Writing Fantasy of Jessica Renwick
Magical and mystical objects and world building: writing captivating children’s fantasy of
Jessica Renwick
by Lydia Cutmore
Hello! And welcome to the final instalment of writing fantasy!
This week my author is Jessica Renwick, fantasy writer of novels for children and adults who are still young at heart. Get ready for tips on magical objects, writing and planning series, and the art of world building...
Jessica’s multi-award winning Starfell series are a journey through magical enchanted forests, following Fable and her companions. At their heart they explore friendship, strength, and belief in the self. The use of magical objects is a strength of the story. They add depth and mystery, thickening the plot and possibilities. Lord of the Rings ‘One Ring’, or the ‘Cloak of Invisibility’ in Harry Potter each have their purpose within their narratives) - each one adds excitement and opportunity. These objects are a staple of fantasy. Within the Starfell books, the reader is introduced to the ‘Book of Chaos’ in the first instalment:
Photos: Kayla Maurais
‘With a wiggle and a heave, she scrambled backwards and sat up on her knees. It was the book. Fable traced the design on its cover with her fingers, following vines along the spine.
In all the arguing and drama of that day, she’d forgotten how it had burned earlier. How the vines came alive after her magic went off. She bent her head to look closer.’
Foreign and enchanting, it propels the narrative forward in the challenges it creates and the mystery that enshrouds it. Like Frodo in Lord of the Rings, for whom the ring is the catalyst for his fantasy ‘journey’, the ‘Book of Chaos’ is Fable’s motivation.
When thinking about your magical or mythical object, it can be helpful to think of the function you want it to serve. Is it a plot device to move the story forward? Does your protagonist
need help to defeat an enemy, such as Valyrian steel armour in the Game of Thrones series? Considering this can ensure that your enchanted objects aren’t simply an afterthought or ‘add-on’. Also, it is important to note you can make them malevolent, which is just as fun!
Like previously mentioned examples, the ‘Book of Chaos’ is unknown and confusing, fearsome in its power:
‘Fable stood up and slung her book bag over her shoulder. She gave the Book of Chaos another prod with her toe. It didn’t react. “What’s that?” the hen asked.
“A book that tried to kill me.” The bird looked at it sideways.
“That’s impossible. Books aren’t alive.”’
“A book that tried to kill me.” The bird looked at it sideways.
“That’s impossible. Books aren’t alive.”’
I asked Jessica some questions about herself and her work!
What is the first fantasy book you remember reading, and what was your reaction to it?
The first fantasy novel I remember reading as a child was The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (the first book in The Chronicles of Narnia). I remember being completely enthralled by the wardrobe portal to the magical world of Narnia and all the amazing creatures that lived there. There’s something special about reading books like this as a child.
The books we read then seem so real and immersive. These are the stories that shaped my childhood imagination and influence my writing today. When writing your amazing Starfell books, did you have an idea of where you wanted the story to progress to when you began writing The Book of Chaos, the first instalment? I always knew the themes I wanted to write about in the story (family, friendship, and being true to yourself), but I didn’t know exactly where the plot would take me. I’ve had so much fun letting these characters lead me down rabbit holes I had never intended to explore.
The kids have grown and matured so much, and the adults in the story have more depth and bigger roles to play than I thought they would. Even my villain, Endora, and her entanglement in Fable’s past have grown beyond what I imagined. I had first intended to write only three books in this series, but ended up extending it to five to make more room for the story arc.
Which part of writing a piece of work do you find the most challenging?
I am opposite to a lot of writers in that I find the first draft to be most challenging. I like outlining and coming up with fantastic ideas and plot points, and my true love is revision and editing.
Pushing through a first draft and leaving things that need work until later is difficult for me. Once I hit the revision stage, I have renewed energy to play with the story and make it shine. I love seeing all the pieces come together. I am a copyeditor in addition to being an author, so shining up words is my natural territory. Does it take a long time to complete a novel for you, and do you have any tips for our readers on planning/schedules? Do you plan?
I am getting quicker with each book. It usually takes me about 4-5 months to have a Starfell novel written and revised to the point that it’s ready for my editor. I do take a few weeks to plan and write an outline beforehand, but that outline is flexible and it always changes (and improves) as I draft and revise.
I have a few tips for productivity that might help others: Take the decision making out of your day – If I set up a schedule and stick to it, it saves me from the paralyzing energy of deciding when to write. Setting up daily and weekly routines and habits helps reserve my energy for important decisions and issues that come up (like how to finally fix that plot hole I’ve been agonizing over!). - Plan ahead - It helps to know ahead of time what you want to write that day. Even a loose outline and knowing what scene you want to write will up your productivity. Staring at a blank screen with no idea what comes next always makes things more difficult for me. - Ditch the distractions – Have your coffee ready before your scheduled writing time.
Turn off your phone or leave it in another room. Stick your headphones on and gear up your project’s playlist (if you have one) or listen to rain and cosy fireplaces (like I do). Drown out the world so you can fall into the one inside your head. - Messy first drafts - Just get those ideas from your brain onto your paper (or screen). We all have that voice in our heads telling us we need to fix everything right now. Ignore it! You can fix your prose, typos, and plot holes later. Nobody is going to see your work until you’re ready to share it. All your characters have relatable traits – I especially felt affinity with the lovely Heather in The Witch’s Staff. Do you base any of your characters on specific people, such as parts of yourself or people you know?
I definitely use my own experiences in my writing. I think most writers do. I wouldn’t say I base characters completely on specific people, but my main characters have pieces of me and explore issues I’ve dealt with.
I do use parts of people I know or have encountered as inspiration as well.
I think basing human personalities, emotions, and reactions on what you’ve learned through life experiences make for more well-rounded and realistic characters. I’m glad you liked Heather! Her story was a lot of fun to write. Who is your very favourite character in any of your books, and how were they developed?
It’s hard to pick a favourite! I have a connection with all of my protagonists.
Using Heather from The Witch’s Staff, I got the idea from the publisher’s call-out for short story submissions. They asked for stories about young girls who find mythical objects and how those objects change them. Naturally, this had me thinking about my childhood and some of the obstacles I had to overcome. I did some research on mythical objects and the idea of Circe’s magic staff that turns people into animals appealed to me. How could I fit that into a childhood story about of self- confidence found through doing the right thing, even if it’s not the easiest choice?
Starting with those two things, the mythical object and the theme I wanted to explore, I was able to flesh out Heather’s character and arc. I can’t help noticing how beautiful your book covers are – as an author do you have influence on what to include, and what is the process that goes into the all- important cover? Thank you! My cover designer did an excellent job.
Honestly, I had no idea what I wanted for that first cover. I gave the designer the synopsis of the book and a description of Fable. He’s a professional who has designed a lot of covers, so I was happy to let him take over. He sent me the sketch before it was complete, and I was amazed at how he had captured Fable and the book’s atmosphere. If he had gotten any of the details wrong I could have informed him, but he did great, and I was so excited when I saw the final artwork!
In a strange way, do you ever find the past success of your novels adds pressure to how you work now? Or is it inspiring and reassuring?
It’s a bit of both!
There is pressure to improve and make the next book “the best one yet”, but it also adds a lot of fun and inspiration to make me think outside the box.
Of course I want to wow readers with new magical experiences, but I also want to add depth to the characters and story to satisfy readers. I like the push to keep things exciting, and I have a readership who are engaged and a lot of fun so I want to please them.
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The ‘take-away’:
1. Plan! If you are struggling, daily targets and completing other jobs leaves you ready
to write and your mind clutter free.
2. Let yourselves be messy. Don’t worry about the perfect first draft, and don’t be afraid of alterations and changes in direction.
3. Wondering where to start? Jessica recommends pondering what themes you want to channel in your work.
4. To create characters with more depth, try turning your focus inward.
I asked Jessica for an idea for a world to set a story in, instead she gave me this advice to build your own! Some tips to writers about building their own worlds: - Read books/comics and watch TV shows/movies with good world building for inspiration. Narrow in on stories that are set in the same or a similar genre as your project. - Think about the history of your world. Make a timeline. How did this world originate? What changes or major events have happened to shape it? How will this affect your character and story? - Research. Even if you are writing fantasy or sci-fi, there’s bound to be aspects of your world based in reality. For example, if you’re writing a desert climate, what does that look like? What are the average or extreme temperatures? What type of vegetation can grow there? What is the terrain like?
This is especially important if you’re writing a story based on our modern or
historical world. You want to be sure you get the details right. What cities are there? What were the political issues at the time? How did people live? - Develop your magic system. Your magic systems can be as whimsical or seemingly impossible as you like, but they need to make sense and have a purpose to the story. Your magic should enhance your characters, their arcs, and the plot. How does the magic work? What types of magic can certain beings do? What are the limitations? Are there rules magic users have to follow?
Come and met this week’s writer Lydia Cutmore
Hi! I’m Lydia Cutmore, 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.
& Instagram @happylondonpress
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