How To Start Writing A Fantasy Novel

Writing a fantasy novel feels like diving into an ocean of possibilities. The first thing I do is build the world—not just maps and magic systems, but the heartbeat of it. What makes this place alive? Maybe it’s a city where streets twist like snakes, or a forest that whispers secrets. I jot down fragments: a cursed crown, a tavern where time stands still, a rebellion brewing in shadows. The key is to let the world breathe before locking it into rules.

Characters come next, but they’re never puppets. I imagine them as people who’ve lived in this world long before I showed up. A thief with a moral compass? A wizard who hates magic? Their flaws are what make them real. I scribble dialogues in random notebooks, testing their voices. Sometimes the plot changes because a character refuses to follow my outline—and that’s when the story starts to sing.

The hardest part is balance. Too much lore upfront drowns readers; too little leaves them lost. I trickle details through action—a character sharpening a sword might reveal the metal’s rarity, or a superstition muttered in passing hints at deeper myths. And I always remind myself: even in a world of dragons, emotions are universal. Fear, love, betrayal—they’re the anchors that keep the fantastical grounded.

Start small. Forget the epic scope—just pick one vivid scene and write it. Maybe it’s a duel under a blood-red moon or a child finding a portal in their closet. Details matter more than grand designs early on. I steal from myths, history, even dreams. A phrase like 'library of drowned books' can spark an entire culture. The magic system grows organically; I ask 'What’s the cost?' to avoid overpowered nonsense. My first draft is always messy, but that’s where the gems hide. Edit later, chase the wonder now.