Fantasy Fiction Writer's Guide to Designing New Creatures
February 15, 2007 by
Fantasy fiction writers are at the apex of the creative genius chart. They have to deliver a scintillating narrative with realistic, dynamic characters, stunning settings built from scratch, and action-packed plots rife with magic, conflict, and passion. The best part of it is that they
can do all of this while creating new worlds, new people, and new fantasy creatures.
Designing new creatures is one of the great joys of fantasy fiction writing. Not only is it fun, but it adds a distinct flavor of realism to your fantasy world that cannot be gotten with the same old, every-day animals that populate reality. Of course, if real animals do live in your fantasy world, you must call them what they are. A horse is a horse, and never a flobigidget.
New fantasy creatures can play major rolls in your fiction story, or act as part of the scenery. The most important thing is that they be believable. Just because the writer is building a fantasy world does not mean that they can work completely outside the realm of believability. Readers simply won't go for it. Below are several specific examples of how a fantasy fiction writer can go about designing new creatures to live in their world.
A New Steed
The horse is rather omnipresent in fantasy fiction. Heroes are always galloping off on them to rescue fair maidens and Kings ride them into battle against the evil hordes. The horse is a good fantasy fiction steed.
However, designing a new steed or beast or burden for your fantasy fiction can be done. You must first understand what every good steed needs: strong limbs, speed, and a relatively flat place to sit on. To borrow ideas from the real world, possibly steeds include horses, bovines, deer, and even ostriches. It would even be possible to ride on a large dog, a wild cat, or a land tortoise.
With these in mind, you can begin to create your fantasy creature. Should it have four legs, or two strong ones? How will you attach a saddle and bridle, and how will it carry loads?
A New Hunter
Designing new creatures is one of the great joys of fantasy fiction writing. Not only is it fun, but it adds a distinct flavor of realism to your fantasy world that cannot be gotten with the same old, every-day animals that populate reality. Of course, if real animals do live in your fantasy world, you must call them what they are. A horse is a horse, and never a flobigidget.
New fantasy creatures can play major rolls in your fiction story, or act as part of the scenery. The most important thing is that they be believable. Just because the writer is building a fantasy world does not mean that they can work completely outside the realm of believability. Readers simply won't go for it. Below are several specific examples of how a fantasy fiction writer can go about designing new creatures to live in their world.
A New Steed
The horse is rather omnipresent in fantasy fiction. Heroes are always galloping off on them to rescue fair maidens and Kings ride them into battle against the evil hordes. The horse is a good fantasy fiction steed.
However, designing a new steed or beast or burden for your fantasy fiction can be done. You must first understand what every good steed needs: strong limbs, speed, and a relatively flat place to sit on. To borrow ideas from the real world, possibly steeds include horses, bovines, deer, and even ostriches. It would even be possible to ride on a large dog, a wild cat, or a land tortoise.
With these in mind, you can begin to create your fantasy creature. Should it have four legs, or two strong ones? How will you attach a saddle and bridle, and how will it carry loads?
A New Hunter
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- Designing new creatures is one of the great joys of fantasy fiction writing.
- You must understand what every good steed needs: strong limbs, speed, and a relatively flat place to sit on.
- Populating your fantasy world with incidental creatures is another way to add realism and wonder to your story.
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Posted on 03/28/2008 at 9:03:48 PM