Medieval fantasy is one of the most popular genres of fantasy literature. Whether you create a world of sword fights and land conquests, or one of otherworldly beings conspiring against each other, a medieval setting can help add more drama to the story. To write a medieval fantasy novel, you need to work on building the setting and creating original characters to be ready when you sit down to write the novel.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Building the Medieval Scene
Step 1. Borrow and adapt the settings from medieval history
Many medieval fantasy novels, such as George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire or The Lord of the Rings, are inspired by real historical events and settings. You can use a well-known medieval battle, such as the War of the Two Roses, or a setting from medieval times that serves as the setting or setting for the novel. You may need to research historical events and places for inspiration in creating the setting for the story.
- Note that many novels of this type use medieval Europe as context, but this device can become cliché if done too often. You may need to think about a medieval setting outside of Europe and investigate other events and places in medieval history that can serve as a template for your novel.
- You should try to mix and match different historical facts and events from medieval times so that the novel doesn't seem too connected to the real story. After all, the novel is fiction, so you can steal, borrow, and adapt real-life scenarios and events as you see fit.
Step 2. Describe the landscape and terrain
You must take into account how the landscape looks for the characters and how they interact with the terrain. Is the landscape populated with medieval castles and moats? Have a variety of medieval items, such as markets and brothels? How does nature act in the landscape?
- The landscape in the novel can also have different areas, such as cities, towns, and villages. There may be a landscape that is populated with castles and another that is populated with huts or tents.
- You should also take into account how the terrain affects the climate of a certain area. Perhaps in some areas it is very cold and winter all the time, and in others it is hot and there are deserts.
Step 3. Create a map of the scene
It can also be helpful to make a visual representation of the setting so that you have a better idea of what it looks like. You can sit down to draw a basic map of the different sections or areas of the stage, and write the names of these areas. Use colored pencils or markers to draw the various geographical details of the setting, such as mountains, rivers, castles, fortresses, and towns.
When creating the names of the different areas of the stage, you should try to think of original names that are not obvious or monotonous. For example, instead of calling an area that is cold and wintry "Ice World", you can think of a more original name that is based on the history of the area, such as "Queen's Glacial Passage" or "Frozen Land". This will make the name more believable and creative
Step 4. Determine how magic works on stage
A medieval fantasy novel probably contains some magical details. The setting can be infused with magical elements, such as shapeshifting locations or areas protected by a magical dome. It is also possible that the setting only has a small number of magical items, such as a waterfall or a magical stone, hidden in a cave. You need to think about how magic works on stage so that you know how it will affect the characters and the plot.
- Also, you may need to determine whether to associate magic with the way it was represented in medieval times. Maybe the setting only includes magic that was available or known in medieval times, or maybe it's a variation on that of this time.
- For example, in medieval times witches were considered to be experts in medicine and healing, although they were often feared and demonized. Therefore, you can make witchcraft modifications in the novel setting.
Step 5. Determine the medieval weapons used on the stage
To make it more credible, you can include medieval weapons. At this time, wars used to be bloody and terrible, and combatants used large pieces of steel to attack each other. If the setting is going to explore medieval times from a fantastic perspective, you may need to represent the weapons and battles based on what was available at that time. The following are some of the most common medieval weapons:
- Daggers These were the first useful metal weapons in medieval times and were often used for stabbing or stabbing.
- Daggers They are long daggers that were made by cutting the blade of a sword and used to stab or stab.
- Swords. These were the most common weapons in medieval times. They were usually made of steel and tapered on both sides. Another variation was the two-handed sword, which was a larger sword that was very heavy and required two hands to effectively wield it in battle.
- Mallets. These were weapons made with wooden handles and steel or iron balls on the end. The ball could have spikes. They were often used to pierce tough armor.
- Axes These weapons were made of metal and wood, and had many variations. They were often used to attack and cut an opponent.
Part 2 of 3: Create the Novel Characters
Step 1. Draw on real-life people from medieval history
You should use real people who existed in medieval times as inspiration for your characters. They can be landowners or wealthy family homeowners, as well as typical characters from medieval towns, such as the blacksmith or the village priest. Using real people can help you create credible characters for the novel.
For example, George R. R. Martin used the medieval York and Lancaster families from the War of the Roses as inspiration for his own family homes in A Song of Ice and Fire. You can also take medieval historical characters and adapt them to be fictional representations
Step 2. Create “gray” characters
As you create the characters, you should try to avoid the clichés and tropes familiar from fantasy literature. Instead of having a "dark lord" who is the source of all evil, you should try to create "gray" characters. These are characters who are not completely bad or good, and who have flaws like any other human being. Characters that have flaws and conflicts are often more interesting and attractive than those that are perfect.
As you create your characters, think about how they can be heroic and selfish in different times or situations. You may have a protagonist who is motivated by a good cause or goal, but who must also do terrible or morally questionable things to achieve his or her purpose. You can also have an antagonist who is selfish and evil, but has the ability to love their children or to experience loneliness and sadness
Step 3. Make sure the characters are diverse and original
Another common fantasy literature cliché that you should avoid is the idea of "one race," where there is no diversity or variety between characters. Usually this makes the characters trite and predictable, and not realistic or familiar to the reader. Instead, you should try to focus on having a variety of character types, origins, genders, and sexual preferences in the novel.
- Avoid creating a race of non-humans who are identical, dress in the same clothes, and act very similar, or a race of humans who speak with the same voice or have the same gestures. Instead, think about how you can distinguish characters from the same race, group, or tribe. You can do this by having characters of different genders wear different clothes or by having each person in a group act in different ways. It may be that different races have their own languages and particular ways of communicating.
- Another way you can do this is to have the different groups collide with each other. For example, perhaps the non-human race places a higher value on sustainability and the preservation of land resources, which goes against the way the human race views nature, that is, as something that can be exploited or exploited. consume.
Step 4. Give each character a backstory and pose
You should also ensure that the characters have distinctive nuances and traits by giving them a personal story. A character's backstory (such as how they got to where they are now in history, family history, and childhood experiences) can help you create a character that is more original.
You can also do this by trying to penetrate the perspective of each character in the novel. Instead of writing from the third-person perspective, where you wander through the minds of each of the characters as God, try writing from the first-person perspective to each of the characters. This will allow you to explore a character's point of view and give the reader access to their inner thoughts and feelings
Part 3 of 3: Writing the novel
Step 1. Create a plot outline
You can do this using an argument diagram or the snowflake method. Creating a plot outline can help you get a better perspective on the novel and make it easier to sit down and write it.
The plot outline may not completely delineate the novel or may not contain all of the moving parts of the novel. However, it should at least include the upward action, the climax, and the downward action of the novel. In this way, you will know what the north of the novel is and what the character's goals are
Step 2. Write a strong opening line
Engage the reader immediately by working on an interesting opening line that creates suspense and arouses curiosity. Try to keep it clear and easy to understand. However, don't reveal everything up front. You have to keep the reader hooked without stopping to think about what is going to happen when they turn the page.
For example, you can take as a reference the opening line of The Gunman by Stephen King: "The man in black was fleeing through the desert and the gunman was after him." This opening line is effective because it presents an astonishing image, a man dressed in black in a scorching desert who is chased by the novel's protagonist, the gunman. The line has action, characters, and setting all rolled into one
Step 3. Avoid cliched descriptions and details
You should also work on the language level to avoid clichés, which are phrases that are used so often in common speech that they lose meaning. If you write something that you think you've heard before, it's probably cliché. You should strive to create original descriptions and unusual details in the medieval fantasy novel.
For example, instead of describing a fantastic beast as "different from the rest" or "a sight to see," you can focus on the specific details of the beast. You can write something like "The beast had thick brown hairs on its arms and legs, it had eyes on the palms and antennae on its head." This is a detailed description and draws a striking picture in the mind of the reader
Step 4. Make sure the characters conflict with each other
To make the novel progress, you need conflict and tension. This can come from outside forces acting on the characters, such as a fierce war or an approaching natural disaster. But there may also be internal forces at work, such as a conflict between characters or within characters. Maintaining a constant stream of conflict in the novel will drive the story forward and hold the reader's interest.
For example, perhaps in the medieval fantasy novel there are medieval families who are at war with each other. So you may have two characters who are on opposite sides of the war with the same goal or purpose. Try putting these two characters in a scene together and have them fight with words or swords. Then, keep trying to get these two characters to interact in different ways throughout the novel. This will ensure that there are always conflicts in the story
Step 5. Write a first draft and then review it
Sit down with the stage map and plot outline. Focus on creating a first draft of the novel, writing nuanced descriptions and describing unique and diverse characters. Make sure the reader is familiar with the medieval fantasy world so that they can have a clear perception of what it feels like to live in this setting. Then, you should review the first draft as many times as necessary until it is of the necessary quality to share it with the world.
- You can create a writing plan in which you write a certain number of words per day or in which you reach a certain number of pages by the end of the week. This can be helpful if you tend to procrastinate and find it difficult to stay motivated when you sit down to write.
- You should also read the text aloud as you review it so that you can determine how it flows on the page. You can share the first drafts with other people to hear comments and opinions on the work. You must be willing to accept comments and constructive criticism, because only then will the medieval fantasy novel be that much better.