How to Write a Best-selling Fantasy Novel
You can read all the fantasy novels you can find; you can read instructional books on how to write the best-selling fantasy novel; you can imagine autographing your novel at book signings across the country. Or you can employ the best alternative: You can write your own best-selling fantasy novel. However, before you do so, start at the beginning. Pretend to play God, as all writers do, and create your fantasy world. Then let the writing begin.
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Instructions
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Write a Best-selling Fantasy Novel
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Start with the setting. Invent the world in which your character will live, fight and exist. Create a theme of your novel. For instance, a good vs. evil plot could work. Then include elements of magic and how the magic will be used throughout your best-selling novel. You can include romantic or suspense elements to your novel, but fantasy needs to be at the forefront.
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Envision believable characters. For your best-selling fantasy novel you must have characters that actually have importance to your story. For instance, the main character could be a 21st-century person transported to a different world to fight against evil. Decide who possess the power and who is the enemy.
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Create a guideline. The guideline is for you to know where elements like action and conflict will take place. This guideline is less for the reader and more to help your make your best-selling fantasy novel a reality. So use the details in your guideline to help you complete your story and ensure that it is consistent.
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Tips & Warnings
Everything has a history, so make one up for your fantasy novel. If you have different beings or races in your fantasy novel, then create a detailed description of them. Include any biases, conflicts and motivation of each of your characters. You don't have to include great detail for minor characters, or characters who you won't use very often in your story.
Avoid fantasy clichés by consulting sources such as Fantasy Fiction Factor. These include elements like your main character being tutored by a wise old man, requiring your main character to learn how to fight, or discovering some long lost family truth. Elements like these will not make your fantasy novel a bestseller.
Also, according to Fantasy Fiction Factor, avoid the dues ex machina. The last thing you want to create is an artificial ending to your best-selling novel. Thus, do not create a conflict with an automatic, suddenly fixed ending. Let your characters work it out.
In addition, when you create your theme make sure you "show, don't tell." In other words, avoid making your theme too overt. If you are using a good vs. evil theme, let your readers' figure it out and make conclusions on their own.
