Fantasy is one of the most popular (and most loved) genres in literature and film; think Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, and Narnia. But how do we create these amazing worlds? Gaze into your crystal ball and grab your magical potions... Welcome to A Beginner’s Guide to Fantasy Fiction! Delve into the building blocks of fantasy writing in this fun and supportive 5-week course. Explore mythical lands, captivating characters, fearsome creatures, and marvellous magical systems with an experienced and passionate tutor. Whether you’re a fantasy fledgling, a more experienced wizard, or somewhere in between, this course is for you. Please bring either a pen and paper or laptop/tablet for classes.
- What is Fantasy Fiction? - Why write fantasy? Where do our ideas come from? We begin the course with a range of warm-up exercises and explore the subgenres of fantasy in popular fiction. We’ll also set some goals for the course and reflect on the written word.
- Creatures and Monsters - Nymphs, trolls, dragons and kelpies. Where do magical creatures come from, and how do we create them? In week two, we’ll take a deep dive into the magical world of folklore and create our very own fantasy creatures.
- Fantastical Settings - Would Harry Potter be the same story without Hogwarts? Would Frodo have such a heroic journey without Middle-earth? Of course not! This week, we’ll focus on fantasy worldbuilding and the essential elements we need to create a magical setting. Then, we’ll create our own unique worlds through blocks of sensory detail.
- Fantasy Characters - What makes a great hero? How do we decide who is the sidekick? In week four, we’ll explore the most common types of characters in fantasy and how they impact the plot. We’ll then craft our own magical characters and watch how they interact with each other.
- Magical Systems - What on earth is Hard and Soft Magic? What magical system should we use? We’ll finish the course by looking at Brandon Sanderson’s three systems of magic and how they can be applied to popular fiction. We’ll create our own magical systems and wrap up the course with some reflection questions and writing tips.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
- Learn the foundations of fantasy writing and how to create your own unique worlds
- Strategies to ignite your creativity and beat writer’s block
- Develop compelling fantasy characters and creatures
- Gain confidence in a supportive environment with an experienced tutor
