The document discusses key elements of writing fantasy fiction. It identifies several fantasy subgenres and explains that world-building, characters, and magic systems are important components of fantasy. For world-building, the author recommends considering aspects like religion, politics, gender roles, and the role of science and magic. Character development involves giving characters weaknesses and avoiding stereotypes. When creating a magic system, an author must determine if it will be a "hard" or "soft" system, with clear rules, and address costs and limitations of using magic within that world. Questions are provided to help authors flesh out the details of a magic system for their fantasy story.

1. Writing Fantasy
Jodi McIsaac
Calgary Public Library Writers’ Weekend 2014
www.jodimcisaac.com

3. What makes a book
“fantasy”?

4. Fantasy subgenres
Sword and Sorcery
Comic
Urban
Superhero
Paranormal Romance
Juvenile
Contemporary
Mythic
Historical
Dark Fantasy
Fairytale
Alternate History

5. 1. World-building
2. Characters
3. Magic systems

6. 1. World-building
• Religion
• Politics
•
• Gender roles
• Military
•
• Economics
•
•
• Role of
science
Role of
magic
Natural laws
History
Education

7. 1. World-building
• Borrow from existing
mythologies/history
• Use a story bible or spreadsheet
• Don’t info-dump

8. 2. Characters
Give them weaknesses
Avoid stereotypes
Make them easily distinguishable
from each other
Pronounceable names

9. 3. Magic systems
Hard magic (Kingkiller Chronicles,
Superman)
Soft magic (LOTR, GoT)
Sanderson’s First Law of Magic: An
author’s ability to solve conflict with magic is
directly proportional to how well the reader
understands said magic.

10. 3. Magic Systems
“Magic comes with a price, dearie.”
Cost
Limitations

11. 3. Magic Systems
Questions to ask:
•
How do people gain access to the magic?
•
What can the magic do?
•
What are the limitations of the magic?
•
What are the costs for using magic?
•
Can the magic be undone?
•
What do you need to use the magic?
•
How does magic make life worse for your characters?

12. Questions?
jodi@jodimcisaac.com
www.jodimcisaac.com
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