Thank you, Mason Dahl and Unsplash.com for allowing me to use this picture.
I love picnics. Today I invite you to write about a picnic. You can share pictures to illustrate it, too. It can be truth or fiction and fatal, factual, funny, or fantasy…you decide.
How do these characters meet? Why are they having a picnic? Where is the picnic? What happens at the picnic that changes their lives forever?
Here are three characters. You can use them or not, it’s your choice. They are food for thought.
Theodore – Always late but helpful, drives an 18 wheeler for a grocery chain, can’t cook
Sally – Falls in love with every guy she meets, works at a department store in Men’s Cosmetics, good at sales, can’t cook.
Randy – Great organizer, works for a newspaper as a reporter; can’t cook.
Thank you Gert Altman and Pixabay for allowing me to use this image.
It is such a great story prompt. If you write a few paragraphs about it, please share it with us in the comment area.
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Let’s say you’re like me. You’re in the midst of writing a fantasy novel Mine could easily fall into the science fiction genre. Perhaps yours might, too. Tricky business figuring out the essential elements of a fantasy novel. You want to include them to make your story compelling and unforgettable.
To get a better handle on Fantasy genre, read myths, legends, fairy tales, and fables to ground yourself in fantasy worlds. Read best-seller fantasy novels and watch fantasy movies: Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Alice in Wonderland, Toy Story, Up, Mary Poppins, The Chronicles of Narnia. But what is a fantasy novel?
Don’t Confuse Fantasy with Science Fiction
Cliffs Notes says that Fantasy fiction is frequently confused with science fiction, which might incorporate some of the same tones and themes, but the plot of a science fiction story will also rely on technology that is advanced beyond what we know today.
However, if you do merge the two genres, you’ll get the new speculative fiction genre.
In Science Fiction, it could happen in real life if certain facts were true. Science fiction is based more on facts of what could happen.
Asimov, who wrote many Science Fiction novels said science fiction should have only one untrue assumption.
I remember following a newspaper comic strip 1952 until 1963 called Twin Earths. Another planet similar to the earth where women ruled. On this twin earth was someone who looked like you. It seemed so real. It was amazing Science Fiction.
What is a Fantasy novel?
Fantasy takes magic to make something happen.. It could never happen in real life. It could never happen without the magic element.
Sheila M Johnson states that fantasy fiction has three parts: a magical system, imaginary creatures, and a made-up setting.
Storyboard That says Fantasy is characterized by imaginary and unrealistic elements. Fantasies typically involve supernatural powers, like magic and magical creatures.
Now Novel lists five components for the Fantasy genre. They also offer you a way to test your story ideas.
After reading the resources below, I believe you need these four elements for a good fantasy novel.
What Elements Does a Fantasy Novel Contain?
Magic – creating results through mysterious, unexplained, or supernatural powers. Fantasy stories often have elements of middle ages (Medieval times) such as castles, knights, kings, magical swords, and references to ancient spells. Give details of the cost, joys, and dangers of magic. What are the rules for the magic that appears in your story? What is the cause and effect of the magic? How does it change the world and the people in it.
Adventure – dangers and joys of adventure ; gains and losses of change of imaginary creatures or characters
Struggle for Mastery of Self – Using ones own magical powers effectively and wisely for positive or destructive ends . Show character’s unique abilities and limitations. Are the characters animals? Can the animals talk? What other human traits do they have? is it a fight between good and evil? How does good combat evil forces there? Have the main character solve his problems without using his magical skills.
Setting – Government, culture, religion, historical era, geography, neighborhood, community, world, time of day Where is this community that you built? What does the world look like? How is it different from our world as it is today? Do they use money to purchase things? Or do they trade? Do they allow more than one wife? Are they allowed to marry outside of their community? Do they protect the old? Do they allow abortion? Are they allowed to use fossil fuel? What do they do with their garbage? Place/Setting World’s effects on the main character/ main character’s effects on the real world.
Here is food for thought. Study the genre. Write your story. Then figure out what genre or genres it fits into. There are so many sub-genres today. I’m sure they’ll find a place for your story.
Writers Bureau. “Writing a Fantasy Novel:” https://www.writersbureau.com/writing/writing-a-fantasy-novel.htm
I hope this helped you decide a little about what to include in your fantasy novel. Please leave a comment telling me your favorite fantasy novel and why you like it. What are your secrets to getting the Fantasy genre straight? Have you written a Fantasy work? What’s the title? Whose your favorite character?
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