I find it incredibly interesting that authors struggle so much with what to talk about in blog posts or on social media. I find it even more interesting that I am among those same authors.
How is it that we can put together tens of thousands of words into coherent and entertaining stories, yet freeze up completely when we need to write something outside of our books?
A couple of theories: 1) writing fiction is different to writing non-fiction; 2) we often talk to fictional characters (or pets) with more ease than normal people.
For me, I find I can write like there’s no tomorrow if I’m writing educational content that is teaching someone something of value, or when I’m writing completely make-believe scenes in a fantasy story. But to talk about fantasy, or my writing, in a non-fiction way has been a challenge.
So, I’m on a mission to overcome this! For now, let’s see how pretending I’m telling my 1 year old Lab/Dane pup, Hiccup, what makes fantasy books magical for me works out! Here’s a photo so you can get into the role you’re playing while reading this XD
He might not be magical, but he is fantastic!
That magical feeling
When I started writing fantasy, and more to the point, when I started to get involved in the writer circles of fantasy, I realized that I was a bit out of my depth. Everyone was talking about worldbuilding, politics, economics, and societal issues. I hadn’t felt more lost than I did back in university learning about macro and micro economics. Social studies used to put me to sleep in high school.
It honestly made me wonder if I was cut out for this. I wanted to write about elves, magic, and probably a bit of romance. I didn’t want to figure out entire political systems and complex currencies.
As mentioned in my last article The challenge of worldbuilding and characters, I resisted the idea of worldbuilding for a really long time. I guess I probably still resist some constructs of worldbuilding to an extent. But it got me thinking… what is it that makes fantasy books magical for me?
Honestly, it’s not the epic battles or monarchies. Sometimes they’re pretty cool, but what really draws me into fantasy stories is the sense of wonder. The sense of the impossible being possible. The idea of worlds where natural magic exists. And I’m much more drawn to the light, whimsical, and positive aspects of fantasy.
When I think about some of the fantasy stories I’ve loved the most, I come up with:
- Merlin (BBCs TV series)
- Once Upon a Time
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Shang-chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo (all the related books)
- The Folk of the Air series by Holly Black
What’s interesting to me is that the things I love most about these stories are the characters and their relationships. Yet, if you take out all of the fantastical or magical elements of these stories, they would be much less compelling for me.
On the flip side, if you give me a story with all the fantasy and magic components, but without the depth and connection of the characters, I’d be bored.
For me, there is something about magic that is innate, mysterious, and part of a character’s identity that appeals to me. Stories that embrace fae or hidden worlds that feel like they hold ancient, untapped wonder, presented through characters and relationships that drive the story, draw me in.
Epic wars and detailed political systems are not a requirement for me personally, but emotional stakes and personal growth are.
Fantasy elements and magic enhance a story for me. It’s about the feeling of magic and wonder, intertwined with deeply personal, character-driven storytelling that makes fantasy books magical for me.
What do you love most about fantasy books? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
(Experiment results: I don’t think it made much difference pretending I was sharing this information with Hiccup haha. But I did get an idea for my next article while writing this one, which I’ve already started. My articles publish on my website on Wednesdays, and my weekly email ships out on Saturdays with extras! Sign up below and get a piece of original artwork by @solenaj0y.)
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