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High Fantasy
What's the difference between fantasy and high fantasy?
Fantasy
Fantasy fiction is a story that is largely set in the 'real' world with the addition of magic, creatures, events, or characters.
Harry Potter is an example of fantasy. The fact that Harry Potter has a full life in the non-magical world, keeps his saga from qualifying as high fantasy.
High Fantasy
In 1971, The Horn Book Magazine published an essay titled High Fantasy and Epic Romance by Lloyd Alexander, an American fantasy writer. He is being credited for coining the term 'high fantasy' - a type of fantasy fiction that is set entirely in a secondary or parallel world.
An example of high fantasy would be The Lord of the Rings. The whole world in those books is entirely made up with nothing having any cross-overs to what we would expect in the real world.
Some tips for writing high fantasy
1. Read high fantasy. Yes. As always, that is the first bit of advice. Reading widely known high fantasy will give you a good overview of what readers have already seen. You can get a feel for both the things that work, as well as develop ideas that vary from the usual.
2. Describe your fictional world very well. There's no need to write chapters upon chapters of scene setting, but do make sure to include descriptions of the environment. It might help to think of the environment as a supporting character who's always there and deserves mention.
Maps at the beginning or end of the book are one way to help your readers see your world. Some like maps, other don't. But they are one of the options you have.
3. High fantasy cliches. Yes or no?
Fantasy readers are willing to accept common themes in the genre, but you are also free to run with your own interpretations. Unicorns are widely known and super popular in all forms. You can write a unicorn that has some attributes that make it unique to your story. A unique unicorn. Corny. (okay, I'll stop)
4. High fantasy characters often include heroes, royalty, mages, etc. As you have all of those character types to use, let them exist outside of old and washed out predictable plot lines. For instance, don't have the princess abducted. Or if her abduction is needed for your plot, then do something with it that is more clever than her sitting there waiting for the hero.
5. Pantsers will find it very difficult to write high fantasy that doesn't end up confusing itself. Planners and plotters who put in some prewriting and world building will be able to use their own guidelines while writing - which in turn will help the readers to keep track of where they are in the world.
6. The dos and don'ts of dialogue in high fantasy.
Do use dialogue to show some of the character's traits. Think Yoda's way of changing the grammar in his sentences around.
Don't use dialogue to info-dump your fantasy world. While a conversation can give clues and explanations for smaller issues in your world, dialogue can't replace descriptive writing and action.
7. Names in high fantasy. I'm not telling you what you can call your character or not. But ask you self this: How are your fans going to ask for the "Aoainyijixxuu" Bobblehead in stores? Get my point?
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The senior initiated her into his world. She wasn't prepared, nor was he ...
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Most of the time, I will use this area to reply to answers I received for my previous newsletters, but today I also want to feature a request that was sent to the Fantasy editors.
Dovy wrote: Can you read this first chapter and tell me if it's fantasy enough?
I did receive these replies to my last fantasy newsletter "Vampires"
Nuke Es Nos wrote: I think every vampire has to have a weakness related to their lineage or curse. Blood as food can work in a variety of ways and can be implemented anywhere from cavemen times to futuristic dystopias. Stakes have limited purpose, but can be very dramatic. Even just the sun itself can be used in a variety of ways. You have to though, have the weakness be related to being a vampire, otherwise, what is the point of having one in your story?
I agree that vampires without weaknesses are pointless.
Quick-Quill  wrote: I'm in agreement with you. However.... This doesn't give license to make-up creatures that defy the norms of tradition. I've included my thoughts on the subject in a piece I wrote a while ago. It still stands the test. When a writer breaks rules/traditions of fantasy or paranormal, one must always give the reason why they are immune, not subject to or have been crossbred to counter what the readers have come to accept as normal for that creature. I will toss/throw /delete any story where traditional rules are broken without explanation. I read two chapters of Twilight and gave it back to my niece. I've not watched the movies either. For awhile I thought all CSI characters must be vampires as every one of their episodes are at night. "Creating the Supernatural World"
The Twilight books ... I didn't read them either. But I ended up watching the first two movies. In terms of vampires ...yeah, they are really something else. Their weakness seems to be too awesome for life or something. LOL.
Jimminycritic  wrote: The Vampires, right. Great topic! I think my favorite vampire books belong to Brian Lumley. These vampires are pretty much the ultimate evil when compared to any other being. ESPionage galore! I can see how fantasy seeps into something that is traditionally horror. Thanks for another excellent newsletter!
Thank you for the praise. And now I have to find out more about Brian Lumley.
queenkissy wrote: Thanks for including my item!
You're welcome.
BIG BAD WOLF is hopping  wrote: The Discworld's "Carpe Jugulum" has a group of vampires who has transcended most of their traditional weaknesses by being exposed to them over the years, and they try to take over a kingdom, but the local witches are having none of that, and show the vampires why it was a bad idea to overcome their usual weaknesses - mainly because their traditional weaknesses merely stunned them for a few years, whereas an axe that has been blessed makes things very tricky to recover from.
Other Discworld vampires, called Black Ribbonners, try to swear off human (and other peoples') blood, making due with that of lower animals and red meat, wearing sunglasses and big hats for protection from the sun. Oh, and while some of them act like silly fools to make crowds less likely to stake them, it's still a bad idea to try and harm those they call friends.
I might have to check them out, those Jugulum vamps.
Marcus wrote: Personally I have always liked the Idea of different breads of Vampires, Like in Warhammer or the old 90's show "Kindred". This allows multiple different strengths and weaknesses and can make for some fun writing. Best Vampire movie though has gotta be "The Lost Boys". So 80's :)
Changing vampires up a little bit from writer to writer is okay. Essentially turning them into immortal, invulnerable, broody things that sparkle in the sunlight ... That wouldn't have ever happened to the Lost Boys. LOL
Osirantinous  wrote: I wonder - did those classic Vampire killing objects start with Bram Stoker? Or did they come out of earlier myth? In my vampire novel, the sun doesn't bother them and they live pretty much like humans. They don't have to eat or drink, but my main character's hanging onto his humanity so he eats and drinks like normal. There is one thing that can kill the vampires straight out and that is the stake, but they can also be killed by refusing them blood (so they kind of just dehydrate). My MC's mortal friend gets commissioned to come up with some formula that can also kill a vampire, so that becomes another way.
Vampires are very VERY old creatures. I can't tell you who started the stake, but I kinda don't think it was Bram Stoker.
Christopher Roy Denton  wrote: Thank you for plugging two of my vampire stories in your vampire themed fantasy newsletter! Lynsay Sands vampires have none of the traditional weaknesses at all, but they're awesome. Jill Sim's vampires have ALL of them, even garlic and holy water, but they're still romantic. It's essential to fix the "realities" of your magic system within your story to support the suspension of disbelief. :) "The Novice Vampire Hunter"
I agree that writing a story that holds up within itself is the best way to create characters that have or don't have certain vulnerabilities.
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Fantasy: August 21, 2019 Issue [#9703]
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