Home » Arts & Design

fantasy and horror fiction writing

0 Comments

2 Like

Like 2

Pin It

Ranked #17,705 in Arts & Design, #376,657 overall

All About Fantasy and Horror Fiction Writing with M. Lori Motley

Writing fantasy and horror fiction is a lot like writing mainstream fiction, but with a focus on more specific emotions and settings. In fantasy fiction, the writer wants to create a feeling of escape from the every day. In horror fiction, the main goal is sending the reader into a world of dread or terror. Both of them transcend reality.

Explore the lens thoroughly, and then swing by my website: M. Lori Motley's Website

Fantasy Fiction Writing

Fantasy fiction transports you to new worlds.

Fantasy fiction writing is designed to transport readers to a different world, or at least to immerse them in things outside of reality in our own real world. Readers should be left with a sense of wonder, curiosity and sometimes even dread. After all, what is a fantasy story without a monster or evil force in it?

The first job of a fantasy writer is to create a world that is both intriguing and believable. Many writers draw extensive maps, write up histories and even create new words and languages for their fantasy worlds. Anything that can make it seem more real, more 3-dimensional, to the reader will help. Some fantasy stories take place in the real world. Even in these cases, the locations must be developed well to allow for full immersion.

Every good fantasy story needs characters. Often, the characters are not human. While you can easily go with the canon races -- elf, dwarf, gnome, vampire, dragon, orc and goblin -- it can be fun to create your own types of beings as well. Whether they are one-dimensional characters who just want to destroy, or complex beings with societies of their own, a fantasy fiction writer must make them real for the reader.

Fantasy and Horror Fiction Writing On Amazon

Fiction Writing Books I Recommend

Interesting Fiction Lenses

Fiction Writing Resources

These sites have been invaluable to me in the quest to better my fantasy and horror fiction writing.

Accentuate Writer's Forum: Run by the most helpful person, Michelle (Michy) Devon, the Accentuate Writer's Forum has become my writing home on the web. Not only do you get information galore about all facets of writing, the password-protected critique forum will get you honest, helpful reviews, and the people there are some of the nicest I've ever met. No snark. No picking on beginners. Just help to realize all our writing dreams.
Twin Trinity Media: Twin Trinity Media publishes the short story anthologies encompassing the contest-winning tales from the Accentuate Writer's contests. I've been published in two books so far, "Elements of the Soul" and "Elements of Time," and have more coming out soon.
M. Lori Motley's Official Site: My official writing site. You can read about my current fantasy and horror fiction projects, my published works - including "Roll the Dice Fantasy Fiction," my random fiction generator books - and follow me on my blog or on Twitter.
Holly Lisle's Page: This multiply-published author, Holly Lisle, has reams of information on her website about writing, the writing business and how to get where you want to get with yours.
Write SF: Although this site is about science fiction, it is useful for any genre, especially fantasy. It contains a free course on the writing and world building process.

Sign My Guestbook

Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Reply

MLoriMotley Apr 23, 2007 @ 12:14 pm | delete

I'll go check it out right away!

Reply

EelKat Apr 19, 2007 @ 4:24 am | delete

I've got a group here on Squidoo for lenses like this one. I'd love for you to add this lens to my group. Here is the address:

http://www.squidoo.com/groups/writerslittlehelper