For all my fantasy writers out there, I have a couple tips and questions for how to assess your manuscript for it's strength, especially after rejections with specific feedback. So...here goes some tips for the day...
One of the biggest obstacles with fantasy is making the magic within the world different and realistic to the reader by fully fleshing out what your magic system is, how it works, and forcing your characters to play by those rules. If you can then make your magic and it's rules
Become a true part of your plot (the problem, the rising action, etc..) then you've hopefully fleshed out your magic enough to make it a full blown character in your work. It will enable your system to come alive! But you can't expect it to live without slowly teaching your
Reader your magic system and how it works. No info-dumping, just small hints and bits of information here and there so that your reader learns the magic system as it comes alive in your story. When your magic system isn't fully fleshed out to the reader and coming alive for them,
It leads to plot holes and inadequate information to fully supply your character's tension and motivation throughout your story. If you still can form questions about your magic system that need answering in your plot, then your magic system isn't ready for your world yet.
Another reason I've been rejecting a lot of fantasy manuscripts recently is because their world building isn't quite up to par, and this is usually for one of three reasons:
1. You're info-dumping and slightly sounding like an old person trying relay their entire life story to
1. You're info-dumping and slightly sounding like an old person trying relay their entire life story to
Their favorite grandchild. Don't do this. Piece your world together for your reader with bits and pieces, one by one, through your character's POV/perspective. What's important for them to see, notice, feel about their world?
2. You're not leaving enough leeway in your
2. You're not leaving enough leeway in your
Descriptions of your world to allow for reader subjection. We can all read the same book with the same descriptions, and the greatest writers will give just enough information to allow us all to visualize their world without telling us how to visualize each detail. The brain
Activity required to piece together those small details and allow for modifications that fit each of your readers own wants, needs, specifications are what enables your readers to really feel connected to your world. So when we all read the same book, we'll come up with something
Close to the correct picture, but never actually the same one. Take it from J.K. Rowling. She only described Hermione as "having frizzy, untamable dark hair, brown eyes, and protruding teeth," but I guarantee you all visualized her differently, didn't you?
3. Your world isn't fully visualized for you, it isn't a real place for you, so it doesn't come off as a real place for your reader. If you haven't fully fleshed out your world, what it needs, what it's lacking, what it's full of, and how it functions and lives, then you can't
Expect it to be fully alive and fleshed out for your readers either. How does your world look to you? Can you visualize it? Interact with it? See it in your mind? If the answer is no to these questions, then you will probably have a very hard time getting your readers to
Visualize it, interact with it, and see it in their mind too. If you don't believe it...how do you expect your readers to believe you?
