Writing a fantasy novel: 

Step 1

The first thing you need to write a fantasy novel (besides writing
implements) is an idea.
Too obvious you say, well it is obvious, but still correct and harder than it sounds. For you must
find an idea that is: 1- workable; 2- not stupid; 3- interesting.

1- Workable:
This means your idea must fit into some logical structure; in other words your plot will have to
have rules.
If you are going to write about magic, then you will have to put limitations and structure on your
magic.
If you plan to break the laws of physics, you must be willing to explain why and how.
This also applies to supernatural plotlines; you have to define the whys and hows of such
creatures as vampires, werewolves, etc.

2-Not Stupid:
Fairly self-explanatory. If you have an idea such as a magical bird that grants wishes, but all your
characters wish for are crackers to feed the bird, it isn't a good idea. If they wish for world peace,
only to have it threaten to end the human race, then that is a good idea.

3-Interesting:
The idea must have merit to readers and also to you as a writer. If you lose interest in writing
your book, it will gather dust on a shelf, and if you want to sell books, people must want to read
your novel.
Your book's subject must be something that inspires your writing passion. If you believe in the
idea, then it can be unfolded into an interesting novel.

That is the end of Step 1.

In Step 2, I will show you how to take those ideas and start putting them on paper.

Writing a fantasy novel: Outlines 

Step 2
Alright, you have been inspired, thought of the most
brilliant idea. Now what.
Well it is time to go to work, and create an outline for your story. An outline, you say, what is an
outline? (Or you could be saying, of course you have to make an outline, silly) Either way I shall
tell everyone about an outline.
An outline is basically a blueprint for the plot of your book. Before you start writing, it is an
excellent idea to put down on paper the plot points, main characters, geography, etc. (I'll be
detailing how to create characters and worldbuilding in later steps.)
You may even find it useful to do a chapter by chapter outline, describing the basic happenings
in each chapter. I find that useful if I'm creating a world from scratch.

Now for an example:

I'll use the idea from step one; the magical bird that grants wishes.

The Outline:

Main Characters:
Don Weagle; Sara Smythe; Tim Finn
These three people are roommates, sharing a small apartment.
Geographic Location:
London, England

A brief plot outline:

Don, Sara and Tim are all friends, with minimum wage jobs, who share an apartment to save
money.
Sara inherits a strange parrot from an aunt, and decides to keep the bird. Soon the luck of the
three friends begins to improve, and they find even their casual wishes are coming true. Don
notices the luck changed with the arrival of the bird, and wonders if he is the cause. They put this
theory to the test, and discover their pet is magical. They try to find out the whys of this amazing
creature, and unintentionally attract the attention of sinister people. They now have to protect
their pet, themselves and the world from the dark magic.

That is a (very) basic outline. From this you can develop a chapter by chapter outline, character
outlines, geographic outlines, and even an outline for your research.

That's step 2. Step 3 will be character development and how to do research.

Writing a fantasy novel: Characters 

Step 3

Part 1- How to write a main character.

First adjust your mind set; you are creating a fictional character, but you must go about it as if
you are writing the life of a real person.
This will allow you to develop a well-rounded character.

The initial task is to decide on who your protagonist(main character) will be; is it female or male,
how old, what will the character's occupation, etc.
-Deciding on the gender: This can depend on a lot of factors. Do you feel more comfortable
writing male characters or female characters?
It is of course most easiest to write what you know, so making the main character the same
gender as yourself can work, but sometimes this may be wrong for your book.
There are plots that need a male protagonist, or benefit more from a male protagonist, and some
plots that need a female protagonists. So you will have to consider this in creating your character.
An example: The plot: A school of wizards gets a new pupil, but they only accept male students.
Now if you are writing a standard plot line, you of course need a male character; it could be a
coming-of-age-as-a-wizard story. However, a plot twist could be utilized by using a female
protagonist.
She would have to disguise herself as a boy, there would be the constant threat of discovery, and
even the big reveal of her being female. Both versions could be good books, but their plots hinge
on the gender of the main character.

All right, you have decided on your characters gender. Now what? Now you have to detail your
character's personality and life.
Some details will be dependent on your plot.
For instance:
1-How old is he, and does age matter to the story. If the plot is about the last days of an old
wizard, then your character cannot be 28 years old.
2-What does your character do for a living? Again this may be determined by your plot. Whether
he is a wizard, a vampire hunter, etc is solely up to the plotline.
But if your story is a modern fantasy, an alternative history, or just one where a character is
drawn into events, the occupation may not be relevant to your plot, and therefore flexible.

Now you have a basic character, time for the details.

You should sketch out a character outline or background. How much detail included in this
outline will depend on you, and how you prefer to write.
You may feel more comfortable developing your character's personality as you write the first
draft of your story (oh yes, there will be be more than one draft of your book), and you will write
just a basic background for your character. Or you may find it helpful to flesh out the character
with all sorts of detail, some or most of which will never be included in your book.
I try to aim for somewhere in between.

What details to include in your outline:

I like to include some sort of family tree: parents, siblings, cousins, whatever. Is he an orphan, an
only child, have three brothers, etc?

Physical traits: hair colour, eye colour, height, weight, etc.

Characters, at some point in the book, will be described in a physical manner; just avoid any
straight, detailed physical descriptions that read like a list. It is better to try for a more casual
mention of physical traits, especially if it is mixed into the plot.
I like to be very detailed in outlining physical characteristics; I don't use every detail, but it helps
me get a mental handle on writing the character.

Personality traits. Is the character shy, outgoing, laugh too much, egotistical, arrogant, sensitive,
intelligent, have low self-esteem, etc. Find the traits that define your character; from these you
will build every action and reaction of your character.

Major life events. Don't detail every little thing in a character's life, but do include major events
that will effect the characters personality; such as deaths, choices, traumas, etc.

Take these things and create a history for your protagonist.

Part 2- How to write an antagonist (the villain of your book):

All the rules for creating a protagonist apply to the antagonist as well, but your villain has some
peculiar quirks that must be addressed.
First, he cannot be too evil. Yes he may be a megalomaniac sorcerer, bent on dominating the
known world through dark magic, but he can still love kitty cats. Seriously though, you do have
to give your villain some redeeming human characteristics, so your readers can identify with him
on some level. The best villains are the ones we love to hate, that have been twisted by
circumstance, tragedy or their own ambition. By making your villain a three-dimensional
character instead of a caricature, you ensure that his actions in the book are taken seriously by
your readers.
Second, don't be afraid of the villain's evil side. Your villain exists solely to make life miserable
for your protagonist, and to move the plot forward. So feel free to kill, maim, pillage and destroy
in his/her name. Just remember to keep it realistic; make sure there are logical reasons behind
every action of your villain.
Part 3- A word on how to make your characters believable:

Characters, especially fantasy characters inhabit worlds which do not exist, so it is up to you as
the writer to convince your reader that the world and the people who live there are Real.
There is only one way to do this: use logic. Every world, every character you create Must Have a
set of rules that that they adhere to and strictly follow. Now these rules can be dictated by real
life or by a series you have created for your world.

Examples:

1- You have set your story in a modern day setting, and your characters are werewolf hunters
who operate in secret. Your hunters have a code they exist by and live duel lives under a great
deal of stress.

According to your rules, to make your characters believable they must:

a. -Never reveal their secrets, or face punishment and consequences
b. -Have problems in their personal lives (even if they are just small ones)
c. -Show some conflict in juggling their duel lives.
d. -Interact with modern society and a supernatural world. (So your characters will need two sets
of behaviour).

2- You have created a world of dragons and wizards, who are at war.

According to your rules, to make your characters believable they must:

a. -Have limits on their magic and powers. Characters must have weaknesses.
b. -Remember war has to have consequences, and people die. Soldiers, innocent bystanders
everyone is a potential casualty.
c. -Live by the laws of the world you have created. Just like in regular life they have to restrain
themselves from wreaking havoc (unless the character is a villain).
d. -Know, and at least in some part, support the reasons for this war. Your characters must have a
valid reason for their actions (you can of course give them doubts).

Now a note about villains:

Your villains need a separate set of rules for their behaviour, but will operate within the basic
world structure you have created. They may, of course, break criminal laws and moral
imperatives as needed. Just remember those sorts of actions have consequences, for both villains
and the good guys.

A Helpful Link:
The Fantasy Cliché Meter: the Good Guys

Writing a Fantasy Novel: Research 

Step 3
How does one research a fantasy novel, you ask? How do you research things that don't exist?
Ah, but fantasy does exist, for every good fantasy novel has at least some basis in mythology
and/or history. So that is where you start.
History:
Now your book is either set in our world, or a world you are creating. If it is set in our world,
then you do research based on the historical time period you have chosen. If it is set in the 18th
century than behavior, manners, geography, technology, etc must be reflect this century.
If you are creating your own world, you have far more leeway in in what you can write about.
The first thing you decide is what historical time period most resembles your book's plot line; is
it like the Roman Empire, the ancient Celts, medieval England, Renaissance Italy? Whatever
time period it resembles will be the basis of your research, and you may even mix and match
histories if your world has more than one culture. (Although I would suggest you stay within
close time periods when creating different cultures.)
An example: Your book has a Celtic flavour, so you give your main characters similar customs
of the ancient Celts. From here you can give another part of your world Roman customs, or
Norse.
Just remember when creating your own world, you use history as a basis, but you can alter or
tweak that basis anyway you wish. I'll be expanding more on that subject when I write on
worldbuilding.
Mythology:
Mythology is used when researching supernatural subjects (especially helpful to research
creatures). Most supernatural subjects have a basis in myths and folklore and can be research as
to origin. You can find the how and whys of werewolves, fairies, witches, vampires, etc.

Now a last word about research. There are three essentials when doing research: the internet, the
library, and the bookstore.

Writing a fantasy novel: Grammar and Editing 

Step 4

A note about Grammar and Editing:

If you are going to write a book make sure you know your grammar and spelling. Even if your
book has a brilliant plot, heartbreaking characters and fabulous dialogue, it will never sell if it is
full of grammar and/or spelling mistakes. So know the basic rules, and use the spellcheck.

A list of some common beginner mistakes:

- Over use of commas
- Not properly separating dialogue passages from paragraphs
- Over use of adjectives/adverbs
- Spelling goofs such as using "there" instead of "their"
- Misuse of apostrophes
- Using the wrong emphasis: putting words in Bold Text or CAPITALS, instead of Italics

Mistakes are easy enough to make in your writing, (I certainly have made a few), which leads me
into the topic of: Editing.

First Rule: a writer needs a good editor.

That said, you also have to self edit before your manuscript is seen by a professional editor. Be
ruthless. Cut, slash and rework until the flow and tone are sparkling.
Reading your work out loud is an excellent way to see if there are clunky, awkward passages.

Here's a list of links to some helpful editing tips:

Self-editing

Forbidden Words: Advice for Writers

A Writer's Ramble: 
Writing is Visual

Writers need to know how to write. They need to know basic grammar, sentence structure,
spelling (or have a good dictionary/spell-check) and how to lay out dialogue. Now, I don't
pretend to be an expert in grammar; I make plenty of mistakes and typos in my work. However, I
do have a basic understanding of grammar and spelling. Moreover, I've learned how to use those
skills to write a story.
Therefore, I'm giving aspiring writers this piece of advice:

Writing is a visual medium.

When someone reads your work, they see it. If they see a sloppy, loosely edited, badly composed
story, it will relay a message: This person does not know how to write. It won't matter if your
story has fascinating characters or a stunning plotline if someone quits reading after the second
paragraph; poor grammar and sentence structure can make a reader feel it's not worth the effort.

Here's an example of bad grammar and spelling:

It was night and I was standing in the rain the cold wet seeping into my skin and hair. I had
closed my eyes and I could hear the thruming of the raindrops as they hit the ground but it was a
heartbeat I was trying to hear. Ah there it was the faint thumping sound and I licked my lips. I
had found my quarry and she had already been pursued for three city blocks but now the search
was nearing an end. "She is close." I let the words carry over my sholder to the rest of my team
and I signaled and we moved left and down the dark street. I had brought my five best men all
well trained and with practiced ease we assembled formation and advanced on the hunted and I
was on point tracking all my senses open.

A better version:

It was night and I was standing in the rain, the cold wet seeping into my skin and hair. I had
closed my eyes, and I could hear the thrumming of the raindrops as they hit the ground. But it
was a heartbeat I was trying to hear.
Ah, there it was, the faint thumping sound.
I licked my lips; I had found my quarry. She had already been pursued for three city blocks, but
now the search was nearing an end.
"She is close."
I let the words carry over my shoulder to the rest of my team.
I signaled, and we moved left and down the dark street. I had brought my five best men, all well
trained. With practiced ease, we assembled formation, and advanced on the hunted. I was on
point, tracking, all my senses open.

There are spelling errors in the first version, no paragraph separation and not enough
punctuation. In addition, the dialogue is not handled correctly in the first narrative. Which
version would you want to read?

An example of badly displayed dialogue:

"Ah, a convert of Jacob." Lorenzo's voice sounded forlorn. "I am proud to belong to Jacob."
Cecily's reply held a note of jubilation, but it brought only anxious murmurs from the Council; I
could smell their fear. Lorenzo continued. "You know there is a standing edict regarding all
followers of Jacob? You are aware of it?" Cecily nodded. "Then there is no need for this trial.
This Council will never support the ravings of that power mad fool." "He is no fool! He is right!
We must fight! We must be the dominant species!" "Silence!" Lorenzo's voice shook the walls.

A better version:

"Ah, a convert of Jacob." Lorenzo's voice sounded forlorn.

"I am proud to belong to Jacob."
Cecily's reply held a note of jubilation, but it brought only anxious murmurs from the Council; I
could smell their fear.
Lorenzo continued. "You know there is a standing edict regarding all followers of Jacob? You
are aware of it?"
Cecily nodded.
"Then there is no need for this trial. This Council will never support the ravings of that power
mad fool."
"He is no fool! He is right! We must fight! We must be the dominant species!"
"Silence!" Lorenzo's voice shook the walls.

In the first paragraph, none of the dialogue is separated and it is difficult to distinguish the
speakers. In the second version, you can see the flow of the dialogue.

An example of a run-on sentence:

I am of the Elite and serve the Vampire Order, we have been the guardians over vampire kind for
nearly two centuries and the Elite keep the secrets, implement the edicts and we protect our kind,
punish wayward individuals, enforce our law and that law is simple, you hunt the invisible, the
homeless, the drug addicts, or you disguise the kill as a mugging gone wrong, a serial killer
never caught.

A better version:

I am of the Elite, and serve the Vampire Order. We have been the guardians over vampire kind
for nearly two centuries. The Elite keep the secrets and implement the edicts. We protect our
kind, punish wayward individuals, and enforce our law. That law is simple; you hunt the
invisible, the homeless and the drug addicts. You disguise the kill; a mugging gone wrong, a
serial killer never caught.

A reader needs to pause, to feel the rhythm in a sentence. If the entire paragraph is one sentence,
there is no break, no flow.

You can rift and free write or jumble down your thoughts to your heart's content if you are the
only one who is going to read it. The minute you decide to share your work, a thought to
presentation must be given. Your writing is a gift to your readers, don't wrap it in wrinkled and
soiled paper.

Writing Examples: Descriptions 

A bit of advice on writing descriptive passages.

Good writing needs to know restraint; DO NOT over detail your work, or pepper it with
adjectives/adverbs, and DO NOT use a straight descriptive technique.

When creating a scene or description, you are trying for atmosphere, to make a reader feel they
are there; the reader does not need an inventory list. Also don't be too sparse with the details;
make sure you add what is needed. Be careful about use of adjectives, especially in dialogue.
Make sure you match the adjective/adverb with the description.

DETAIL EXAMPLE:

A DON'T:
Jess entered in her bedroom to get dressed. She had chosen her favourite sapphire blue, lace-
trimmed camisole top, and her dark black slacks. She had laid them out on her brass bed, across
her green floral print sheets, close to the lime green pillows, while she showered. She stared at
the sheer emerald green curtains on her windows as a breeze blew, and she pulled her top over
her light brown hair, and put on her pants.

A DO:
Jess entered in her bedroom to get dressed after her shower; her favourite blue, lace-trimmed top
and black slacks lay across her brass bed. A breeze fluttered through window as she pulled on
her clothes.

A DON'T:
Butch was standing in the library, watching Jess play the black, shiny grand piano that her
grandmother had given her four years ago for her birthday. He delighted in the sound of her
music mixing with the tick of the old oak and glass grandfather clock.
Beside him was a mahogany wood end table, standing in front of the window, where he now
placed his lemonade. He walked over to the piano, going past all the ugly, ceramic knick-knacks,
the grandfather clock, the stone fireplace, and he ran his hand lovingly over the mantel as was his
habit.

A DO:
Butch was standing in the library, watching Jess play her ebony grand piano. He delighted in the
sound of her music mixing with the tick of the old grandfather clock.
He placed his lemonade on the mahogany end table by the window, and walked towards the
piano. He smiled at the familiar surroundings, and lovingly ran his hand over the stone fireplace
mantel as he went past.

ADJECTIVE/ADVERB EXAMPLE:

A DON'T:
Butch stared longingly, lovingly, hopefully at Jess, wondering sulkily if she would actually speak
to him.
"Hello, Butch," Jess said vaguely, with a smile.

A DO:
Butch stared longingly at Jess, wondering if she would actually speak to him.
"Hello, Butch," Jess said with a smile.

Writing Examples: Characters 

How to write a physical description of a character.

A physical description of any character, should flow naturally out of the scene you are writing; it
SHOULD NOT bring that scene to a boring, thudding halt.

EXAMPLE:
Jack was on his way to the post office, strolling down his street at a leisurely pace. A pretty girl
outside the pharmacy stared, because he was incredibly handsome. He had blond hair, gorgeous
green eyes, tanned, chiseled features, a straight nose, was dressed in a tight t-shirt and blue
jeans.
Her eyes followed him down the street.

This example tells us what Jack looks like, but not much else. It lacks flow and energy.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
Jack was on his way to the post office, strolling down his street at a leisurely pace. A pretty girl
outside the pharmacy stared; Jack cut a swaggering, handsome figure.
The wind ruffled his blond hair, adding to the rakish air he emitted. He always had a devilish
sparkle in his emerald eyes, and it gave the straight, chiseled features of his face a radiance. He
was proud to show off his taut, tanned physique and was dressed in a snug t-shirt and blue jeans.
He threw the girl a bright, wide smile, and was well aware that her eyes followed him down the
street.

In this example, not only do we find out what Jack looks like, but also get some insight into his
personality. It is a good setup for what ever follows.

The First Draft: 

You have finished your first draft, written the characters, formed the plot and penned your ideas.
It's ready, right, to send off to the publisher?

Wrong.

The first draft ALWAYS needs revision, NO exceptions.

Go into editing mode, with the attitude that your work is crap. (If you are a good writer it will not
be that bad, but you must let go of any affection you have for your prose.)
Be ruthless, tighten weak passages, eliminate fluff, kill off useless characters and polish your
plot points.

Then do it again, and again, and again if necessary. And don't forget to check spelling and
grammar.

Only then, after all that editing, may it just be ready to send to an editor or publisher.

Never start a story with "It was a Dark and Stormy Night" 
How to use weather in a descriptive passage

Lately, I've come across discussions that advise a writer to avoid recounting
the weather in your descriptive passages, as it can seem cliché, boring or slow the pace of the
writing. All true, but I'm not against using it; I feel used properly and sparingly it is a wonderful
tool for creating mood and atmosphere.
The key, I believe, is not making the weather the focus of the passage; it must lurk in the
background.
The following examples of weather in descriptive passages are excerpts from my short story
collection, Inside Realms:

From the story Elite of the Blood -

"It was night, and I was standing in the rain, the cold wet seeping into my skin and hair. I had
closed my eyes, and I could hear the thrumming of the raindrops as they hit the ground. But it
was a heartbeat I was trying to hear."

I used the weather as both mood and a contrast to what the protagonist was trying to hear.

From the story Song Rise -

"The mountain track was snow packed, still locked in a northern winter chill, although it was the
beginning of spring.

He left his footsteps behind him like tiny echoes as he marched through the frozen vista
scrambling to be reborn. The wind around him blew bitter, a hungry lament keening down from
the caves.

"To freeze my bones," he growled through the gale. "No doubt I'll lay dead somewhere before
this day is through."

He kept on walking, passing the directional marker within the hour, as the sky darkened steadily
and storm clouds became the heavens.

The clouds hung low; fat, ebony shapes devouring all substance, their threat enclosing the
landscape in a sunless expanse. Hoped for snow came as ice, sharp and fast, coating the trees
that he plodded past, frosting them in fingers of crystal.
The ghostly panorama lay out before him, a dreary shadowed white, shades of grey and silver
muting what little colour had survived the frigid weather."

With this piece I set the atmosphere, and an obstacle for the character. It also illustrates the
importance of his task, and reveals some of his personality.

© 2008 A. F. Stewart

Worldbuilding: Part 1 
Geography
How do you create a Fantasy World?

One of two ways: either you start from scratch and create an imaginary world (an example: The
Wizard of Earthsea )or build fantasy into our real world (an example: The Dresden Files).

Starting from scratch:

The first thing you do when building your world from scratch is decide what you want your
world to look like. Is it going to have continents, are you going to just concentrate on one region
only, is it going to be a world of water and islands, perhaps it is under the sea, or a desert world.
Whatever you decide, you must know the basic geography is like. I suggest you draw some
maps; they don't have to be perfect, just a guideline to help you out. In creating the world of my
novel-in-progress, Song of the Wind and Sea, I drew two maps: one topographical, with the
geographic regions labelled (I colour-coded the geography) and one listing all my kingdoms, and
their cities and towns. (If you need help with creating geography do some research into
topography, and look at different types of maps.)
Once you know the basic geography, fill in some details; creating an outline can be helpful. Now
you need not be too detailed at this point, just know where your mountains are, your forests,
whether your main city is built on a hill, are there dangerous animals lurking in your regions, are
there rivers that your characters will have to deal with, etc. More details will most likely emerge
as you write, so if you start with maps and a reference outline, it is easier to keep things straight.

Worldbuilding- Part 2 
Creating Locations and Society

Now you have your map, and you know what your world looks like. It is time to build in some
society.
Here's where your research and your imagination come together.

The easiest place to start is with the main location of your book. It could be a town, a forest, an
ivory tower, but it will need a political structure, people, habits, traditions, etc.

I'll use a town as an example of how to construct your location.

First you'll need a general layout of your town, and a of course a name.
We'll call our town Zathnir, and we'll assume that the layout is based on a medieval township
(and we'll assume the layout of a medieval township has been researched). It is a walled town,
with two gates, one in the east and one opposite in the west. The layout is quite haphazard, as
sections have been added to town growth willy-nilly. Also, know where the roads are, any town
wells, etc.
Second, you must decide the main buildings and places within the town. You can, of course, add
places if you find you need them later.

OK, for purposes of the example our main character in this world is a soldier. So, in Zathnir we
will need a tavern, called Greb's, for our character to hang out in. Also we will need barracks
where he will live. And you will have to decide where else he goes in the town: For instance,
does he have guard duty at one of the Gates? Does he buy protective charms at a shop? Does he
have a horse at the stables? He may need new weapons, and will have to use a blacksmith. And
list will go on. And the more characters you have, the more places you may need.

Now that you have an idea of your buildings, you can fit them into your town layout.
You will have to be careful where you put shops, stables, etc, and this is where you again apply
your research of a medieval township.
So we employ the research and the first thing we decide on is a marketplace and shop area in or
near the center of town. Here we put the shop where our character buys his protective charms,
the stall where he gets his fresh fruit, buys his clothes, or whatever. Now we can place the tavern
close to the marketplace, or near the barracks, which we will put near the East Gate. The stables
and blacksmith shop will be near each other, and will also be close to the East Gate.
Any other shops or buildings will be placed according to research.

Okay, we have built a basic town. Now what?

Now you have to decide what kind of people live there, and what kind of lives they have.

Building World Culture 

How do you create a Fantasy Culture?

The first thing you need to decide when creating a world's culture is what type of people live
there.

Are they a war-like people, pacifists, sea-farers, nomads, horsemen, etc.

Do they have a complex spiritual/religious network, or does it consist more of tribal religions.
Perhaps it has no religious structure.
What is the government structure? Is it male dominated, or female dominated? Or is it equally
balanced? Is there a central government, or perhaps there are separately governed city-states. Is it
a monarchy, dictatorship, republic, empire, or theocracy?
If your world has a magic based society, what sort? Are the wizards hermits, nomadic, or town-
based? Are they rulers or an influential power? Do they have an organization that is fundamental
to your society or are they a secret group feared by the people.

You will have to sort out your cliques, governments, guilds, institutes, etc. and then decide where
your character's allegiances belong.

How to build fantasy into the real world. 

Using real world settings for your fantasy novel is easier in the sense you do
not have to build a world from scratch; you already have a pre-existing set of rules and a culture.
It does come with restrictions; you have less of a fantasy world to work with, everything
supernatural has to be structured inside reality. In other words, wizards won't be strolling down
Main Street in long robes, spinning pretty green orbs in the wake.

When creating a real world fantasy, you can choose to use a historical setting or a current
timeline. A historical timeline will need extensive research and careful attention to historical
detail. A modern timeline will still need research, but of course you will be more familiar with
the customs and mannerisms of present day.

If you decide to build a fantasy world within reality, your first rule is believability. In order to
make your world believable characters must act and react if they were living in our reality.

When everyday characters come face to face with mythical creatures, or fantastical creations
they must act appropriately. (For instance: The new girlfriend of your intrepid hero is confronted
by a vampire. It is not likely she will not say, "Wow, you are so cool!" No, it is far more likely
she will scream, run, or possibly hit him over the head with a large object.)

Now you can have established characters that are aware of your fantasy world, (usually the main
players, but peripheral characters can be in the know as well), but more often than not they will
be leading double lives and keeping secrets. (Example: Your hero is part of a cabal of vampire
hunters, but since that doesn't pay well he has a day job. His co-workers no nothing of his
vampire hunting, and he often has to lie to explain bruises, absences or odd behaviour.)

Even your fantasy characters must live somewhat within our reality. Now your vampires may fly
and defy the laws of gravity, but if they live in secret and prowl the night for unsuspecting
humans, they won't be broadcasting their existence on YouTube. In fact such characters would
go out of their way to avoid technology such as cell phone cameras or security videos.

So figure out who your characters are, where and what time they live in, and how they are going
to interact with their world.
Alternate World Histories

A variation of weaving fantasy into the real world is the alternate history. This is a world where
history has differed from the course of events we know. You can have a straight historical
deviation such as the Allied Forces lost WWII (yes, I know it's cliche) or you can go further and
make it an alternate fantasy history. An example of this would be a world where vampires waged
war with humans and now rule our modern society.

The key to alternate history is to mix plausible historic changes with familiar things. (For
example: The vampire rules history would feature a drastically different world government
structure, but vampires could still be using cellphones, wi-fi internet, google.)

The one must to writing an alternate history is very thorough research. You must know your
history before you change it.

After having one or two good ideas, sit and start to write topics on a paper. Normally, these
ideas revolve around a major event, like a war or someone's death. Ask simple questions, like
"why?," "who did that?," "when?," "how?" and go to more detailed questions like "How did it
change the world?," "How did it affect the people around?" and questions like that. In the end,
this will make the major plot, where you will focus the events of your story, followed by other
secondary events, that will make the body of the book.
 Start creating the protagonist(s). Good, now you have a couple of major events, which will
make the body of your story. It's time to proceed to the creation of your protagonist(s). Is it a
female or a male? What's his/her role in the story? Define its main personality traits, without
going too much into detail. Write them down in a paper. Do you want to make a very realistic
character? Yes, I know that's what you want. Let's save that for later.
 3
Decide where your creations should live. Humans live on Earth, but where do your characters
live? For now, decide that. Is it our Earth, in a parallel universe? Is it a world you wish to create
by the root? Decide this, and, as in the previous step, don't go much into detail. Write the ruler of
your world, the races of the people that live there etc.
 4
Ok, now write it all down: Your main character, the major events, the kind of world it is, your
goals with this story. From now on, everything you'll do will have this major plot as a base.
 5
Look at the plot. Now you'll need some alterations.  

1. Look at the major event. Twist it, model it, make it feel believable.
2. Start to gather other characters. These will help your protagonist on his/her quest or
journey. Not every hero needs to be a lone wolf. Your character may be cold at heart, but
that doesn't mean he/she hasn't a family or friends. Don't make your story revolve only
around your character. Show the feelings of the people around your protagonist and how
his/her decisions affect them. Don't make a story of one person but a story about the
journey of one person.
3. Join other secondary events to the major plot. These can be personal events (like the birth
of a child, a marriage, the death of someone dear). In one way or another, these will
eventually twist the plot and fill your story with feelings and a sense of humanity.
4. Make your character(s) grow. A long journey through the world, or a near-death
experience, (even falling in love) makes everyone grow up a little. Certainly you don't
want your character to be dumb, or stupid. After those secondary events, make changes,
(subtle or drastic) to your protagonist's personality.
5. Make obstacles in your character's life. Not everything will be easy for him/her. Make
sure you're writing a fantasy novel, not a narration of a walk through the garden.

 6
Now, grab a piece of paper and a pencil. It's time to build your fantasy world. If you're writing
about a world that, in fact, is Earth, print a full map and with a pencil (or a black/red pen), start
to make the alterations to our beloved planet. If you're doing this, do a lot of research in history
to see if you can adapt Earth's History to the plot of your book. If you're planning to build a
world from root, start drawing simple lines. You can make seas, oceans and lakes, mountains and
other strange factors in your world. Draw the lines of kingdom's lands and empires. Put post-its
and other notes in your map to locate some events. Remember: your map doesn't have to be well
made. If you want it to be, be free to use any materials you like, and have fun!
 7
Plan a chronology for your story. This can have events that appear in your book, or just stories
of other events that indirectly will explain the ones in your plot. Don't think it's a waste of time to
build a world which for the most part won't appear in the book. It's important for the reader to
know that the writer knows what he's talking about, and isn't putting random things in the pages
of the book. Make your characters tell a legend or mention some event that you have carefully
planned out. As the writer, you have to know something that the reader's don't. Just make sure
you know what you're talking about.
 8
Start to plan everything about your character. This is the time for you to go really deep into
your main character's heart. Does he/she have any fear (death, darkness)? Where/when was
he/she born? Under which circumstances? Does he/she like to bite her nails? To play a musical
instrument, perhaps? Be free, this is your story.
 9
After you finish the chronology of your world, start to write about your world. What kind of
clothes do the people wear? Are they superstitious? Are they happy with their king/emperor? Is
there any kind of academy where soldiers/magicians are trained? What are the rules of your
kingdom? Is it forbidden to kill/use magic? Do they have specific rules in a family? Can women
fight in war too, or is it only for men? Are there any fantasy creatures roaming the plains of your
world? Do people believe in gods? And who are their gods? It's time to plan everything out. This
will probably be the biggest step in your story. The base will be here. Everything you'll come up
with needs to be here. Don't worry if you're taking too long writing everything out. A good story
needs to have a solid base.
 10
After the last step you'll hopefully know what will happen in your story. Grab another piece
of paper. Start to make the chapters of your story. Define what kind of writer you will be.
What will be the length of your chapters and book(s)? Will you write in third or first person?
Will you describe your characters and surroundings to make the story more personal to the
reader or you won't care, and just want to make an epic legend? Write the interactions of
characters. Make a copy of your world map and draw the lines of the journey of your characters.
Make a quick reference to each location so you'll describe it more openly. Don't be afraid to
create and to plan.
 11
Let others read your work. Print out your finished product and hand out multiple copies to
people who may enjoy reading your novel. It can be just a few close friends at first, but once you
start getting good criticism and you start building confidence, you might want to consider trying
to publish. Accept any criticisms, as they will make you a better writer in the future. Fix anything
that your editor tells you. Believe that you can be published if you put your mind to it. But try
not to hope too strongly for your book to be published, for you could end up very depressed if all
doesn't go to plan. If your work is rejected by one editor, edit the story or send it to a different
publisher.