Digital Fantasy:
writing an awe-inspiring ‘quest’ in 2020;
Phoebe Avison
writing an awe-inspiring ‘quest’ in 2020;
Phoebe Avison
By Lydia Cutmore
Fantasy is a thrilling and liberating genre. Think magic, think fairy tales, think new worlds... exciting right?
With how crazy the world is right now, it got me wondering – how do you write fantasy fiction that still packs a punch?! Luckily, I got in contact with four amazing, diverse authors to help aspiring writers navigate the genre in 2020!
Yorkshire’s Phoebe Avison – the first of our authors – writes fantasy for young adults whilst managing to easily bring her works into the digital age. Alongside producing her own work, she also writes for Gamebook News. We cover interactive books, finding inspiration and fantastical quests.
Phoebe’s interactive, digital serial book The Walls Have Ears has been released online to a voting audience who help determine where the narrative goes. Although Phoebe is concluding the tale at the end of August, it is a fabulous example of an alternative way to approach fiction!
A useful platform for readers who enjoy being involved completely in the story, literature is made accessible and modern. One definite benefit for writers producing online digital storybooks is the creation of a supportive group to bounce ideas off, and to help personal growth within your writing!
Building confidence is key.
‘It lingers. Out there, in the velvety blackness. Always watching. Always waiting. Observing you and your neighbours as you all swiftly close your shutters, bolt your doors and light your candles’.
And so, it begins.
A twisting tale in which the reader becomes the protagonist, ‘the designated Flame Keeper of your household’. The setting is perfect for a fantasy: a close-knit medieval style community of hamlets, reminiscent but not akin to the real world. A threat to the village and the narrator’s family propels the plot forward into a quest to vanquish the darkness. ‘The quest’, or adventure, is a popular fantasy structure, allowing a widening of setting and the opportunity for new characters. It heightens the anticipation, with the readers accompanying on the journey. Think about your characters and their trajectory: where is their quest taking them?
The characters, as is important in fantasy, have strong bonds amongst each other against the dangers they face. There is a wide array; from Rontholemeu Ashgrove, Flame Mage of the City of Rivulette, to your personal familiar Pyra. Rontho guides the reader and narrator through the initial part of the story, laying the contextual groundwork and unravelling the ‘map’ of the fantasy world.
Packed with helpful and inspiring tips and tricks, after hungrily devouring her works I was able to ask her some questions that delve into all aspects of being a YA Fantasy author:
Entering into a creative field like Literature can be daunting and the road littered with obstacles, so it seemed fitting to begin with the ‘nitty-gritty’ - what is the biggest challenge you faced in getting to the position you are in today?
The biggest challenge for me was two-fold. As a journalism graduate, I don’t have any formal training in creative writing per se, so I had to overcome my imposter syndrome and believe in my ability to be an author. I’ve held many jobs in my life — I’ve been a checkout girl, a barmaid and a bank teller — and I’ve pursued different routes. However, I always returned to writing. I think having the confidence to believe whole-heartedly that you will do anything to make your life’s dream come true, can take time for some people to come around to. It took me years to accept and allow myself to follow my dream.
That being said, the second part is more logistical. Of course, I couldn’t just quit my current job and say, ‘I’m going to be an author! Screw my bills!’ So I happened to be at the right place in my life where I could actively pursue my dream career. I’m currently a full-time stayat-home toddler mum, which gives me the freedom to fit my writing in around parenting and housekeeping duties. It’s hard work, but I love it.
An additional point to the logistical aspect of forging a career as an author is: writing a book takes time and hard work. The term ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ was never truer for me. Because it’s not just finishing the first draft that’s the hard part — it’s the hours of plotting your story and characters before you even sit down to right a word; the rounds of edits and subsequent drafts; and the likeliness that you are going to get rejected many times before you land a literary agent.
I applaud anyone who writes a book. Best-selling authors make it look easy, but writing is hard!
As with beginning anything, there is a pressure to dream up the perfect narrative, the ideal characters. But often, over-stressing about this initial idea can be detrimental, and innovation that is aroused naturally can be more helpful.
So, what is your personal primary inspiration?
I am inspired by anything and everything. Oddly enough, I get most of my ideas from dreams but I find inspiration in a variety of places. I think visiting a new country/city/town, getting into nature or visiting a museum or art gallery can be great jumping off points.
However, consuming media of all kinds is a vital part of my process. I wanted to be a film director before I settled on my degree and I’ve always been interested in movies. I also get inspiration from Japanese anime and manga, graphic novels, video games and TV series.
Consuming media is not time-wasting, your brain is constantly absorbing things and picking its favourite parts, which may lead to the creation of something new.
I also highly suggest reading like it’s your job. You cannot be a writer if you don’t read. Not only because you won’t understand the tropes and themes that your chosen genre contains and what readers love, but you won’t know what has or hasn’t already been done before. So dive into your genre and read books intended for your target audience, whether that be adult, new adult, young adult, middle grade or even picture books!
What was the first piece of fiction you created? Are you still happy with it, or have you changed direction since?
The first piece of fiction I remember creating was a story I wrote as a child about a dragon.
I’m definitely happy with it, as it’s an homage to who I was and what I was capable of then.
In terms of books I’ve written as an adult, I have half of a YA fantasy/sci-fi novel which I’m shelving for now. I feel it’s not the right time for this book, plus I wrote it before I discovered Save the Cat and it’s a big old mess! So, when it’s time for that book to be introduced to the world, it’ll need a lot of revising.
Working within the Fantasy genre, already such an established field, do you ever find it challenging or daunting when creating new work? Or is it helpful to have such a foundation to work from?
As previously mentioned, I think all authors suffer from a bit of imposter syndrome, no matter how successful they are. But considering I’ve been reading YA books since Twilight was released in the mid-2000s, I feel I’ve got quite a good grip on what my readers want.
Because at the end of the day, I am a YA reader and lover of YA books too, so I try to imagine what I would want to read about as well as what my intended audience wants from a story.
Phoebe is currently working on her debut novel – the perfect timing to give us all some insight into beginning a new fantasy project! This time she’s embarking on a magical dystopian that takes place in another world...
This question seems very fitting!
This question seems very fitting!
How do you approach a new project? What are your ‘methods’ and tips for aspiring writers?
This is a fantastically timed question, as I’ve literally just started a new project that I’m planning on being my debut novel. The answer to this depends entirely on what you are writing, as interactive fiction (like the gamebook I’m working on) is a whole other world.
But if you’re planning on writing a ‘normal’ fiction novel, I highly recommend the craft book Save the Cat! Writes a Novel: The Last Book On Novel Writing You'll Ever Need by Jessica Brody.
This book has been unimaginably useful to me and I feel it’s improved my craft tenfold. There are plenty of other writing craft books, but this one worked well for me.
Regardless of which you end up reading, before you dive into a craft book, I’d also suggest brain-dumping. This is the process of literally dumping all the ideas that you have whizzing around your brain onto a piece of paper. This method can help you get a vague picture of your story before you start honing it.
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The ‘take-away’:
1. Writing can be very hard work. But take it from people who have been there and done that – it’s possible! Even if you feel other parts of life need to take priority sometimes. You are still doing well.
2. TV isn’t a waste! Soak in all forms of pop-culture and entertain. And of course,
read.
3. Writing is a journey.
4. Try to picture what your intended audience would want from a piece of work.
5. Brain-dumping! Get all those incredible ideas out onto paper.
For anyone stuck for that perfect killer opening, or even just an avid writer after a challenge, Phoebe has given us this fabulous and creative opener:
Ivy brushes aside the waist-high violet flowers and finds what she’s been looking for. An egg. It sits, almost as high as her shoulder, in a nest of twigs and wool, the latter likely procured from the sheep on the farm at the edge of the Forest of Lost Souls. The forest she finds herself in now. She takes a step toward the egg, her eyes growing wide with wonder. A sound like a twig snapping makes her startle and her eyes grow larger still, as she realises what made the noise: the egg is hatching...
Both Phoebe and us here at Happy London Press would love to hear your interpretations and creations! Keep on writing!
Meet our wonderful writer Lydia Cutmore
Hi! I’m Lydia, University of Hull English Literature student about to embark on her Postgraduate degree, specialising in Gothic fiction. A new guest blogger for Happy London Press, I can usually be found curled up reading science-fiction and writing book reviews.
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