paying attention to these aspects, you can craft compelling supporting characters that enhance the narrative. Thus making the fantasy world more engaging and the story more impactful.
5. Rushed endings
Crafting a satisfying conclusion to a fantasy story is huge! Yet many writers struggle with rushed or anticlimactic endings. To avoid this pitfall, it is essential to have an ending in mind from the start. Without a clear endpoint, writers risk creating narratives that feel unplanned and incomplete.
Crafting Satisfying Fantasy Conclusions
A compelling ending should resolve most plot threads while leaving some elements open for future exploration,especially if you’re writing a series. This balance between closure and ongoing intrigue ensures that the story feels complete yet still expansive. Proper foreshadowing and development throughout the story are crucial as well. They lead to an ending that feels both surprising and inevitable.
Resolving Plot Threads
To achieve a sense of closure, all major storylines should be addressed by the end. This does not mean all endings need to be happy or perfect, but they should align with the story’s themes and character arcs, providing a logical conclusion to the journey. Ensuring that character decisions and outcomes are consistent with their development prevents readers from feeling cheated by the resolutions.
Balancing Epic Finales and Character Resolutions
If you’re writing an epic fantasy, where multiple storylines and character arcs are the norm, balancing these elements is key. Each subplot should contribute to the overall narrative and lead naturally to the climax. This approach helps maintain pacing and ensures that the finale resonates emotionally with readers .
By keeping these aspects in mind, you can craft endings that not only satisfy the narrative demands but also leave readers feeling fulfilled.
Conclusion
In navigating the intricate art of fantasy writing, we’ve traversed through the common pitfalls that emerge in the journey from inception of your story to conclusion of a narrative. Emphasizing the balance between innovation and the homage to classic tropes, the development of multi-dimensional characters and worlds, alongside the maintenance of magic systems that enrich rather than detract, is crucial. Such craftsmanship, as we have explored, transforms a mere story into a saga that endures and captivates.
Drawing from my experiences as a freelance editor and former literary agent, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of mindful story crafting. Reflecting on these insights offers not only a map to avoid common pitfalls but also illuminates the path toward narratives that resonate deeply with readers.
As your journey continues, remember that the essence of captivating fantasy lies not just in the grandeur of its world-building or the complexity of its characters but in the heart of its storytelling—a heart that beats strongest when shared. If navigating these realms feels daunting or if the path seems obscured, the guidance of a seasoned companion can light the way. For those in search of such assistance, fill out the form on my website to book with me today. Embrace these principles, and let them guide you toward crafting stories that are not only imagined but lived by your readers, creating worlds that endure beyond the final page.
0 Comments