Fantasy Novel Editing

The artfully disguised goal of fantasy writing is to tell us more about the human condition, and answer some of the big questions in life. The best fantasy explores the transitions in our lives, the rites of passage, and the gaining of wisdom; the application of power and its inherent capacity for corruption—not that fantasy writers come right out and tell us this in so many words, but that is the objective. Fantasy involves the reader in a quest to find those answers in the face of dark forces and overwhelming odds. To do this an epic is created — not an epic in terms of size of the work, though often that is the case, but in the scope of the narrative and the quest to be undertaken.

"Advice is a dangerous gift, even from the wise to the wise, and all courses may run ill."
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"
— J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892–1973

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The fantasy novel is the vehicle that presents this epic in the context of an unbelievable universe, but one in which we still recognize ourselves and our human nature. The fantasy may take place in an improbable world but it is grounded in the fact that the reader identifies with everything that is happening; the struggle against the dark forces and the triumph of good over evil. Despite their phantasmagorical settings, the best fantasy fiction draws on mythological influences, psychology and history and always relates to the human experience. These novels are literally a triumph of imagination for author and reader alike. It is the skilful weaving together of each of these elements that makes a memorable work of fantasy. The genre has much in common with adventure and science fiction writing (see our resource notes on science fiction editing and adventure novel editing).

WordsRU’s team of editors appreciates how important it is to you as a writer of fantasy fiction to preserve your own distinctive ‘voice’ and retain the truth of your original concept. We understand that authors are looking to have their work edited by an editor who can improve the quality of their writing, and tease out that which may be proving elusive, but who will not change the style or mood of the writing, and certainly not alter the story itself. Whether you are attempting your first novel or you already make a living as a professional writer, WordsRU’s professional editors and proofreaders will check your manuscript for trouble spots, leaving you free to concentrate on the creative side of your writing.

Our editorial service has wide experience in the editing and proofreading of both fiction and non-fiction manuscripts, and our service embraces autobiographies, biographies, self-help books, poetry, cookbooks, adventure, romance, science fiction, mystery, crime, literary fiction, technical manuals and of course, fantasy fiction. Our editors and proofreaders will thoroughly check your manuscript for grammar as well as correcting punctuation, tense, spelling and typographical errors. We offer help wherever you need it — sentences are strengthened or reworked to heighten the impact, flow and readability of your narrative, and we include invaluable feedback, comments and suggestions as well.

THE CLASSIC FANTASY NOVEL

Fantasy novels are often cross-genre and can include elements of science-fiction, Gothic horror, adventure, romance, historical and mystery writing. As you can imagine, this diversity offers a huge range of themes to be explored by writers.

J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings" (originally intended as a single volume), was written in stages between 1937 and 1949 and published in three-book form in 1954-1955. In 2003 the film trilogy was completed, comprising three live action, fantasy epic films; The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). The book has become a universally acclaimed classic and its author one of our most loved.

SUB-CATEGORIES OF FANTASY NOVEL

Emily Horner recently compiled a list of sub categories of fantasy novels with examples of texts, which is very helpful to the new fantasy writer who may be trying to discover the specific fantasy category in which they will be most comfortable:

Contemporary and Urban Fantasy

Stories taking place in the real world, but with an element of magic or fantasy. Memory of Fire by Holly Lisle.

Epic and Heroic Fantasy

Stories that involve a battles of good vs. evil or quest. Lord of the Rings, by J.R.R Tolkien.

Historical Fantasy

Stories that are set in factual history, but contain fantasy elements. Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Mythic Fiction

Stories directly inspired by myth, folklore, and fairy tales. The Gates of Sleep, by Mercedes Lackey.

Humorous Fantasy

Light hearted fantasy stories. Xanth series by Piers Anthony.

Science Fantasy

Stories where science and magic work, or science extends to magical abilities. Darkover series by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

HOW TO GO ABOUT WRITING A FANTASY NOVEL

Decide on the themes you wish to explore in your fantasy novel. As discussed elsewhere in the writing resource pages on the WordsRU site, it is essential to prepare a story outline. Remember to reveal your themes slowly and allow them to be discovered gradually as this makes for a very rewarding experience for your readers as they become increasingly engrossed in your story. In establishing your framework, here are some of the elements you should consider before you actually get down to writing:

Prologue — it can be very useful in setting the stage
Characters
Names (very important)
Mythological beasts
Societies and racial groups
Government and infrastructure
Portals, worlds inhabited and beyond
Visualization, prepare maps
Who is telling the story (POV)
Plot – crucial keys, major events, the quest itself
Location of events and traveling (map)
Technology & application; also special effects
Magic and Wizards, and significant artifacts and function
Resolution
Epilogue —especially useful if there is to be a sequel
Sequel

Remember that at any point in the writing process you can call on the professional editors and proofreaders at WordsRU to edit what you have done (whether the work is complete or not), and give you helpful feedback, comments and suggestions —if the manuscript is incomplete, then this will be very beneficial as you work towards its completion.

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