Fantasy Fiction 101: Beginning at the Beginning

Written By Noelle Hollar

"When I'm working on a story, the first draft is for me."

Joe Hill

We started this series by asking the basic question “What is fantasy fiction?” and continued with the slightly more complicated question “Why write fantasy fiction?” The answer to both, simply stated, is that fantasy fiction is the ultimate “What if?” This is the genre that brings dragons to life, fills forests with fairies and ancient guardians, and creates worlds where magic flourishes and fantastical, mythical creatures occupy the same earth as you or I. The world is not restrained by the limitations of reality, but only by the boundaries you weave into the fiber and construct of the world you create.

Once a fantasy reader starts a new journey into the realm of being a fantasy writer, the joy can quickly turn to terror. Worldbuilding alone is intimidating and overwhelming, not to mention your cast of characters, magic systems, and then of course your favorite part of the process, plotting. 

The first step is to take a nice, deep breath. Fantasy fiction can be a treacherous realm for newcomers, but it isn’t perilous. Worldbuilding, character creation, magic systems, and filling your world with creatures of myth and legend will each get a post in this series dedicated to breaking down the specifics. But every journey has a starting point, and writing fantasy is no different. As Lewis Carroll once wrote, “Begin at the beginning, and go until you reach the end,” which pretty much sums up the entire plotting process.

(Once you remove the blood, sweat, tears, and daily bouts of imposter syndrome, of course.)

For this post, we’re going to focus on the very beginning of the process. In the spirit of keeping this calm and anxiety-free, we’ll approach the early stages of writing in the way you would plan for a road trip or vacation. This post will primarily focus on two key elements: how to plot the course and how to respond to the obstacles you’ll face along the way. Finally, I’ll provide you with a packing list of specific tools and resources, along with some additional reading materials.

Let’s get started.

Plot the Course: Where are you headed?

"Part of the journey is that horrific balance of delusions of grandeur and abject humility that I think writers walk the line all of the time."

Leigh Bardugo

There are hundreds of books about writing books, and everyone has different opinions about plotting your book before you start writing. Some say it’s a must-do before you ever put words on the page; others say it’s a colossal waste of time and prevents you from ever getting started.

Well, everyone has an opinion and I have mine: it depends. Now, I’m sure that’s exceptionally unhelpful, so allow me to explain.

There are a lot of times when I will start a story by just writing down a sentence that popped into my head (self-prompting, if you will) and seeing where it takes me, and sometimes for the first draft, this works perfectly fine. In the beginning, you may even find this a far more relaxed approach, and arguably it is, just like taking a drive for no other reason than to feel the wind in your hair and watch the scenery go by. However, I would be remiss to not point out one thing: at some point, you need to make some note of where you going, especially the farther along you go. Adam Stemple, when discussing “Pantsers” versus “Plotters” in How to Write Fantasy Novels Volume I, describes it this way:

In recent years, it has become popular for writers to define themselves as “Pantsers” - writers who ‘fly by the seat of their pants’ - or “Plotters” - those who outline everything beforehand. These are fun terms, and are useful as general guidelines if you’re trying to define your preferred method of working. But I’ve yet to meet a writer who’s a pure version of either. Every Pantser I know spends a little bit of time planning out some plot points; every Plotter has sailed off into the void at some time with no idea where they’re going to land. To me, the main difference seems to be in when they do it. (39)

To paraphrase Stemple’s explanation, the difference between Pantsers and Plotters is that Pantsers eventually look at the map and even the most dedicated Plotter will come to a point (usually in the middle) where they toss the map in the backseat and decide to off-road it for a bit.

I agree with Stemple in that I wouldn’t call myself either a Pantser or Plotter. I’ve written short stories, especially those fashioned after fairytales, that are no more detailed than how the story begins and how it ends, and the middle is left to fend for itself. And then I have works-in-progress that are designed to be multi-volume series, for which there is an entire master file dedicated to the plot, characters, creature designs, et cetera.

So, is there a right way to do this? 

The truth is, you’ll need to listen to your instincts with whatever story you’re writing, with one exception: you will at least a basic plot outline if you’re writing a series. This isn’t to say there aren’t moments when you will “pants it” even in a series, mostly because your characters will get themselves hip-deep in some sort of trouble and you’ll just need to go off-course and let them navigate the terrain.

Since this is the first draft and there are no expectations that this will be the primped, polished, and perfected version, you also have the luxury of playing around with your writing style. You may find plotting difficult in the beginning and just start writing, and once you reach the middle, you find the need to start plotting your way to the ending. Or you may be the traveler that prefers a detailed roadmap, with every stop carefully marked; just allow yourself to be flexible enough to improvise when necessary.

Plan for the Elements: What should you expect along the way?  

"Writing requires patience, passion, and perseverance. Without the 3Ps, you will never finish a manuscript or get it published."

Sue Nyathi

If you’ve ever done any kind of traveling, you know some obstacles and pitfalls like coming out of left field. A flight gets delayed, baggage is lost, you get a flat tire in the middle of nowhere, the hotel messed up your reservation, the weather app lied to you, and the list goes on. As a fantasy writer, you’ll encounter similar obstacles, but they come in the form of plot holes, character developments (or tantrums) that alter the planned course, and, more often than not, the dreaded middle. It seems silly, but the middle of your story can be one of the most frustrating parts of the journey, even if you’ve meticulously plotted the whole thing out.

But there are other missteps and “didn’t see that coming” moments, especially for first-time fantasy authors. These may not result in the same tire damage as a craterous pothole in the middle of the road, but it’s helpful to be aware of them while you’re drafting - before your editor points them out for you.

  1. Draft Now, Detail Later: Your first draft is not the place for details. You’ll drive yourself up the far wall and into a straitjacket. Focus on your characters and the basics of your story. The subsequent drafts are for editing and fluffing your manuscript with details. 

  2. A Rose is a Rose: Imagination is the mother of invention, but everything in moderation. Even in a world of fantastical creatures, a duck is a duck, a bunny is a bunny, and a horse is a horse. “Any time there is an exact equivalent between a real-world animal/plant/thing, just call it by its actual name. If the rabbit is carnivorous, then it gets a new name.” (Stemple, 45)

  3. Cautious Christening: Everyone loves to have a memorable character, but focus the memorable aspects of your character on their personality, not their name. In fantasy stories, you can have great luck researching name websites if you’re looking for a particular meaning or origin for a name, but always double-check yourself. If you can’t pronounce the name without Google Translate, your readers don’t have a chance.

  4. Who Needs to Know?: Your readers are allowed to have little nuggets of knowledge that your characters, or a specific character, do not. If your characters know everything every step of the way, where’s the suspense? Your audience could know from the first couple of chapters who the “surprise villain” is, but for obvious reasons, your characters shouldn’t. Put yourself in the character’s shoes and figure out what knowledge they would naturally have, then separate it from the knowledge that you want the audience to have.

  5. How’s that Work Again?: This is a related note to the previous point but comes into play more with worldbuilding. The main character who doesn’t understand how a fantasy world works is a popular trope, but is arguably overused and an easy out for writers. Now, if you’re a first-time fantasy author, this might not be a bad trope to utilize to get your feet wet. As you go on, however, I recommend that you challenge yourself and dig into your world-building skills. Try to get yourself to the point when you can drop your readers alongside a protagonist who has grown up in this world and knows how this world works, then let them educate your readers without needing to be educated themselves.

  6. Exposition Overload: I would argue that this is a part of “show don’t tell” that is easier said than done (no pun intended), but it’s not impossible. For anyone who has trudged through the mire of a Victor Hugo novel, you are very aware that spending twenty pages on historical context and character study is a cure for insomnia, not the trick to a page-turner. One of the most popular antidotes to an exposition dump is a technique called in media res: drop your character right in the middle of a battlefield, an argument, or a personal crisis, and build up the world and characters with very tight, very carefully chosen pieces of text. Even if you have a master file of all the exposition a person could ever want, your readers usually aren’t looking for you to share the wealth. Instead, treat your exposition like Hansel and Gretel with their breadcrumbs: scatter a little here, a little more there, but don’t drop everything at once.

  7. Characters First, Story Second: Your characters can be the most unruly, impertinent, frustrating little brood, but they are the core of your manuscript. Your audience connects to your characters because of their humanity, their hopes and dreams, their ambition and drive, and especially their flaws. They should always be prioritized above the story. (Remember, without them, there is no story.) You may find it useful to keep a master file for each manuscript, and if so, the details around your characters should be a key part of that file. Bear in mind, some of these details will be filled in as the story goes, as characters may reveal parts about themselves to you in chapter twelve that you were totally unaware of in chapter one. Keep note of these, as you’ll probably find them necessary and useful when you’re editing and fluffing the story with more details.

  8. The Muck and Mire of the Middle: The middle sucks. It’s just a fact. You will tell yourself that you shall be the author that triumphs over the middle with flawless execution, but I’m sorry to say, you will end up hip-deep in the quicksand that has sucked in hundreds of fantasy writers before you. Allow me to assure you, as you’re dealing with self-doubt, intense loathing (or worse, intense love) for your characters, and half a mind to send the entire manuscript straight to the bowels of the trash bin where it belongs, there is a light at the end of this tunnel. I highly recommend reading Adam Stemple’s How to Write Fantasy Novels Volume II: The First Draft for an in-depth therapy session and bite-sized tips on how to wrangle the middle of your story back on track.

  9. Be Flexible: Be ready to pivot, even if you’re the kind of author that plotted every point in advance. Your first draft could easily see you adding or removing characters and plot points, let alone numerous other revisions to your original story plan as you go on. Trying to force your story to keep to the main road when it wants to explore that mountain range to the west will result in a stiff, stilted, and soulless story that will leave you and your readers feeling unfulfilled. Also, you’ll find that your characters will eventually get a mind of their own, and sometimes it’s just easier to let them wander off. Just make sure they’re not wandering off a cliff.

  10. Have Fun: Yes, you read that correctly. Fantasy fiction is no joke and you’ll have plenty of moments when you require chocolate and wine just to write another page, but don’t let those moments make you turn around and abandon course. You wanted to write this story because you had a vision, a world you wanted to create, and a tale you wanted to tell. You wanted to put your spin on a classic myth, create a new creature of lore, or pay homage to the fairytales that gave you such joy as a child. Let yourself enjoy the process. Treat it as a hobby, an escape, a creative outlet. You want to be published, as we all do, but don’t be your own taskmaster. When you are published, you should be proud of what you’ve created, not regretting the journey.

Pack for the Journey: What should you bring?

"Writing a novel is not merely going on a shopping expedition across the border to an unreal land: it is hours and years spent in the factories, the streets, the cathedrals of the imagination."

Janet Frame

Alright, I’ve given you a ton of advice. It’s time to talk about your packing list.

To start with, I’ve pulled together some articles to get you started. I’ve tried to sort them by topic, so you can pick and choose which ones interest you most.

Getting Started

Pacing, Plotting, and Outlining

What is Fantasy Fiction?

For more information on this topic, be sure to check out my blog post on “What is Fantasy Fiction?”

Additional Resources

Now, for some additional reading material and helpful workbooks, T.M. Holladay has put together a 4-part series of workbooks that walks authors through how and where to begin writing their fantasy fiction bestsellers. These workbooks are not only helpful for practical use but also provide you with an extensively detailed idea of the different elements you need to consider.

For a more technical approach to crafting a fantasy novel, Adam Stemple has written a 3-volume series on how to write fantasy fiction. These are bite-sized tips and tricks that are beginner friendly and cover everything from generating ideas to sketching the first draft to revising the story into a package that’s ready for an editor’s eye.

If you’re interested in a more comprehensive discussion of writing fiction stories, C.S. Lakin has written The Writer’s Toolbox series, an 8-volume collection that breaks down the writing process from preparing your story’s theme to hooking readers from the first line to avoiding fatal writing flaws. While this series is not specific to fantasy, I find Lakin’s approach creative and unique, highlighting elements of writing that other how-to books might accidentally overlook.

For those aspiring authors who find a go-to handbook helpful, I understand completely. (I collect them and am always on the lookout for new additions.) I’ve found the following very helpful, especially from a beginner’s perspective:

These handbooks are very thorough and don’t just cover the basics, but also address editing, formatting, and publishing.

If you’re looking for some writing prompts to get the creative juices flowing, you can use any number of fantasy writing prompts. I recommend the 1000 Fantasy Writing Prompts collection by Jan Power. You can also take a look at these articles for additional inspiration and some helpful tips and tricks:

Finally, if you think outlining your story might be the preferred way to go but are equally unsure of how or where to begin, I highly recommend these two workbooks by K.M. Weiland. Both workbooks are straightforward and break down important details to keep in mind as you plot. For fantasy fiction authors, I suggest you use these as supplements to T.M. Holladay’s fantasy workbooks.


"If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away when needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive."

Barry Lopez

Noelle Hollar
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Fantasy Fiction 101: Casting Your Characters
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Fantasy Fiction 101: Why Write Fantasy Fiction?