#image_title
Building a fantasy world, especially for those doing it for the first time, is overwhelming since there’s so much to do and so much to learn. When it comes to actually creating a story that takes place within it, well it’s a whole other matter. One common problem all new creators struggle with is getting the right fantasy storylines.
Storylines are the lifeblood of a tale. They are what keeps people invested since they want to see how they end. The trouble creators have is trying to find the magic number of plot-lines since having too many makes it difficult for them to keep track of what’s going on whereas having too few makes it feel empty and shallow.
Having the right number of fantasy storylines isn’t enough. It’s also what they are about. Your audience can only follow so many which means you need to devote more time to those that are important and have consequential effects both on the world itself and the characters involved. Don’t expend time and energy on storylines that go nowhere or are irrelevant in the long run.
Another important part of having great plot-lines are varying their duration. If they all ended at the same time, there would be no motivation for your viewers to keep going, even if they love your world and characters since everything is all done. Thus, varying their length helps keep their interest and gives you an opportunity to give certain characters their moment in the sun.
This is the twentieth article in The Sunlit Hearth series. If you like this article and are curious to see what else we have, check our blog page where you can find even more there!
The legendary stories of the genre don’t just have memorable characters that engender interest; they have compelling plot-lines that generate and maintain interest from beginning to end. If you notice, they have just enough to keep you on the hook and the desire to see them to their end keeps you going.
While it’s a great idea to brainstorm all the potential fantasy storylines that pop up in your head, actually incorporating them in your story is another matter entirely. It can be tempting to bring them all in but it isn’t a good idea to do so. You want to strive to prevent plot-line overload where there’s just too many for your viewers to keep track of. They will start to tune some out or worse yet, decide going further just isn’t worth it.
Generally speaking, the more major characters you have, the more plot-lines you’ll have. Even though it’s a rule of thumb that each one has his own storyline, it’s advisable to spread them out. This gives you some flexibility in structuring where they go as well as give your audience some breathing room since they can only digest so much at a time.
Creators run the risk of having too similar fantasy storylines which can lead to confusion. Merging them prevents this from happening and frees up creators to explore different plot-lines using other characters, especially those who are suited for them. Having overlap between multiple storylines is part and parcel of creating a timeless tale that captivates people as long as it doesn’t lead to bewilderment for the audience.
Keep the number of major storylines low. Ten and fewer are ideal but some worlds have those that go well beyond ten — for example, think of A Song of Fire and Ice — so if you pursue the latter avenue, be sure to give a compelling reason for your audience to keep going. It could be the appearance of new characters or events that upend the trajectory of the preexisting plot-lines or the downfall of some characters that lead to their departure from them.
When it comes to coming up with storylines, the quantity isn’t the only thing that counts. Their quality matters as well, if not more than the number of plot-lines. You want to develop ones that keep your audience invested, not those that deter them or make them want to not continue any further.
One way to take advantage of fantasy storylines is to use those germane to the main plot. This means all those that affect it, whether in a major or minor way, are included. Your viewers will instinctively understand that everything they read and see is connected to the main plot. This allows them to fully immerse themselves in the story and keep them engaged right to the end.
The second way is to eliminate those that go nowhere. Storylines that meander with no clear end in sight or those that sharply veer off the themes the main plot are focusing on are gone since they contribute little to nothing to what’s going on. However, there is an exception to this and this especially applies to creators who envision multiple volumes where they can use this to set up future plot-lines that eventually take center stage later on in the series.
Have some fantasy storylines besides the main one that incorporate elements of worldbuilding. Doing so enables you to devote some time to showing the audience parts of the world, how it functions, and so on as the main plot moves along. Smart creators use them in tandem with the main one where they temporarily branch off it to do their own thing before rejoining it to highlight ideas and concepts that are instrumental in the framework of the world and could very well pay dividends down the road.
When you read your favorite fantasy books or play video games where you fight dragons, you’ll notice that all the storylines they introduce all reach their resolution at different times with the overarching one reaching a grand crescendo towards the end. Varying their duration helps to ensure that people remain invested in the story since there are still some outstanding plot-lines that need resolved soon.
A rule of thumb when constructing the major fantasy storylines is to introduce them within the beginning stages of the story. Doing this gives you more time to flesh them out as well as give your viewers more time to absorb what’s going on, what they need to pay close attention to, etcetera. This includes characters, magical objects, and so on.
Sometimes you can use what’s called a plot-within-a-plot. This is where you take a major plot-line and introduce a subplot that doesn’t last long but its resolution impacts the former. It could be the introduction of a new character that ultimately becomes a key player in the latter stages of the tale or a concept/idea that doesn’t take too long to come to fruition.
Since many fantasy storylines feature various towns the protagonist encounters throughout his journey, some creators like to spend some time in each one by introducing an issue that the hero must deal with. During his time there, he socializes with the townsfolk, learns about a town’s history and culture which give him a better idea on how to deal with whatever is troubling them. These plot-lines typically don’t last too long but they are important in terms of worldbuilding since they showcase different areas of the world.
Creating a memorable tale requires great work and no shortage of great ideas that eventually become fantasy storylines. It’s up to you, an aspiring creator, to come up with plot-lines that keep your audience on the edge of their seats, not those that overwhelm them or make them feel like they have no idea what’s going on.
Let me know what you think in the comments below. (Note: this is an account-exclusive feature).
If you don’t have one, you can register here. It only takes a few moments of your time!
Liked this article and want to subscribe? All you have to do is fill out the form below and that’s it!
Thanks for reading this and until the next time,
Sunfire
Subscribing means you receive:
You can always unsubscribe anytime.
CONTENTS The Premise One advantage of fantasy worlds is that they are populated with all…
CONTENTS Overview With so many new stories and fantasy worlds coming out every year, people…
CONTENTS Introduction Navi from Ocarina of Time. The sims with wings from The Sims series.…
CONTENTS The Premise When it comes to building both a fantasy world and the story…
CONTENTS Overview One of the best parts of creating stories set in fantasy worlds is…
CONTENTS Introduction There are many things that go into constructing a story. However, what separates…
This website uses cookies.