How to Write Fantasy: A Complete Guide

Fantasy is the genre of imagination unleashed. From epic quests across magical lands to urban fantasies set in modern cities, this guide covers everything you need to write compelling fantasy fiction.

Understanding Fantasy Subgenres

Fantasy is broad. Know your subgenre:

• Epic/High Fantasy: Secondary worlds, grand stakes, good vs evil. (Lord of the Rings, Wheel of Time)
• Grimdark: Morally gray characters, violence, cynicism. (A Song of Ice and Fire, First Law)
• Urban Fantasy: Magic in modern cities. (Dresden Files, Rivers of London)
• Portal Fantasy: Characters transported to magical worlds. (Narnia, Alice in Wonderland)
• Low Fantasy: Our world with subtle magic. (Game of Thrones early books)
• Sword & Sorcery: Action-focused, personal stakes. (Conan, Elric)

World-Building Fundamentals

Your world is a character. Build it thoughtfully:

Geography & Environment

• Climate, terrain, natural resources
• How geography shapes cultures and conflicts
• Flora, fauna, and magical creatures
• Important locations and their significance

History & Lore

• Major historical events and their consequences
• Origin myths and legends
• Ancient civilizations and their remnants
• Ongoing conflicts with historical roots

Society & Culture

• Social hierarchies and power structures
• Religions, beliefs, and superstitions
• Customs, traditions, and daily life
• Languages and naming conventions

World-Building Trap: The Info-Dump

You'll research and create ten times more than you'll use. That's fine. The iceberg principle: readers see 10%, but you know 100%. Only include world-building details that:

• Are relevant to the current scene
• Reveal character or conflict
• Create atmosphere or stakes

Creating Magic Systems

Brandon Sanderson's Laws of Magic provide a useful framework:

Hard vs. Soft Magic

• Hard magic: Clear rules, costs, and limitations. Readers understand what's possible. Magic can solve problems (because we know its limits).
• Soft magic: Mysterious, undefined. Creates wonder but shouldn't solve problems (deus ex machina feels cheap).

Key Questions for Your Magic System

• What can magic do? What can't it do?
• What does magic cost? (Energy, materials, time, sanity?)
• Who can use magic? How do they learn?
• How has magic shaped society, warfare, and daily life?
• What are the consequences of misuse?

Fantasy Character Archetypes

Fantasy has beloved archetypes. Use them as starting points, then subvert or deepen:

• The Chosen One: Destined hero. Make them earn it or question the prophecy.
• The Mentor: Wise guide. Give them flaws, secrets, or their own arc.
• The Dark Lord: Ultimate evil. Give them understandable motivations.
• The Rogue: Morally flexible ally. Test their loyalties.
• The Warrior: Skilled fighter. Give them emotional depth.

Plotting Fantasy Stories

Fantasy often uses classic structures:

• The Quest: Journey to find/destroy something. Physical travel mirrors internal growth.
• Coming of Age: Young protagonist discovers powers/destiny. Popular in YA fantasy.
• Political Intrigue: Power struggles, betrayals, shifting alliances. Requires careful tracking.
• War Epic: Large-scale conflict. Multiple POVs show different perspectives.

Avoiding Fantasy Clichés

Fantasy is rich with tropes. Some to handle carefully:

• Medieval Europe as the only setting
• Elves/dwarves/orcs copy-pasted from Tolkien
• Prophecies that remove protagonist agency
• Female characters as prizes or props
• Magic with no cost or consequences
• Evil races that are uniformly evil

You can use these elements—just add your own twist or examine them critically.

Writing Fantasy Prose

• Balance description: Enough to immerse, not so much it bogs down.
• Ground the fantastical: Readers need relatable emotions and sensory details.
• Consistent naming: Decide on linguistic patterns for places and people.
• Avoid modern language: "Okay" feels wrong in medieval settings. Be consistent.

Fantasy Word Count Guidelines

Fantasy readers expect longer books:

• YA Fantasy: 60,000-90,000 words
• Adult Fantasy (debut): 90,000-120,000 words
• Epic Fantasy: 100,000-150,000+ words
• Urban Fantasy: 80,000-100,000 words

Related Resources

• World-Building Template →
• How to Write a Novel →
• 50+ Character Development Questions →
• Hearth for Fantasy Writers →