ALL ABOUT FANTASY
This section covers the basics of the genre including what makes it different, what some of the sub genres are, and which tropes are most commonly used.

What is it about fantasy that sets it apart from other genres?

The main difference lies in worldbuilding. In most romances, thrillers, historical fictions, etc., the setting is the real world—the earth we know either from currently living in it or learning about its past through history books. Fantasy, however, is usually set in some sort of alternate dimension, world, or universe from the author's imagination. While this difference may appear small to some, most who are familiar with the genre know that good worldbuilding often takes an extensive amount of time and effort. Histories, politics, culture, creatures, climate, and topography are only some of the aspects authors can build for their world, but we'll be diving deeper into that process later on.

Additionally, many (but not all) fantasies have word counts that exceed the 90k mark, with the average being 100k-115k. This is due to the nature of the genre and the fact that more of the story is dedicated to slipping in immersive descriptions and exploration of the setting. It is generally recommended that as a new author, you try to keep your word count more conservative (below 150k). Better-known authors with an established audience can more easily get away with books that even exceed 300k.

What are some of the most common subgenres of fantasy?

I will not be covering all of them, but I'll give a brief overview of some of the most common:

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High fantasy: also known as "epic fantasy", these fantasies are set in entirely alternate worlds from what we know. While a few things can still be familiar, they often have different physical laws and/or magical environments, different cultures, politics, and creatures. They also typically have a grand scale to them. A classical example is The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Low fantasy: these are usually set in the real world, but have unfamilar fantasy elements such as magic or fantastical creatures. Often times there is an ordinary protagonist who is surprised to discover these new secrets of their world. The Harry Potter series is a hybrid of low and high fantasy as it balances both the real world with magical elements and a separate wizarding world.

Magical Realism: while similar to low fantasy, magical realism typically centers around characters who seem otherwise ordinary and live in a familiar world with the exception of a few magical elements that they consider a normal part of their lives.

Urban Fantasy: this subgenre takes fantastical creatures and concepts but sets them in the real world, usually during present day.

Dystopian Fantasy: most likely set in the future, the dystopian fantasy subgenre takes a contemporary or familiar world and alters it into something worse than what we know.

Sci-fi Fantasy: in which a new world is created with a focus on scientific advancements and how those advancements impact society. This subgenre also includes some sort of fantasy/magical element. A good example is the Star Wars series.

Dark fantasy: a combination of fantasy elements and horror meant to frighten readers. Often these use supernatural elements as a means to unnerve the audience.

Paranormal Romance: this subgenre combines themes of a romance with fantasy elements or creatures such as werewolves, vampires, faeries, etc. Twilight is an obvious example.

Superhero Fantasy: sometimes known as "comic fantasy" or "comic book fantasy", this subgenre centers around a hero who was born with or somehow acquired supernatural powers. A distinction should be made between heroes with fantastical abilities vs heroes who have abilities gained through science, which would be a "superhero sci-fi" instead. Thor is a good example of a superhero fantasy.

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There are more subgenres, but these are the broader and most common ones. The reason I covered these briefly is because it is important to be able to determine which category your story falls into so that you know what your audience will be anticipating as they open your book. And yes, it is possible (and likely) that your story will be a combination of two or more of these.

What are the most common tropes within fantasy?

Again, I won't cover every possible trope, but I will include some of the most popular:

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The Chosen One: in which a sole character is destined for some reason or another to fulfill a purpose or prophecy. Usually what they are fated to accomplish is the main conflict of the story, often along the lines of saving the world. The Harry Potter series is a classic example.

The Secret Heir: usually, this centers around a character who grew up in a low-class environment which provides contrast to where they truly belong. They find out within the story that they are of royal blood or something to this effect.

The Reluctant Hero: just as it sounds, the protagonist of the story is hesitant to embark on whatever adventure comes their way. One way or another, they are pushed onto the path they wished to avoid, and throughout the story, they often have an arc where they end up enjoying their journey, and they begin to seek out adventure.

Mentor & Apprentice: this trope involves a character who is a novice at a certain skill or magic, and a mentor figure who, most commonly, is an elder. The mentor figure's main role is to prepare the apprentice to face the main conflict of the story. Typically, the mentor disappears before the conflict arrives.

The Evil Overlord: usually aiming for world domination, the evil overlord is the main villain of the story who typically lives in a dark, dangerous territory and has an army of followers or minions. These characters are purely evil, and don't necessarily need any complex reasoning for their actions other than, well, to do evil.

The Medieval European Setting: some of the most common classical fantasies take place in settings that resemble aspects of medieval Europe, even if the world is completely fictional. Taverns, castles, and sword-fighting are hallmarks of this worldbuilding trope.

The Mystical Artifact: while not only used in fantasy, this trope is commonly seen when some sort of powerful object or resource is sought after by characters in the story. It is often one of the central conflicts, in which the protagonist tries to keep the artifact from falling into the hands of the antagonist. Sometimes the object has the ability to corrupt the one holding it, like the ring in The Lord of the Rings.

Homogenous Species: this trope is expressed through the categorization of fantasy races and creatures. When an entire species is summed up with a few features and it is assumed that they all share these common traits, save for one or two special cases which typically end up being the main characters. "Elves are good, ogres are bad."

Black and White Morality: fantasy often deals with themes of a battle between good and evil, and one trope that many fall into is the idea or the hinting that there is a hard line between good and evil, without a grey area.

The Quest: in which the protagonist and a group of side characters set out on a journey with a specific goal in mind. Most commonly, their objective is to defeat a bad guy, find someone important, or save a damsel in distress. Quests are focused on the actual goal, while "the hero's journey" or "the reluctant hero" trope is more focused on the inner conflict of the hero. Quests are expected to involve lots of travel.

Boy Finds a Dragon Egg: this trope centers around a character, often a young one, who stumbles by chance across some kind of magical object, creature, or place, and spends time caring for it or learning more about it. This character usually tries to keep it a secret, but is eventually found out by an authority figure.

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So why is it important that you're familiar with the subgenres and tropes of fantasy?

This advice applies to other genres as well, but it is always important to be aware of common expectations from the audience. Knowing where your story fits as a subgenre helps clue you into which key elements a reader might hope for. If you describe your book as being a paranormal romance, there better be some kind of supernatural protagonist or a supernatural love interest.

It is helpful to know popular tropes so that you can avoid following them exactly and learn where you might defy a certain expectation to make the story feel fresh and exciting to readers. Taking a beloved trope and altering one or two areas into something unexpected is a great way to pleasantly surprise your readers while still giving them a sense of satisfaction.

A simple example of this might be to have your protagonist be the mentor instead of the apprentice, or to set your world in a modern era where technology is advanced, but the main means of battle is still sword-fighting. With "The Chosen One" trope, perhaps your protagonist is only a friend to the chosen one, but when the chosen one fails, your protagonist completes their mission instead. This way, you subvert the assumption that the chosen one will be the hero, but you still fulfill the reader's hope for a victory.

One important note: you don't want to twist every single expectation to the point where the reader feels disappointed or cheated. We'll go further into promises and payoffs in the plot section!

Of course, you don't have to employ any trope, but it's likely that whatever story you are forming happens to fall into some naturally. Remember, there are plenty more than what I've listed, and if you're interested in learning more, I recommend researching them.