r/fantasywriters • u/Anxious_Basis1991 • 3h ago
Discussion About A General Writing Topic Pointers
I’m starting my first fantasy, I’ve spent a while on world building and plots and main events. Ive started the first draft of chapter 1 and I just want to know any pointers. I’ve got the first scene down that I feel like sets the tone but also I feel I’m very biased on my writing when it could be utter nonsense on a doc. But I’m also proud of what I’ve done world building wise. I haven’t spent so long on it but got what I wanted down. I’m also new to reddit, I’ve quite literally joined five minutes ago because I don’t have a community to ask. I have read through some posts and you all seem so helpful. Thank you guys in advance.
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u/Far-Neighborhood1114 2h ago
The most common advice is to get your ideas down and refine later. When you feel happy with what you have, then look for feedback. You are quite right; it's easy to see flaws and issues in other people's work, much less in our own!
When seeking feedback, try people who will be honest, so maybe not family members who are too close and will be overly nice. I would avoid sending people really rough, unpolished work, as you will then get line-level feedback when what you are really looking for is whether my ideas are working. How are my characters, etc.
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u/TheTitan99 2h ago
I think the best general advice I have is to be flexible.
That wonderful worldbuilding you have? That amazing storyarc you have planned? The beautiful chapter that you're writing? All if it may end up being cut or heavily changed as you write your story. This isn't a bad thing either. It's a natural part of writing.
Yes, there are some writers who can plan out a book, and stick to that plan 100%. Before writing a single chapter, they know exactly how every last chapter and every last scene will play out. There's nothing wrong with trying to do that. Maybe you'll even succeed! My main point is, if something isn't working, or you get a newer and better idea, allow your plan to change. Allow your story flexibility.
My initial pitch to myself for my book was a grand adventure which happened over an entire country. When I was actually finished with it, the book ended up being a much more personal and smaller scale thing. I allowed myself the ability to change from my initial pitch, because the initial story I had planned wasn't working. The story was much better off for it too. Many of those early ideas I had weren't as good as I thought they were when I actually say down and started writing them out.