Fantasy setting experience

When I experienced the movie Avatar in the theater it enthralled me. Notice, I'm not only saying I saw it. I experienced it. It drew me in. The characters came to life but so did the Pandora fantasy setting. The 10 foot-tall humanoid cat-like species known as the Na'vi lived in harmony with their fantastical world. In looks, it reminded me of the Yessongs Awakening print by Roger Dean from back in the 70s. Falling in love with the Na'vi and their world was instant, and with it's 3D effect, it ranked near the top among movies worth seeing on the big screen.

The Avatar story starts with a common futuristic theme. Earth suffers an energy crisis and with its natural resources depleted the humans are harvesting what they need from space. In this particular story, the RDA (Resources Development Administration) plans to mine a valuable mineral from a forested moon known as Pandora. The story gets interesting quickly. With an atmosphere poisonous to humans, and the Na'vi who are one with their world, instant conflict arises.

Importance of setting in fantasy writing

I could go on about the movie, but what I want to talk about is the importance of setting. In a story, characters function within the setting as the story unfolds. If surroundings are not clear, strong characters can usually pull off the scene, but if that's the case, we're cheating the reader. It's like eating a slice of pizza without smelling it cook, without the anticipation of waiting for it to be done cooking, without choosing favorite toppings. A weak setting throughout the book makes the story less interesting. A setting that doesn't provide sounds, smells and visuals to create a complete experience within the reader's imagination, even with a great plot, will be mediocre. If Dorothy is told to follow the yellow brick road but we never see it, feel it, hear our footfalls click upon it...we feel a little lost.

 

 

Engage the senses

Along with creating a visual, it's important to engage the other senses. You want to deliver the whole package. To do that, a fantasy world needs to be experienced on more than one dimension. As you write ask yourself what makes your fantasy world different than the real world? In some cases it might be fantasy characters like dragons, fairies, elves or other lifeforms walking around in a world much like the one in which we live. Whether or not you've created a whole new world or have decided on a world similar to the one in which we live, it takes more than landscape, unique creatures and characters with special powers. To help give your readers a complete experience ask these questions:

• What smells and tastes are experienced?
• What customs are practiced?

Avatar answers these questions in such a way that you are drawn in and become one with the world. In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy learned the "custom" for her to return home required her to retrieve the Wicked Witch's broom and bring it to the wizard. Many times these small details play an integral part in the plot, but are so subtle that it isn't realized until the climax and/or conclusion of the story. Without them, it's like a tapestry with threads missing leaving bare spots that detract from the picture and make it less than it can be. 

 

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Photo credits: etsy.com

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About The Inheritance by Donna Sundblad

Written within the allegorical tradition of classics like Pilgrim's Progress, The Inheritance offers a literal but symbolic story for today's fantasy enthusiasts. This cleverly devised tale doesn't tell you what to think, but stimulates thought as to why you believe what you believe in your own quest for the Eternal City. The Inheritance is an ideal discussion starter for youth groups, homeschoolers, and families who enjoy meaningful discussions. 

 

The Inheritance is available on Kindle, paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo (Christian fiction), Smashwords and Google Books. When you read it, be sure to leave a review! Thanks for your support. 

Coming soon! Dragonborn by Donna Sundblad

Coming soon! Dragonborn by Donna Sundblad

Dragonborn conjures up a winning fantasy with dragons, humans, time travel, and magic. Follow the journey of the young prisonguard, Ervig Greenfields, as he seeks out dragons to remove a curse. The dragons offer him access to the Labyrinth of Times, which will purge the dark magic. But there’s a catch. Erving must take the Dragon Oath that requires allegiance--to fight alongside dragons for centuries, never to return to his own time. He and a handful of others take the selfless oath and become Dragonborn. The Dragonborn and their dragons become seeds of change, in this epic tale, of sacrifice for the greater good. Ride along with them as they slip through a tear in time to the past to change the future.