fantasywriting

Fantasy writing is a literary genre characterized by the inclusion of magical or supernatural elements, often within a fictional world or alternate version of our world. Works may feature invented races, magical systems, and extraordinary creatures.

Worldbuilding and magic: One of the defining tasks is constructing a coherent setting. Writers establish rules for magic and the supernatural, which may be soft (flexible, focus on wonder) or hard (rigid, with explicit limits).

Common subgenres include high or epic fantasy set in entirely invented worlds; sword and sorcery focused on action and individual heroes; urban fantasy set in the real world with magical elements; portal fantasy where characters travel to magical realms; and dark fantasy.

Characters and plot: Protagonists may be nobles, peasants, or outsiders; quests, political intrigue, coming-of-age arcs; themes include power, identity, morality, and resilience. Representation and culturally informed worldbuilding are increasingly emphasized.

Craft and publishing: Writing processes include drafting, revising, and beta reading; authors may publish traditionally or independently. The genre has a long history from folklore and myth to modern novels, and has awards such as the Hugo and World Fantasy Award.