The Fantasy Plot Arc

When writing a fantasy novel, remember there is a structure to follow. We refer to the flow of the storyline as the 'plot arc.' In a fantasy novel, as in all novels, following the 'arc' is imperative to creating a novel your readers will devour.

As a Fantasy writer, you will discover the thrill of creating not only the characters, but also the landscape where the action will take place. Often the Hero/Heroine will arrive from an ordinary world into a fantastic world, journey through their quest and return to their home world. It is the journey and the experiences the hero endures that will provide the interest and focus of the tale.

Hero

How your hero interacts and grows while traversing unfamiliar landscapes, meeting fantastic creatures, and coping with the inevitable crisis, is your task to tell. Your hero's growth and character development will form the backbone of the novel. The depth and richness of the world and characters you create are limited only by your imagination.

In the fantasy novel the hero is on a quest. Motivation comes from their need to vanquish great evil, save the world, find sanctuary or rescue the innocent. Their journey is littered with setbacks and constant challenges. The antagonist or antagonists must be believable and offer a challenge the reader can identify even if from another world. The reader must be able to relate to the threat.

We can show you how to create vivid characters, weave strong back stories and keep the reader hooked till the very last sentence.

This genre gives you scope to explore your creative side. Here you can discover new means of transport, rules of magic, colorful cultures or if you choose, you can transpose normality into a fantastic landscape. In other articles you will learn more about how to design your plot arc.