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Learn How to Write
Fantasy Stories
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Fantasy World Schools Part 1
When
writing fantasy, educational institutions in the
fantasy realm (just like the real world) will reflect
social structure and what is important within the culture.
If the culture reveres females over males, it will show in
the schools, academies, institutes, universities or
whatever the fantasy writer label institutes of higher
learning. In fantasy novels such as Donna Sundblad's novel
Windwalker female characters are not allowed to attend
school and thus cannot read.
Establishing a school when writing fantasy takes
consideration. Along with other elements of society, the
fantasy author will want to sketch how the school
functions, what its purpose is, who can attend, what they
learn, what it costs and even how the students get there.
How Does the School Function
Different cultures promote different methods for
learning. Here are a few ideas to get you started when
developing a school system when writing fantasy:
Does learning revolve around a competitive system of
standardized tests and exams in a public institutional
setting?
Are both male and female students allowed?
Does teaching challenge and foster ingenuity or are
new ideas squelched?
Do students learn by memorization based on a
historical perspective like sayings of wisdom that are
handed down orally from one generation to the next?
Is the educational system tied to a belief system like
religion or magic?
Do sacred texts exist? For more ideas look to history:
History of Education
Determine the Purpose
To help better develop a school system that works
within the fantasy world, consider the purpose of the
school. Why do your fantasy characters need to attend?
Writing fantasy like any genre requires the author to
consider the relevance of characters and places within the
story. Is the school necessary? If not, delete it. If so,
why? What is the purpose? How does the school influence
your characters and fantasy world? What does it reveal to
the reader?
Long before the twelfth century, education was a privilege
for wealthy young men. Other than that, parish priests
organized classes for young men desiring to enter the
priesthood. These young men, in turn, gave lessons to
small neighborhood children eager for knowledge. That
summed up the educational system at that time.
What was the priest's purpose for teaching? To keep the
priesthood stocked with able young men. In turn, these men
who understood the education need of the neighborhood.
They passed on what they learned.
The priest had a purpose for teaching, and their students
had a purpose for teaching. It wasn't so much a formal
education, but still a form of tutoring. Consider such
historical elements when designing an educational system
to fit your fantasy world. Make sure your school system
fits the world. A fantasy world designed from a medieval
perspective will be different from a
contemporary fantasy world, and a futuristic fantasy
world may be a combination of past and future depending on
the storyline.
Who Can Attend
Each fantasy world gives birth to a unique culture.
Fantasy writers have the power to create worlds where
characters mature and grow in an understanding of who they
are meant to be. Limiting who can and cannot attend school
presents opportunity to develop conflict and tension
within the plot. For example, if a character does not know
how to read it may require them to ask for help. Who do
they ask? Asking makes them vulnerable, thus introducing
tension and the opportunity for conflict.
More questions to consider:
Is education public or private?
Do fantasy characters have to pay to attend or are
schools free?
Creating free education for your fantasy characters
may be a good thing, but is it something that would make
every citizen happy?
Is everyone allowed to practice religion or magic?
Historically, Pope Eugenius II ordered all bishops to
establish schools in A.D. 826. This attempt at public
education was to be free for the children of poor
families. By the end of twelfth century boys who did not
desire to become monks or priests could also attend
school. The school system grew from a strictly religious
training for the priesthood to educating all children,
although religion was still the foundation. Creating a
free school system for all classes of people is another
avenue for a plot thread to follow. Would such freedom
cause conflict in your fantasy world? Social distinctions,
government controls and other cultural specifics will
reflect in the educational system.
How to Build a Fantasy World
Costume, Combat and Culture
Create a Pre-Modern
Fantasy World
Logic and Consistency
Primitive Fantasy World Amenities
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