Fantasy: How Can One Use Mental Health in Fantasy

Fantasy: August 05, 2026 Issue [#13885]


 


How Can One Use Mental Health in Fantasy
       Editor: elfmage7
                   More Newsletters By This Editor  


Table of Contents
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions


About This Newsletter
Fantasy Newsletter by Dawn

I've got a degree in Psychology and love to write fantasy stories but have only done one story that has a usage of mental health. It's more of a science fiction but we include that in this newsletter since it doesn't have its own official one. Hopefully this can be an interesting little newsletter for you all.

Letter from the editor
Hello everyone. My apologies for a late newsletter and one that's a little short. I have been recovering from hospital visits. So, this is also a little reminder to take care of yourself and that includes mental health. I found it really difficult on the mental health front when I was in the hospital for a week. And mental health is a very delicate topic that people have different reactions too between generations. But I'm hoping we can talk about it here.

I will tell about mine first, if that makes sense. It's actually one that focuses on the self compared to the other, which is the topic that I want to you for graduate school, if I ever apply for one. The main character is part other, half created by a scientist, but he doesn't know that at first. It's sort of a dystopian world with an oppressive government that allows a controlled revolution that is basically fixed to fail, kind of like a contest. I suppose it might end up being compared to the Hunger Games though I wasn't intending it that way. The big problem is there always has to be one other that ends up as a creating from rich men and scientists that are always discovered and not treated by the rest of the forced/picked crew members. I have a female scientist who uses the help from a botanical friend/lover to help her get control of their tribute that year and she does a combination of a man and a child. It takes the crew a lot longer to figure out that the child is the other but it's difficult for them to trust the main character because he has weaponry attached to one arm. And it's hard to destroy a non-verbal girl-child. That and they develop an acceptance of the main character and his leadership due to the help of a secondary character. I've got the beginning of the novel started but it's going to be long, much like what is expected though not like Connie Willis long.

Have you ever tried to use a mental health issue for a main character? Or what about the plot? That's another possibility. There are so many things one can do. I know a couple of mystery type books that have used ones like multiple personality disorders. I do know I listened to one but can't remember the title at the moment. I've seen a couple of those shows like Snapped and Deadly Women who probably tried to use that as a defense for murder. That or there is battered woman issues too. Another sensitive topics, which one needs to use caution. It probably seems silly or daunting but a little help and sensitivity will go a long way when using these kinds of topics.

One thing to do that I've seen at the beginning of novels that go really sensitive or dark on topics like with suicide and cutting, people will post a little warning note at the beginning. If people have triggers and might not want to read the story because of them, it's a good idea to give them notice about that fact. It's okay if not everyone is able to read our stories.

That's all for today. I just want to know what you think and maybe, in a safe forum, we can share our ideas and approaches to the topic of mental health win writing.


Editor's Picks
 
WRITING
On the (Other) Road to Chicken  (E)
An account of a small town in New Mexico.
#2363029 by beholdenMail Icon


 
WRITING
The New Place  (E)
Change doesn't have to be all that bad...


 Cutting Old Threads  (18+)
Having started a new life, Sam gets dragged back into her old one. Word Count: 1,499
#2320059 by l0v3rs2g3thaMail Icon


 
WRITING
The Short Term Loan  (E)
Short term loan of ones body.
#1650228 by ironworker156Mail Icon


FORUM
The Science Fiction Short Story Contest  (13+)
A contest inspired by the serious need for more good sci-fi
#2140378 by blackadder256Mail Icon
 
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Word from Writing.Com
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Ask & Answer
How can you use mental health within your writing for characters or plot?

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