kikyo
Apprentice
What key elements does every good fantasy novel have?
xoxo,
Kikyo
xoxo,
Kikyo
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Help with fantasy novel
- Thread starter kikyo
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Rkcapps
Master
what's in a vegetable soup? Whatever you like. As a staple I'd suggest dragons and magic but it's entirely a matter of preference.
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kikyo
Apprentice
I have magic in my novel, however I do need to do some research to see if dragons exist in Egyptian culture.
CupofJoe
Istari
I suppose you can start with what the Egyptian culture you are interested in does have, and how that can be made fantastical...
Didn't they, at one time, believe that a giant dung beetle pushed the sun through the sky?
Didn't they, at one time, believe that a giant dung beetle pushed the sun through the sky?
elemtilas
Lore Master
Most important number one element that every good fantasy novel has: a good story to tell!
Other key elements include: a map and a well crafted story to go with that map.
Key elements to avoid: not having a good story to tell a/o telling a good story very poorly.
Also, making up a half-baked relexification of English and pretending it's an actual language. Making languages is a specialist job. If you don't know how to make a language, leave that aspect out of your story, or better still, hire someone that knows what they're doing to make the language for you.
Oh, and not having a map!
Michael K. Eidson
Grandmaster
From 5 Essential Elements Every Fantasy Novel Needs - Writer's Edit:
1. Magic system
2. Well-developed setting
3. Cast of complex characters
4. Central conflict
5. Power structure/system of government
That's in general. It depends on the sub-genre you're writing in as to what key elements readers will expect from your fantasy novel. That's why it's important to read in the specific sub-genre you're writing in, so you know what those key elements are.