Before I start off this part of the editorial, think about one time in fiction that family has been a major focus in a fantasy novel. If you are able to answer despite the odds, I have to say you have an awesome taste in books. However, if you are like the majority and cannot think of one single novel where family is the centerpiece of the plot, you may now see where I am leading with this point. For some reason, family is almost never a theme in any fantasy novel. Instead, it usually ends up being only a partial part of the plot, if existent at all. Most characters in fantasy novels for some reason always have to be orphans. The entire family is either dead by the third chapter, not included because the author sees them as useless characters (something I touched upon earlier), or are not even mentioned once. What can be so wrong with showing some family dynamics once in a while?
As a fellow fantasy reader and inspiring author, I pled to any writers possibly reading this to add more family dynamics in their stories. Please, break this cliché of family members being seen as small pawns to the plot. By doing this, you could create possibly the next big fantasy novel. Originality is key after all. A new idea, especially in fantasy, can go a long way.
If you do not think family dynamics can work in fantasy, I recommend trying out the TV show The Originals. It seems odd that I would ask the audience to watch a TV show to be convinced that this suggested idea could work. However, TV shows are just another level in the multiple ways a person can write a story. You have to remember, the script itself is a form of writing. In that show, the entertainment comes from the drama that exists between the main family. It may not be your cup of tea, due to it being a spin-off of the romance focused Vampire Diaries, but I recommend checking it out just to see the strong family dynamics. Trust me, it is worth your time.
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One Hundred Fantasy Clichés That Really Need To Rest In Peace
RandomFrom the same writer that pointed out some of the worst tropes in popular culture in A Hundred Clichés That Need To Die comes the much awaited sequel with a twist. See why the fantasy genre in fiction is extremely flawed and has numerous clichés th...
