The Complete Guide to Writing Fantasy Volume One

320 Pages·2006·30.689 MB·English

by  Darin Park, Tom Dullemond

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To Writing Fantasy:Volume
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Td Writing Fantasy: Volume Dne-
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TOMDULLEMOND
AND
DARIN PARK, EDITORS
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The Complete GuideIM to Writing Fantasy
Copyright \302\2250102 Darin Park and TomDullemond
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Dragon Moon Press
www.dragonmoonpress.com
Dragon Moon Press is an Imprint ofHadesPublications, Inc.
Printed and bound in Canada andthe United States. Released in 2003.
Copyright
Acknowledgments
\"Roots of Fantasy\" copyright \302\2512002John Teehan
\"Bringing Characters to Life\" copyright \302\2512002Lea Docken
\"How to Make Your Characters Real\" copyright \302\2512002Tee Morris
\"Race Creationcopyright \302\2512002Michael McRae
\"World Building\" copyright \302\2512002Tina Morgan
\"Writing Effectively\" copyright \302\2512002Milena Benini
\"Plot Construction\" copyright \302\2512002Marko Fancovic
\"Medieval Clothing\" copyright \302\2512002Lauren Cleeland and Kim Bundy
\"FromFastto Feast\" copyright \302\2512002Michele Acker
\"Healthand Medicine copyright \302\2512002Michael McRae
\"Magic\" copyright \302\2512002Tom Dullemond
\"The Stories Within Your World\" copyright \302\2512002Valerie Griswold
\"Religion\" copyright \302\2512002Julie Peavler-McCord
\"Live fast, die young, leavea beautiful corpse. Maybe two.\"
copyright \302\2512002Tom Dullemond, Michael McRae and TeeMorris
\"Combat\" copyright \302\2512002Tom Dullemond
\"Two Great TastesThatTaste Great Together\" copyright \302\2512002Tee Morris
\"Humour in Fantasy\" copyright \302\2512002Darin Park and Rob Durney
\"TheMoreYou Know, The Safer You Are\" copyright \302\2512002Tee Morris
\"Market Resources\" copyright \302\2512002Tina Morgan
All interior illustrations copyright\302\2512002Michael McRae.
Tedihtoers com;paluethtoers, guidDearitnowrPitiangrk ...fa[netastyal.j./ Darin Park and TomDullemond,
Includes
bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-896944-09-4
1.Fantasy literature\342\200\224Authorship. I. Park, Darin. II. Dullemond,
Tom, 1976-
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This book is gratefully dedicated to the authors ofits content
and especially to thosethat read the pages herein.
You are the dreamers who craftfantasiesthat allow us brief escapes into
wonderful worlds.
May your visionforeverguideus into magical realms.
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Darin Park 7
John Teehan 9
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Darin Park
Defining Fantasy
Fantasy. What is it? Is there a definingfactor?
Well, if you're reading this guide then you alreadyhave some idea of
what fantasy is and you'reready to plunge headlong into creating your
own story or novel. The definition forfantasy is as varied as fantasy itself.
Fantasywillnotfit into a neat label. Let's seewhy.
Definition:Fantasy is about elves and fairies.
Wouldn't it begreatifwe could say that one definition covered it all?
But we can't. Elves and fairies also run amokin children'sstoriesT. hen
there are dragons and wizards and a host ofotherbeingsthat could be
included in the framework of
fantasy.
Definition: Fantasy is historical
That could very well be true. A great number of fantasies,including
Tolkien'Lsord of the Rings, could fall into the historicalcategory.But
there are endless possibilities for modern day fantasies,orfantasies that
don't even include an announced timeperiod.
Definition: Fantasy is all magic.
Fantasy does includetheuseofmagicB.ut what about worlds where
magic doesn't exist?What if it's a world like our ownwithout science
ormagica,nd people and beasts of all sizes and characteristicsinhabit
this world? Is it science fiction? Isthat the qualifying ingredient? Magic?
Even though that would make a nice generic definition to finally label
our elusive \"fantasy\" category, unfortunately, it's notthat easy.
Definition: Fantasy is about thefantastic that doesn't rely on science for
explanations.
Sincethis definitionisascloseas we can possibly come to describing
fantasy, let's expand on that. General agreement in thepresentday world
of authors involved in the fantasy world is that fantasy is not science
fiction. Fair enough.So,just what is fantasy?
7
The Complete Guide\342\204\242 To Writing Fantasy:
Fantasy Explained
Loosely,fantasy is an applied mythology, a creation in the mind ofan
authorofworlds or events that could not possibly existin thescientific
realm. There is the tendency to create a sortofmixedbreedwith stories
such as \"Star Wars\" where there are laser wielding aliens anddruidswith
some sort of magical force. But on thewhole, science fiction and fantasy
usually has a lineofdemarcation.
Fantasy uses devices such as magic, fantastic creatures that fly\342\200\224no
matter how improbable in the real world\342\200\224historical settings, modern
settings, and so on. They do have one thing in common. There is no
scientific explanationof how these things are achieved. Instead, the
author createsabaseofrules that are used entirely in the world of his
devisingthat would not apply to the normal everydayworld.Science
fiction applies technology and expands to try to \"forecast\" other devices
that could possibly existinthenearorfar future, in short, based on reality
and possiblescientificachievements. If there is a matter-transmitting
device, it isgroundedin \"science\" with an explanation of how it couldbe
achievedI.thas to be carefully written and described to maketheprocess
as believable as possible to the reader.
Fantasyusesthis describing factor, as well, but it is based on rules
entirely created for the world that's being written about;the author
does not attempt to create the possibilityofsuchthings working in our
real world. It isa self-containedcompilationthat engages the reader in
fantastic things that live inside the mind and propels the readerintoa
world where imagination is the key.
In creating this book,authors with expertise in different fields were
calledupontogive you the best possible learning devices to createyour
world. You will be taken on a step-by-stepprocessofcharactecrreation,
race building, world building, magic and its uses;combat,weapons
and armor, religion, mythologies and a host of otheringredientsfor a
successful story. This in-depth look at fantasy will generate inside you
a wellspring of ideas. With the resources contained throughout these
chapters, you will find a way to create a believable world of your own,
with living, breathing characters.
Welcome to the world of fantasy. Welcome to the world of your
imagination.Welcomehome.
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John Teehan
Introduction
The first piece of advice any professional writer givestotheaspiring
writer is this-read! Read for pleasure. Read to knowthemarket.Read to
know what's been done before and how.Readfor inspiration.Minefor
source material!
And don't just readwithin theFantasy genre. Read books ofhistory. Books
onlaw.Booksonmythology and folklore. Read a few mysteries, westerns,
and historical romances. Check out what's happening onthesciencefiction
half of the shelf. Read theBible,theBhagavad-Gita, the Sunflower Sutra, the
Koran, and the Tao Te Ching. Grab a stack of comicbooks.Read Beowulf
The Canterbury Tales and the worksofWilliam Shakespeare. Find good
translations of Boccaccio,Danteand the Pearl-poetR.ead James Hilton's
The Lost Horizon and The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham. Don't
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