10 steps to a good story

A good fantasy story is made up of ten simple element.

1. 1. Hero: simply the main character. Often go through a change throughout the course of the story, and have some sort of power, though not necessarily, a super power. Maybe they are brave, or charismatic. But, they must change (they need not change for the better, but that is preferable), they must effect the course of the story.

1. 2. A bad guy: duh. No matter what sort of bad guys you have from the scary-beyond-all-reason, all the way to the incompetent bad guy. Whoever it is, they must oppose the hero.

1. 3. Good and evil: the two opposing forces, forever at war, provide an essential part of the story. Neither can ever be defeated for good, only beaten until they regain their strength (rather like my dust bunnies).

1. 4. Magic: why call it a fantasy if there aren’t dragons, wizards, curses, and prophecies?

1. 5. Romance: laugh if you will, but romance is important. Not only is it a great motivator, it brings out the best and the worst in people. Love is one of mankind’s few redeeming qualities. And it makes a story that much better.

1. 6. Wise old mentor: your hero doesn’t instantly learn everything. They were taught by someone with vast experience. Gandalf, Dumbledore, Yoda, take your pick.

1. 7. The uncommonly funny fool: you need comic relief. Sometimes they come in pairs, sometimes solo act, but if there isn’t someone joking around, this story is a waste of time.

1. 8. Someone dies: it’s sad, but true. We can’t all have happy endings. Someone has to snuff it. You always feel like shooting the author after it happens when you’re reading, but trust me, as an author myself. In the moment when they die, the reader could never be as heartbroken as the author. And no, they can’t come back from the dead in the end. They have to be dead.

1. 9. Ultimate low point: the moment where all hope is lost. Where the bad guy has won, and hero failed, and the world quenched in darkness. Usually this is countered with the sunrise and a spark of hope, which is quickly fanned into a flame.

1. 10. Happy ever after: when evil is vanquished, and they all live happily ever after.

This is just the guidelines for a good fantasy, you don’t have to follow these rules. Unless you want it to suck. Just kidding.

*I wrote this last night, but was unable to post.