Carnival Of The D.A.M.N.E.D

Creating Memorable Fantasy Companions Ask fantasy readers what they remember most about their favourite book, and they’ll often surprise you. It usually isn’t the final battle. It isn’t the magic system. It isn’t even the villain. It’s the companions. The people who travelled together, argued together, laughed together, and somehow survived one another long enough to save the world. Great fantasy isn’t built around a single hero. It’s built around relationships. Perfect Heroes Are Forgettable Perfection is difficult to relate to. Characters who never make mistakes, never disagree, and always know exactly what to do can be admirable. They can also be rather dull. Readers connect with flaws. They remember the knight whose honour gets him into trouble. The mage whose curiosity occasionally outruns his common sense. The thief who insists every locked door is simply an invitation. Imperfections make characters feel human. Every Companion Needs a Disti...

  Writing Humour in Fantasy Without Breaking the Story Fantasy and humour have enjoyed a long partnership. From Terry Pratchett’s wonderfully absurd Discworld to the dry wit found throughout modern fantasy, laughter has become as much a part of the genre as dragons, wizards and magical swords. Yet humour is surprisingly difficult to write. Not because jokes are hard. Because stories are. The moment readers stop believing in your world, the joke has gone too far. So how do you make readers laugh without breaking the story? The World Must Take Itself Seriously One of the biggest misconceptions about humorous fantasy is that the world itself should be ridiculous. I disagree. The world should remain believable. The characters should take their jobs seriously. The knight genuinely believes honour matters. The mage genuinely believes this spell will work. The priest sincerely believes the gods are watching. If everyone knows they’re in a comedy, the il...