Today I'm going to conclude the series on fantasy by giving a few suggestions on how to write it. Once again, I'm no expert, but I do have a lot of experience reading fantasy, and a little experience writing it. These are just my suggestions based on that experience, and please feel free to add or subtract from them as much as you need to.

The most important thing to remember as you write fantasy, just as with every kind of writing, is that you're doing it for God. No matter how good your story is, no matter whether you get it published or not, no matter how many people like it, it means nothing if it does not glorify God and bless His people in some way. As I said in the last post, fantasy has a unique potential for communicating the gospel without being preachy, and we should take advantage of that.

On a more practical note, here are a few suggestions that may help you improve the quality of your fantasy stories and avoid making some of the mistakes that most fantasy authors make.

1. Be creative. Remember, the possibilities for fantasy are endless! It doesn't matter how crazy your ideas are; if you write convincingly enough, they can still make a great story. Don't be afraid to think outside the box. Elves and dragons are cool, but they don't need to be in every fantasy story.

2. Be original. Don't try to write like your favorite fantasy authors, whoever they may be. Every writer has a different style, and yours will sound much better if you're not trying to imitate someone else's. Just be yourself. I suggest trying not to read, watch, or even think about The Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, or any other fantasy book you like while you're making up a story. Also remember to check your work often to make sure your dialogue and plotlines don't sound too familiar. I am often surprised at how easy it is, when you're as steeped in the worlds of Narnia and Middle Earth as I am, to mimic them without noticing it.

3. Be descriptive. I know that a lot of people get bored with J.R.R. Tolkien's long descriptions of places in Middle Earth, but would his world seem half as real and vivid if he had left them out? Remember, your readers have never seen your imaginary worlds, creatures, or characters before. Describe them in a way that makes your readers see them as wonderful, terrible, or beautiful as you imagine them. Make them come to life. I realize that this is difficult, and I still need to work on it myself, but it I can guarantee it will be worth it.

4. Be consistent. Even though there are no set rules for fantasy stories, you still have to follow the ones you make up. Fantasy can't be realistic in the sense that everything in it could really happen, but it should be realistic in whatever context you've created. For example, if your fantasy world is medieval (people fight with swords, live in castles, etc.), don't put 21st-century expressions in the dialogue. (I know that seems obvious, but I have read fantasy books that make this mistake, and it sounds very silly.) If you've made it clear that dragons can't go near water, don't have a dragon attack a ship. It's easier to make mistakes like this than you might think. Always be on the lookout for inconsistencies in your writing.

5. Have fun! Writing fantasy, like all writing, is hard, but it can also be a blast. Don't worry too much about how good your stories are at first. Just focus on being creative and having fun. Editing can come later.

Well, I hope that was somewhat helpful, at least. Thanks for reading!