How to write an epic fantasy novel

puglover · Feb 09, 2004, 06:34 PM

CivCube · Feb 09, 2004, 06:45 PM

So sad that it's true for 99% of fantasy novels.

Achinz · Feb 09, 2004, 07:13 PM

This confirms the fact that much genre fiction is formula-driven. The same sort of analysis may be made of romantic fiction (the mass-produced Mills and Boon books being prime examples of the worst of them) and indeed of crime and mystery.

There is an element of addiction which drives the reader to escape into a predictable format with the prospect of seeing a familiar story dressed up in new clothes.

Despite the tongue-in-cheek approach, I believe you could score a winner if you were to follow the recipe and have a little gift for words and narration.

SuperBeaverInc. · Feb 09, 2004, 07:26 PM

*Starts writing*

Vancouver 2010 · Feb 09, 2004, 07:35 PM

*Enters epic fantasy novel publication business*

Strider · Feb 09, 2004, 08:35 PM

I wonder what would happen if someone actually does the opposite of this?

General Porkins · Feb 09, 2004, 10:05 PM

i was actually thinking of trying to write an epic novel a while ago. its funny how much my story ideas followed those guidelines

The Person · Feb 10, 2004, 01:26 AM

Thank the gods there's science fiction. There only 98% of the books follow the same recipe...

Cleveland · Feb 10, 2004, 02:29 AM

This made me think a lot. I'm writing an fantasy novel and was quite suprised that I, indeed, have some of those aspects. But I suppose that fantasy as a genre wouldn't be the same with out.

allhailIndia · Feb 10, 2004, 04:38 AM

I was thinking of writing a spoof of a fantasy novel.... just what I needed

Ankka · Feb 10, 2004, 04:51 AM

A good point. Most of the fantasy epics are like that...

Eastern Knight · Feb 10, 2004, 08:34 AM

Um, very educational

Tweedledum · Feb 10, 2004, 11:21 AM

Don't forget to follow the link at the bottom of the page and have a look at the other stuff. It's just as funny...

Illusion13 · Feb 16, 2004, 07:20 PM

How do you think they make Final Fantasy games... FORMULA! ^_^

the mormegil · Feb 22, 2004, 03:58 PM

It's very true, it's a formula that works though.

Serutan · Feb 22, 2004, 08:58 PM

Good one. The rest of the site is pretty good, too.

@AllHailIndia: Unfortunately, "Bored of the Rings" beat you to
the punch. If you can find it, it's hilarious.

Lopex · Feb 23, 2004, 02:37 AM

I guess Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time epic is completely based on this formula...

the mormegil · Feb 27, 2004, 12:25 PM

Yeah, except that guide doesn't say anything about going on about boobs all the time and having constant 'braid tugging'.

Dr. Yoshi · Feb 27, 2004, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Serutan
Unfortunately, "Bored of the Rings" beat you to
the punch. If you can find it, it's hilarious.

They have it on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...=books&n=50784

Xi 12 · Feb 28, 2004, 08:25 PM

Quote:

1/5 stars This book sounds stupid.,
Reviewer: aragornthekingofgondor
Don't anybody make a movie of this book.I mean it! At least I know Peter Jackson would never stoop to such dumbness as this.Hopfully some other big movie director won't decide to give Lordies a bad name,but seeing the billions of dollars and how people like it a lot,I bet bored of the rings would barely make a million.Even if these books have been sold a ton.I don't want to read it.

Now thats funny!

Feb 09, 2004, 06:34 PM	#1
puglover Disturber of Worldviews Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Kansas Posts: 9,643	How to write an epic fantasy novel Begin your writing career today! __________________ O Divine Master, Grant that I may not so much seek To be understood as to understand, To be loved, as to love; For it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; It is in dying to self that we are born to Eternal Life.

Feb 09, 2004, 07:26 PM	#4
SuperBeaverInc. Live Slow, Die Whenever Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 14,598 Images: 6	Starts writing __________________ Six Seasons and a Movie

Feb 09, 2004, 08:35 PM	#6
Strider In Retrospect Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 8,976	I wonder what would happen if someone actually does the opposite of this? __________________ We pen our fates on the parchment of time. While turning to pages yet unwritten. But do our stories end once the ink has dried? Are the echoes of history all that remain of the past? #454158

Feb 10, 2004, 01:26 AM	#8
The Person Deity +2 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Trondheim, Norway Posts: 2,712	Thank the gods there's science fiction. There only 98% of the books follow the same recipe... __________________ My words of wisdom(?).

Feb 16, 2004, 07:20 PM	#14
Illusion13 King Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Burnaby, Canada Posts: 671	How do you think they make Final Fantasy games... FORMULA! ^_^ __________________ Meow~

Feb 09, 2004, 06:45 PM	#2
CivCube Haw! Harumph! Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Indeed! Posts: 4,650 Images: 1	So sad that it's true for 99% of fantasy novels.

Feb 09, 2004, 07:13 PM	#3
Achinz Hermit of Huangshan Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: World's most livable city Posts: 2,232	This confirms the fact that much genre fiction is formula-driven. The same sort of analysis may be made of romantic fiction (the mass-produced Mills and Boon books being prime examples of the worst of them) and indeed of crime and mystery. There is an element of addiction which drives the reader to escape into a predictable format with the prospect of seeing a familiar story dressed up in new clothes. Despite the tongue-in-cheek approach, I believe you could score a winner if you were to follow the recipe and have a little gift for words and narration.

Feb 09, 2004, 07:35 PM	#5
Vancouver 2010 Getting Paid to Code Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Linux (coding) & XP (Civiliopedia). Posts: 992	Enters epic fantasy novel publication business

Feb 09, 2004, 10:05 PM	#7
General Porkins World Champ Mountain Man Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nawth Kackalaky Posts: 384	i was actually thinking of trying to write an epic novel a while ago. its funny how much my story ideas followed those guidelines

Feb 10, 2004, 02:29 AM	#9
Cleveland Emperor of Angels Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: At the feet of the Goddess Posts: 128	This made me think a lot. I'm writing an fantasy novel and was quite suprised that I, indeed, have some of those aspects. But I suppose that fantasy as a genre wouldn't be the same with out.

Feb 10, 2004, 04:38 AM	#10
allhailIndia Deity Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Casa de Non Compos Mentis Posts: 3,328	I was thinking of writing a spoof of a fantasy novel.... just what I needed

Feb 10, 2004, 04:51 AM	#11
Ankka Deity Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 7,299	A good point. Most of the fantasy epics are like that...

Feb 10, 2004, 08:34 AM	#12
Eastern Knight Dragons! Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Earth Posts: 1,043	Um, very educational

Feb 10, 2004, 11:21 AM	#13
Tweedledum Prince Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 456	Don't forget to follow the link at the bottom of the page and have a look at the other stuff. It's just as funny...

Feb 22, 2004, 03:58 PM	#15
the mormegil Emperor Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 1,119	It's very true, it's a formula that works though.

Feb 22, 2004, 08:58 PM	#16
Serutan Eatibus Anythingibus Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Baja Arizona Posts: 4,066	Good one. The rest of the site is pretty good, too. @AllHailIndia: Unfortunately, "Bored of the Rings" beat you to the punch. If you can find it, it's hilarious. __________________ I think Man is the most interesting form of insect life on Earth. Don't you? -- M.T. Martian

Feb 23, 2004, 02:37 AM	#17
Lopex Why not? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Holland Posts: 163	I guess Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time epic is completely based on this formula...

Feb 27, 2004, 12:25 PM	#18
the mormegil Emperor Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Leeds, England Posts: 1,119	Yeah, except that guide doesn't say anything about going on about boobs all the time and having constant 'braid tugging'.

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