Fantasy Stereotypes

[tamsyn]

Love them or hate them? Do they have a place in your novel? How do you intend to make them new and exciting or have they still got game?

[AB]

I have Witches, Sorcerers and Fairys in my first novel. I've tried to make them a little different from the typical stereotypes by making the use of magic minimal as the more it is used the weaker it becomes. I have also tried to relate the different races with real races and species from our own world. How about you? Have you written using popular stereotypes or have you tried to move away from them?

[Red]

The novel I'm writing at the moment doesn't feature elves, dwarves etc... but that's not to say I'd never write about them. I think I'd feel the need to give them a new twist though. There's nothing wrong with using stereotypes in an original way, but it gets irritating when people just change some spellings (wyches, faeries) and pretend they've created something new lol.

[tamsyn]

I think I have tried to stay away from high and established fantasy and go for something a little more down to earth. For me it is important tnat any fantasy elements are part of the character's existence and add to it rather than just be a pretty setting. You could easily look at my characters and say 'thief, cleric, ranger and fighter' but that would only be a small fraction of what they are. Starting points perhaps, but their motivations are far more important. At the end of day there is nothing original anymore, all you can do is tell an interesting story with interesting characters.

[Red]

Haha it seems we, the fantasticals-three, are all in agreement!

[AB]

I like the sound of that - 'the fantasticals-3'

[Fiona Southwell]

Thought I'd like to add to this topic =) I have never had anything published, nor have I finished what I would call a 'novel', though I do write a lot. I always like to integrate fantasy into my stories, though more recently I have begun writing what I suppose could be called 'modern with a twist'. I think, though, that I agree with you all. There should be so much more to a character than 'damsel in distress' or 'prince charming' and I believe that the beauty of fantasy is that you can mold it to be whatever you want it to be.

I hope I didn't take this completely off topic there ^^;

Good day~

[Simeon Wardle]

I like erotic fantasy and while I have only written a little in this genre I find it gives you the freedom to break out of the stereotypes; for example invert patriarchy with matriarchal or magocracal politics and cultures. Of course the use of dieocracy allows gods and goddesses to get jiggy too! Now i am taking this on a tangent.

[tamsyn]

ooh sex. I don't think I will be going there in my novel, since I don't think I could do it without being comical. There probably won't even be a kiss! I just had to write a serious conversation about feelings and that was bad enough. You don't want to come off like a cheesy soap opera.

[Red]

Haha I sympathise - its hard to write anything vaguely romantic without feeling like a gigantic piece of cheese...

[Simeon Wardle]

it is true. All romance is cliched but when I say erotic I am talking filth and that is a much wider exploration of romanticism...well the base animal kind at least!

[AB]

Can't say I've ever read any erotic fantasy. I know someone who bought one a while back but can't remember the name. He said it was really good. I'll try and find out and let you know, you've probably read it already though if you're into that kind of stuff. There might actually be some younger people on this site eventually as well so you may have to be careful if you post any of it if that's OK? Not sure how hardcore you're talking about :)

[Red]

Aye, good point. I know we already have at least one member who is under 16.