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Fantasy, like most other genres, has a large range of cliches found throughout its stories. These are common themes and points in a story within the genre. With fantasy having quite a few of them, I'm going to be talking about just a few common fantasy cliches. However, this does NOT mean that these are boring, unacceptable plot points to use in your stories - cliches become cliches for a reason: they're popular! That said, too many cliches can sometimes weigh down the overall quality of the story. Use them wisely!
The Chosen One. This is an idea that comes up a lot. In stories like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and plenty of others, the protagonist is often the only one in the entire novel who can save everyone - or, at the very least, do what is necessary to allow others to do so. Personally, I think this plot is overused. In order to make your story a bit more interesting, try an idea that requires more than just "destiny" in order for your protagonist to be special.
Dreams. In fantasy novels, characters experiencing plot-altering situations while dreaming is a highly popular concept. Sometimes, an entire chapter is dedicated to a dream, but readers will not find it out until the end. This can be very misleading, and even quite confusing. Dreams can play an interesting role in fantasy, but if they're crystal-clear and require no deciphering of any kind, it becomes a bit unbelievable - even withing the realm of fantasy.
Prophecies. Similarly to The Chosen One, prophecies are overused. When writing prophecies, keep in mind what authors have done in the past to incorporate them into a plot. Think of your own unique spin on a prophecy! Perhaps it isn't the novel's main focus, or maybe it's something a minor character has to face instead.
Last but not least, villains. Villains are often a necessary aspect of fantasy stories. However, there are many instances of villains being unmotivated, underdeveloped, and only existing purely to be a roadblock to get in the protagonist's way. This is why I always believe it's very, very important to understand your antagonist's entire story arc before you begin - maybe even before your protagonist(s) are totally figured out. That said, your story does not have to have a "big bad villain", either. For example, in the novel I'm currently working on, my antagonist is a group of people who once truly believed they were doing the right thing, but have then gone on to realize that the way to gain respect might be by deceiving people without them knowing.
In a time where all the old classic Disney films are getting redone and remade, it is very exciting to see the remakes these days. I loved the Maleficent movie that was the translation of why Maleficent was so mad at the King and cast a spell on Aurora. Turns out she had every right to be so mad. I also saw the recent remake of Cinderella and I thought it could have been better. I guess I am a sucker for learning more about the stories that have already been around forever, instead of redoing them. Good Blog, it really got me thinking about what other stories could evolve from the classics.
ReplyDeleteI think you are very right those four things end up in most fantasy stories. I really don't understand the chosen one aspect of the novels. I like when it explains the average person worked for it and that's why there special it gives more of the any one can do it thought. I do have to say I do like prophecies. I like knowing something's going to happen and trying to figure out how it happens before I read it. I also agree with Cortney I love the new movies. I like how there done from a different perspective. I think it is always good to think of a good new plot and remembering these are clichés will help.
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ReplyDeleteI really like your comment you made about in order to make your story a bit more interesting, try something more complex. I think it's important that your story is interesting and different than other writers. You want to keep the readers on their toes when they're reading your story, and you also want to make potential readers chose your story to read over someone else's.
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