I’m a writer who (almost always) writes about practical, down-to-earth things. The stuff of everyday life. Mysteries grounded in the real world. A wrongful arrest. A stolen dog. Love stories. Falling in. Falling out. Trials and tribulations therein. The human condition. Etc.
So, when I recently typed “THE END” on my latest WIP (a mystery novel about—wait for it—a woman who turns to solving neighbors’ mysteries to resolve her real-life problems) with no idea whatsoever what I wanted to write next, and the very next day I had a new idea for a new story, it was serendipity—magic itself.
But here’s the part I wasn’t prepared for. This new story that came to me in a flash, while walking toward my daily 10,000 steps, is definitely not based in reality. This story is straight-up fantasy. Okay, that’s not right. It involves a clash between the real world and a made-up world.
A Brand-New World
Which brings me to PROBLEM 1. This story will involve world-building. This is the first hurdle. How can I write about [INSERT TOP SECRET IDEA HERE*] when I’ve never “built a world”? The closest I’ve come is writing historial fiction. This world I will need to write is fantastical, and I will (not necessarily) have anything to go on but (maybe) fairytales.
Leading to PROBLEM 2. I love researching as I write. But with a fantasy world, who’s to tell me except myself what is and isn’t “real”? What does and doesn’t belong in the story? Will I miss the real-life research?
From there, I immediately leap to PROBLEM 3. How can I—a writer who’s never written or thought in fantasy—know how to write a story or a world like this? I’m afraid I won’t be able to describe what I see in my mind. If I write about a dog, you see a dog in your mind’s eye. But if I write about a group of Plagoria jangaleria, each no bigger than your index finger, what do you see? This worries me. You all know what I mean when I say worry. Same with sadness or love. But if I say I’m wavregging? Huh? And if I write about inanimate objects’ emotions, like a black hole’s feelings as it implodes?
I wish I could think like one of my fantasy-writing friends who once told me, when I was struggling over a (very-human) scene involving a truck waiting for someone, that she would not wonder about what was happening in the waiting truck or with the waiting human, but about what was happening in the woods beyond the truck.
What story is going on there?
It makes me wonder how I came up with this particular idea. The short answer is I don’t know. I can look at random thoughts and conversations I’ve had in the last month that could have introduced the idea, but nothing concrete. I do know that at the very moment I thought of this idea, I was thinking a very specific tangible thought about my husband’s running route and how it might take him near the river, but that has no clear relationship to [INSERT TOP SECRET IDEA HERE*]. From this article in Stylist, I learned “…some authors can indeed pinpoint the exact moment when they were struck by a particular idea or character,” while others may take years to develop an idea.
Where the Magic Happens
Regardless of why I question, I do question. Yet, I am obsessed. I’ve written several pages of notes and have begun to research and shape the fantasy. I hesitate to use the word love (yet), but I do feel infatuated, impassioned as I have about no story in a long time. But I also feel a little panic, and when I do, I take a deep breath and remind myself to think magically.
MAGICAL WAY OF THINKING 1. Look for the similarities not the differences. Writing fantasy may not be that much different than writing reality when I get down to writing. It’s still about writing the movie in my mind. What difference does it make if the person (or creature) has green hair or black? Or if there’s a creature at all? Or if the setting is on Earth, in the air, underwater, or underground? The important thing, as always, is to capture the scenes and feelings evoked.
MAGICAL WAY OF THINKING 2. Give it a chance. Let the writing flow. Write (or plot) whatever comes to mind and write the story of my heart. Embrace a challenging endeavor to at least fulfill curiosity and interest. Embrace the passion.
MAGICAL WAY OF THINKING 3. Regardless of fantasy or reality, it’s all about mining real-life insecurities and fears and imbuing them into the story. I once read that the reason fantasy is so popular right now is that we need an escape from the terrifying reality surrounding us; we can deal with imaginary terrors much more easily than real terrors. Spoiler and irony: in my case the fantasy world characters deal better with problems than the characters in the “real world.”
So, I’ll let myself escape to my fantasy world. I’m going to let it wash over and through me and let my inner magician out. I’m going to do what any of us as writers need to do—acknowledge the fear and push the doubts away. I’ll do my best to write freely and without judgment about things I have only imagined, and when I get scared I’ll remind myself that in this very real way this fantasy is just like a “real life” story: real-life stories, too, can create these fears and doubts.
Because most of my writing problems and inhibitions and fears (and I’m guessing many or all of yours) are caused by my real-life negativity, which perhaps—just like the story I’m writing—can be resolved by magical thinking.
Have you ever been struck with an idea that seemed implausible for you to take on? What are your self-imposed fears and inhibitions and/or preconceived notions about your writing? Please share! (And any advice about writing fantasy would be very appreciated!)
* If you’re wondering why I’m referring to my idea as [INSERT TOP SECRET IDEA HERE], it’s because recently I talked to a wise editor about why I was having trouble feeling passionate about my writing. S/he reminded me of something I used to do long ago: not speak of my projects until they are ready to be made public. This one is most decidedly not. I’m trying to preserve the secret and thus the passion for the idea.
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About Julia Munroe Martin
Julia Munroe Martin (@jmunroemartin) is a writer and blogger who lives in an old house in southern coastal Maine. Julia's other passion is photography, and if she's not writing at the dining room table or a local coffeeshop, you'll likely find her on the beach or dock taking photos. Julia writes The Empty Nest Can Be Murder mystery series as J. M. Maison.
Julia, thanks for this excellent essay. As one who loves to switch genres (or at least to contemplate doing that), I can make very good use of it.
Your wise editor, who advises you not to speak of your projects until you are ready to make them public, reminds me of another wise person (sorry, can’t remember the name) who said that whenever you talk about your WIP in too much detail or with too much enthusiasm, you leak out the energy that should go into the writing itself. That make great sense to me.
As for plunging ahead despite fears and inhibitions, another wise person (sorry, no name again) said in a workshop that when you are writing along and come to a stopper (like hair color or a creature that doesn’t exist in real life), write HOLE and keep on going. Then go back later and work with the HOLEs.
I think both of these pieces of advice are about maintaining momentum in our writing–directing the energy where it most needs to go.
Thank you, Anna, glad you found it useful. I love the “other wise person’s” advice to leave a HOLE when you come to one. I will most definitely be using that device at times in this work. Yes to maintaining momentum where the energy most needs to go!
I’m excited for you, Julia! Sounds like your muse has decided to have you stretch yourself. That’s good, right? I mean, I’m sure she would know that you’re ready.
Reminds me of this Pressfield quote: “Fear is good. Like self-doubt, fear is an indicator. Fear tells us what we have to do. Remember one rule of thumb: the more scared we are of a work or calling, the more sure we can be that we have to do it.” – S.P.
Regarding your story idea, I think you’re on the right track. I wouldn’t worry too much about the minutia of world-building. That stuff will come in time. Focus on the core of the story–the human elements. My favorite fantasies are the ones that are grounded in familiarity. Even the magic should be a metaphor for our humanity–and often even powerful magic reveals our human fragility. It may be about the fantastic at the surface, but once immersed, a good fantasy is about applicability to our lives. That’s what the deep dive reveals to us fantasy readers.
Welcome to the genre. Enjoy the swim.
Thank you a million, Vaughn. I am going to print out your comment and keep it where I can read it for inspiration. I love the Pressfield quote and your advice is really helpful right now. I love the magic as a metaphor for humanity. Truly appreciate the kind words and help!
Oh, boy(girl!), I get it. My work-in-progress is based on a concept that has pushed me far outside of my comfort zone. As a regular dose of writing medicine to combat doubt, I reminded myself that the story came to *me,* therefore I – – in some part of my brain – – would know how to reach it in order to make it live on the page. I just needed to take it one step at a time, strap on my shoes, and get going on the journey.
I’m really excited for you and this new story, Julia, and I hope you let us know how it goes, as you make magic on the page. Good luck! :-)
Phew! So glad you can relate! It was even hard to — dare I say — admit I was dabbling. This is me strapping on my shoes and going on the journey. I’ll keep you posted. Thanks for your support (and can’t wait for your story, too!) <3
Generally, I don’t write true fantasy either, but my ideas often contains an element that is not real world. I suppose that comes from my love of magical realism despite being someone who prides herself on rationality and skepticism.
However, at my drop-in writing last year, I found myself writing serially. I write about 300 words at each session and I found one character recurring, then two characters in these short scenes. After about four sessions (not consecutive), I decided I needed to find out if there was a story behind it. I ended up with a 2,000 word short story that got it out of my system. I do wonder if I’ll decide one morning that it needs to be a novel. If I do, I know it will be the world-buiding that scares me the most.
I know what you mean about an element that is not the real world (one of my novels is about time travel, which is not a central plot point but more of a vehicle — like you I pride myself on my rationality and skepticism but love time travel), and I love your anecdote about the drop-in writing. I definitely need to find out if there’s any story behind my idea, too. Maybe it will end at 2,000 words? Maybe it’s a novel. I so appreciate your POV, Jill, thank you!
Good for you! Fantasy can be fun. One point worth revision: “I once read that the reason fantasy is so popular right now is that we need an escape from the terrifying reality surrounding us; we can deal with imaginary terrors much more easily than real terrors.” Here’s the problem with that attitude/opinion. We spend some measure each day in sleep–with a little luck, 8 hours. Every time we sleep, we dream. So, to see the flaw in the “escape” opinion, think of it this way: waking life is an escape from dreaming. They are, after all, each filled with horrors (and blessings) that feel real at the time.
As a veteran of two “fantasy” novels (the action is set in our reality), my only advice is to make sure your fantasy world is internally consistent—no new stuff just to get out of a plot problem—and has limits, as any system must.
That is a great point! I actually (really truly) had it in my notes that in addition to world building, this is the thing I knew I had to do: have consistent rules followed by the world. Such very valuable advice to make sure it’s internally consistent — THANK YOU!!
I’m rooting for you, Julia. And what Vaughn said. Concentrate on your characters and they will build the world for you.
An inspiration that lures you from your comfort zone. How cool is that? Deep water cool. Blessed be your journey.
Thank you so much. And I kinda like it being called deep water cool — thank you for rooting for me <3
Julia, stories fall from the sky—or freeze onto shrubs. A novel I collaborated on started from an email message from a friend:
“… an old college friend posted a phrase on Facebook, describing a large icicle that is quite simply a magnificent book title:
“Swirled all the way to the shrub”
Not sure of the magnificence, but my friend was frothing to write a short story based on that title. My first chapter had The Shrub being a Prohibition-era speakeasy. And we were off. 90,000 words later, we had a novel.
I have no advice on writing fantasy (though fairies dart in the corner of my eye and are gone when I look directly. Or are those leprechauns?), but if the story moves you, move with it. Good luck!
That’s such a great story, Tom — I love that you started with a great title. It sounds like a cool book and like a lot of fun to collaborate on! Thank you for you encouragement and well wishes!
Go Julia go! I love that you are following your idea and trekking into unknown territory. xo
Thank you, Hal! You’re the best! xox
It seems to me that this is going to be a powerful story, as is has got such a hold on you, in spite of you resisting it at first! :-)
As for the fantasy writing: My WIP is situated on a different world too, but of course not everything is different. So I concentrate on describing the different bits, and hope that if I write just “computer” without further details the reader will assume it is a computer like in our world. And I think most readers who like to dive into a strange new world are quite happy to fill in some of the blanks by their own imagination (I do when reading speculative fiction). They need to get a sense, a feeling of your world of course, but then I am sure it will be all right. Everyone will imagine it a bit differently of course, but I don’t think that is a problem at all.
It really does have a strong hold so I’m running with it to see where it goes. Your advice about what to concentrate on with description makes *so* much sense — I love this, especially: “Everyone will imagine it a bit differently of course, but I don’t think that is a problem at all.” Thank you for your encouragement and advice!
One of the best things I think a fantasy writer can do is combine character building with world building. In N.K. Jemisin’s The Fifth Season, those gifted/cursed with the ability of magic are taken away to be taught at special school (for their own sakes and that of others) This is explicated by one of the characters being a little girl who has been discovered as magical and having to leave everything she has ever known.
That makes so much sense, thank you for the reassurance. Also thank you for the reference to N.K. Jemisin’s book. That’s the other thing — I’ve *read* very little fantasy so I feel behind the curve that way. I will definitely look at The Fifth Season, it sounds great! Any other recommendations of well done world building combined with character building would be very appreciated. Thank you, David!
Julia, I second David’s Jemisin recommendation. She’s a master world-builder. Also, I saw her do a session on her world-building process a few years ago. She’s got her outline available on her website, here:
http://nkjemisin.com/2015/08/worldbuilding-101/
Go get ’em, my friend!
Thank you so much!! Can’t wait!
This is a very great post!
thank you!
Julia, I’m a day late here, and I could feel your excitement and confusion and skepticism as I read your post. And I love that you are obsessed and will keep going. You inspire me.
Do you remember William Barrett, author of LILIES OF THE FIELD? Not many folks know that he wrote a series of novellas with a kind of magic in them. My favorite is FLIGHT FROM YOUTH about a flier in WWI whose love for a woman makes him do something seemingly impossible by any laws of nature. I won’t say more in case you want to read it, but it’s one of my favorite books and I’ve read it over and over again. What made it unforgettable wasn’t the magic – it was that the magic was in service to a depth of love you could feel in your bones.
My only advice is keep going. Let your body, your heart, tell you where to go, and follow where it takes you. I’ll read it.
Thank you.
Carol,
You’re the only one who mentioned this in comments: “I could feel your excitement and confusion and skepticism…” and you nailed it. Every day I both feel excited but also confused and skeptical about my…here’s the word I used in the first draft of this post… ridiculous idea.
I’ve never read anything by William Barrett, and I will definitely read the book you recommended, thank you, it sounds remarkable.
Your comment means the world to me, and I’m taking it to heart!
xox, Julia
Julia,
You might find it hard to get a copy of Flight from Youth – it’s long out of print, and the used copies are now upwards of $100. However, Abebooks does have it in paperback, combined with a couple of other of his “magical” novellas – The Edge of Things.
There’s another of his novels that I love even more, The Sudden Strangers. A character “walks on the streets” of another character’s life to get reacquainted. He does it literally, and also emotionally. It’s one of the most beautiful and satisfying books I’ve ever read.
Barrett is long out of fashion and mostly out of print, but I’ve read many of his novels and loved most of them. They all have some connection with Catholicism (except for The Edge of Things), and the kind of spiritualism that infuses his books is that of real people living real lives. I love him.
And yes, I felt all of that when I read your post. That’s actually why I was a day late with my comment. I had to put it aside for a day, then come back to it, because I felt it so profoundly. Sometimes when I’m reading what I’ve written, I feel almost sick inside with astonishment that I wrote it. It actually makes it tough to keep going, and so occasionally I stop.
Some novels come from something so deep in us that it is frightening to think of revealing that much to anyone else. In a way, creating a whole world reveals a great deal about you, and the fact that you are willing to dive in says a lot as well. Knowing you’ve taken up that challenge helps me keep going.
Let me know what you think of Barrett’s story – I hope you like it. If you want to continue this conversation via email, Therese can give you my email. Either way, this has been great.
By the way, “ridiculous” is exactly what my mother would have said. Or “silly.” What I loved was that one moment she’d say, “You can do anything you want.” Then the next moment, when I said I wanted to write, which she didn’t like as an option, her response was, “What makes you think you’re good enough?”
So to hell with “ridiculous!” The only thing ridiculous would be to feel so strongly and not write it!
Did we have the same mother? Seriously. My parents (both college professors) were clear that writing was not only silly, but wouldn’t even acknowledge me when I talked about it. And my mother, too, said I could do anything I wanted to do! Then she’d compare me to “real authors” who I clearly couldn’t hold a candle to. Writing fiction would never be of “help to humanity,” her only measure of success. Don’t get me started. But THANK YOU AGAIN, Carol. You made my day!