The Fantasy Writer's Handbook: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

By Matthew Dewey

My name is Matthew Dewey and welcome to your Fantasy Handbook!

 

First things first, I am a writer and a writing instructor. I have written several novels, hundreds of short stories, and several books on writing, taught almost 20 writing courses, and coached several writers, helping them create a novel they can be proud of.

 

I tell you all this because I want you to know I have experience with writing and experience in teaching others, which is why this book can help you if you are a beginner writer ready to tackle the fantasy genre. I've based this book not only on the courses I have taught, but the articles I've written and the educational videos I've posted, condensing the information down into a helpful resource for you, an aspiring writer ready to write a great book.

 

I will start with the basics, giving you brainstorming techniques and exercises for developing your concept, then we tackle each important element that makes up a fantasy novel. Next, we address the world, the characters, the dialogue, the writing style, and more. Finally, the book will end with advice for publishing your novel and some marketing tips. Fantasy is a great genre to work with, but there is plenty of competition. With what you learn in this book, you will not only be able to craft a great story, but hit the ground running when it comes to getting readers.

 

I do hope you enjoy this book as well as find it useful on your writing journey!

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Matthew Dewey
• Release date: Jan 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215980804

Book preview

Introduction

My name is Matthew Dewey and welcome to your Fantasy Handbook!

First things first, I am a writer and a writing instructor. I have written several novels, hundreds of short stories, and several books on writing, taught almost 20 writing courses, and coached several writers, helping them create a novel they can be proud of.

I tell you all this because I want you to know I have experience with writing and experience in teaching others, which is why this book can help you if you are a beginner writer ready to tackle the fantasy genre. I’ve based this book not only on the courses I have taught, but the articles I’ve written and the educational videos I’ve posted, condensing the information down into a helpful resource for you, an aspiring writer ready to write a great book.

Now, you’ve probably perused the contents page, but in case you haven’t, just know that we have a lot to talk about. I will start with the basics, giving you brainstorming techniques and exercises for developing your concept, then we tackle each important element that makes up a fantasy novel.

The world, the characters, the dialogue, the writing style, and more. Finally, the book will end with advice for publishing your novel and some marketing tips. Fantasy is a great genre to work with, but there is plenty of competition. With what you learn in this book, you will not only be able to craft a great story, but hit the ground running when it comes to getting readers.

I do hope you enjoy this book as well as find it useful on your writing journey. If you want to see some of my work, partake in a free writing course or see some of my writing content, you can find it all on my website; matthewdeweyauthor.com

As always,

Happy Writing!

Matthew Dewey

Part 1 - Your Introduction to Fantasy Fiction

What is Fantasy and Its Place in Literature:

Fantasy is all about creating new worlds and filling them with magic and wonder. It's the genre that lets us escape reality and imagine things that can’t happen in real life. It’s been around for centuries and has always been a favorite among readers. Whether it’s ancient myths and legends or modern bestsellers, fantasy has a special way of capturing our hearts and minds.

With fantasy, we can explore new places, meet strange creatures, and experience things we never thought possible. It allows us to question what we know, and to confront our fears and hopes. It’s not just limited to books either, fantasy is also a big hit in movies, TV shows, and even video games. It’s a genre that keeps growing and evolving, and it allows us to have different options, like when it’s mixed with science fiction or post-apocalyptic stories.

NOTE: While I will touch upon different subgenres in fantasy fiction, this book will still mostly focus on fantasy fiction as a whole.

In a nutshell, Fantasy is a genre of literature that is all about escapism. Most readers picking up their fantasy novel aren’t looking for real-world issues or preachy monologues. The point of fantasy is for it to be a fantasy, a place where readers can escape and enjoy the beauty of a fictional world space.

The lessons often taught in these stories are either for the sake of character development or are wholesome moral lessons. That is something we will talk more about later.

Understanding the Elements that Define a Fantasy Story

A fantasy story typically includes several elements that help to define it as a fantasy. These elements include:

●  A secondary world: Fantasy stories that take place in a world that is separate from our own. This world can be completely imagined, or