MAG.E 3/MAG.E 3 (Disk 1 of 2).adf/23/23

Text File | 1977-12-31 | 2KB | 31 lines

@4HOW TO MAKE OR BREAK A FANTASY NOVEL
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@1I`ve read just about everything that there is to read. At the
moment it seems that fantasy is a fast growing area, particularly with
the likes of David Eddings and Tad Williams finally producing good books
to add to the hundreds of poor quality fantasy novels. As to an original
script, that really is quite impossible. There are few books in any
genre which could ever claim originality. Originality of plot and
originality of style are two entirely separate concepts... the first is
almost unachievable, particularly in fantasy wriiting, so I`ll be aiming
almost entirely at the second... in the fantasy field a lot can be
achieved in this particular area... fantasy writers often take the
approach of keeping the language and structure painfully simple, and
letting an action packed plot do the work for them.... I really don`t
think that this is what intelligent readers wish to see.... As I say,
there are a few competant writers out there who have come pretty close
to the mark, and I`m sure I can do better than them :-)

Characters are also important. Again, many fantasy novels fall down in
this area, placing too much reliance on the outrageous and trying to
carry an essentially weak plot upon shallow charcters. Development of at
least 5 or 6 characters is neccessary to interest a reader. Even many
supposed classics fall down on readability on this front - Jane Austen`s
Pride and Prejudice and Mansfield Park to name but two... A reader has
to associate with characters. Once you have achieved that then the book
becomes somehow "addictive"... a strong set of characters undoubtably
can make or break a fantasy novel, perhaps more than any other genre...

James Bryden