  Fantasy
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Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Are the most important questions an author can answer when plotting a novel, short story or even a piece of flash fiction. The writer can answer these six questions in a detailed manner, as when planning a novel, or with very little detail, as in a flash fiction story. However, the author must answer questions before telling the story.
These questions are like a roadmap guiding the writer into the unknown land where the story takes place. It does not matter in which order the writer answers these questions. Many times, especially in science fiction stories, what or rather what if comes first. The next question answered is usually who because you cannot have a story without a character. You can make the character an inanimate object. For instance, I have an old soda machine taking up room in my garage; I could use the soda machine as the main character in a flash fiction story.
When and where help in the descriptions of the setting. Description is very important in a story because it helps the reader visualize the setting and the character. It also carries the plot along as it moves towards a climax. Without some type of description, even single phrase or a one-word description, of a character or setting, the reader cannot visualize the action occurring in the story.
Why and how covers the character’s reaction to other people, creatures and items in the story. The main character’s reaction to other components of the story may cause conflict or be a reaction to conflict in the story. Sometimes the why is the protagonist’s or the antagonist’s concept of the universe in which he or she lives. The why of a story can also be the character’s concept of self. Both the characters concept of the universe and of self can cause conflict as well as dictate how the character reacts to conflict or other creatures in the story.
I have found that not answering these questions causes difficulty in writing and in rewriting. If these questions are not answered sufficiently enough for the writer to know both the protagonist and antagonist, even if one of those characters is an inanimate object, an animal or a force of nature, then the author will encounter problems in finishing the story and in rewriting.
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very thankful  writes: I write a combination of Fantasy and Horror. In my novel, Faerie Realm vs. Deacon, Mississippi, my characters live in Fantasy settings except for the two main characters and a few minor characters who originally came from the Earth Realm.
Sticktalker  writes: Snow, You asked about coming up with alien characters. I write only SF, not fantasy. When I do have aliens I generally take an Earth animal as my model, and make some modifications. I do this because my aliens generally act much like human beings and I feel that human readers can then have better empathy with the aliens.
A story a few years ago had different aliens. I took the idea that six feet was the norm rather than our four feet, and made what on Earth are insects into mammals and Earthy mammals became insects…with different colorization. It was fun and still kept the alien creatures believable.
Caledonia Lass  writes: Good question! Personally, I like to add twists to existing fantasy creatures as well as keep the tried and true. My husband and friends like to help me think up new creatures. My 'Fig Bears' were thought up by a friend of mine and named after him. Little tiny black bears that belch fire when frightened. They love sweet berries and are usually found near bushes of them. Great newsletter!
quinkylar writes: If you ask me. Science Fiction and Fantacy are two sides of the same coin-- Sci-Fi just deals with the future and Fantacy with elements of the past.
Of course, using fantacy, by my definition, characters/creatures in a furturistic setting is always an interesting concept. King Arthur in Star Wars... that would be interesting, no?
In a sense, I guess that answeres your quesion as well.
mlarsen05 writes: I like to take real or mythical creatures and tweak them to fit my fantasy worlds. Like a large cat that the people saddle and ride instead of a horse, or a giant bird of paradise or phoenix(used instead of dragons). I also try to make sure the creatures' existence makes sense, like if I have big cats prowling around I had better have a huge rabbit/dear population, etc.
jitsufreek writes: I am working on a story that is in a mixed setting, I think. I've always wondered how to classify it. I suppose I work from a human standpoint: my creatures could be human, but there are qualities of the race that are enhanced so as to remove them from that category. I loved reading fantasy as a kid, so it started with magic being the enhancement, but I find that if you give more detailed explanations about the state of your creatures, then it suspends your reader's belief more.
Thanks for the newsletter!
Gemstone Warrior writes: I am still at the beginning level but i like to write science fiction and fantasy. I never thought of combining them at all.
I draw some of my inspriation from novels, rpgs and a few myths that i run across. A few things I try to invent completetly from scratch or have some base facts reasearched, (especially for my science fiction story).
bookgraham writes: Personally I use a combination of all these things. Sometimes I am impressed by some mythology; at other times some scientific theory, expecially a controversial one, sparks an idea. Then again there are times when I like to invent something new. So long as I enjoy writing it I'm happy.
When it comes to plot and character, do you review fantasy stories differently then science fiction stories or stories of other genres?
Prosperous Snow celebrating
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Fantasy: March 04, 2009 Issue [#2916]
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