I’ve been reading some great fantasy recently, so good that I read the first in a series then want to read the rest. That’s the kind of book authors want to write and readers want to read. So what makes great fantasy novels great? There are plenty of books out there that don’t have the elements they need to make their stories great, so clearly this is something worth looking at. Of course writing a great book in any genre is not easy. You never know if what you’re writing will hit that sweet spot with readers or not, but you can know what your story needs to have if it is to have any chance of being popular. What makes great fantasy novels great? Great plot, Great characters and believable relationships, Great world-building, Believable actions, reactions, dialogue and relationships, Great writing and professional editing.   What does ‘great’ mean here? Great plot A great plot has a protagonist that readers can root for, plus a clear goal … [Read more...]