Writing a Fantasy Story

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Krisvee

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Hello, I’m new to the Catholic Answer forum. I am in a bit of a conundrum. I’ve been wanting to write a fantasy story for some time, but I have doubts of how I should proceed to build the world that I want. Plus, my notes for this fantasy story is incomplete but I do have the basis of the story.

I apologize if the summary of this story is extensive, but I must give context.

The lore of this story goes that long ago, mankind was pushed to the brink of annihilation by an ambitious demon king bent on world domination, forcing the continent and its people to its will and beckoning. Desperate, mankind appealed to the heavens and it was granted, via seven individuals of pure of heart and just morality. Their weapons infused with divine power from the heavens, drove off the demon king’s army. The demon king erected a great boundary separating one half of the continent from the other to prevent the enslaved humans from escaping. They felt so much despair they had no choice but to submit and fight for him. However, the seven individuals, pressed on and rallied the people to resist the rule of the demon king, eventually defeating, imprisoning, and sealing him. However, the humans still loyal to the demon king, exiled those who have tried to liberate them, its leader as their first emperor. Their hatred was too great, because the liberators were too late in saving them from their despair. Thus, the continent is divided into two countries (their names are still pending at the moment so for now they will be called the light kingdom and dark empire respectively.).

The country that was liberated, recovered and its people appointed the seven individuals as their founders, dubbed the Seven Saviors, and their heroic actions led them to be honored as saints. Years later, the people constructed a wall in front of the wall the demon king made, as a symbol of hope, where humans trying to escape will be granted asylum. These two walls stood the test of time, keeping a relative but uneasy peace, but tensions between the nations were growing, and soon will be drawn into another war. Now the main character is transported to this new world by certain people, because war is about to break out. Those people summoned the main character in hopes that they would turn the tide in their favor and he has to adapt to this new world and its culture by taking on various Quests and such before that happens.

Now that the summary’s out of the way, it’s time to get to the main topic. The light kingdom is of course a holy kingdom, but my main problem is the clergy, magic users, and the use of magic in this new world I am building (mainly controlling nature and divine healing, though I’ve been told it’s been used one too many times). Yes, you have your typical preists, bishops, monks, clerics, and the like, but of course you have your mages and wizards as well. And there’s a possibility that I want to include holy priestesses as part of the clergy (I say that with great concern). Another concern is including fantastical creatures such as elves, dwarfs, orges, giants, lizardmen, possibly dragons etc. (I also say that with great concern).

So now, my question is… what should I do?
 
You’re concern is about having magic and magical creatures in the story - do I understand correctly? If so, no worries – it’s fiction, and you’re fine to make the story what you want it to be. The priestesses would only be a concern if you were presenting them as Catholic, and it doesn’t sound like that’s the case.
 
puer.dei - Perhaps, though if that’s the case, I’m afraid that I’d be making an entirely new religion, and that’s already breaking the First Commandment… I think. o_O
 
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In general I don’t think what goes on in a fantasy novel is a major concern, except where it seriously and intentionally encourages readers to bad behavior. That’s not the case here.

However, there’s something else I want to dig into. You are obviously uncomfortable with the idea of priestesses in the clergy, yet you think this is an important enough element to the story to write anyways. What does it add to your world? Why is this worth the discomfort? You don’t necessarily need to tell us here if you don’t want to, but you should be able to answer that question to your own satisfaction.
 
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Well, I did entertain the idea at one point that the main character and a holy priestess would be love interests along the way, getting to one know one another, understanding each other as the journey goes on.
 
Ah, a romantic subplot, okay. The one thing I would say- and this is not moral advice it is writing advice- don’t change or add things to your world or story for convenience. One way or another this decision will challenge you: either to write the subplot without the existence of priestesses, or to explore what the existence of priestesses means for this world.
 
Krisvee said:
I’m afraid that I’d be making an entirely new religion, and that’s already breaking the First Commandment… I think. o_O
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No, it’s not, because this is fiction. Are authors committing the sin of murder when they write about someone being killed?
World-building is what science fiction and fantasy are all about. It’s not like you’re trying to create a new religion in real life, a la L. Ron Hubbard.

But – if it bothers you, don’t do it. Don’t violate your conscience.
 
Inquiry said:
One way or another this decision will challenge you: either to write the subplot without the existence of priestesses, or to explore what the existence of priestesses means for this world.
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I see. I really haven’t given it that much thought to both sides if I’m being honest. On one side, having the subplot without priestesses I would have to think of another character to fill that love interest spot. On the other side, exploring what the existence of priestesses means for this world would be a long thought process. Sometimes I don’t have all the answers. Though I also have to take into consideration that there’s always a reason for everything. Because the point of a relationship between two characters of any kind is to help elaborate on one or both of them so that the two characters can help one another grow as people.

And lately, my romantic subplots of other stories I’ve written online have been on the recieving end of some… negativity from my peers due to whether it feels forced, one-dimensioned, etc. Like it’s not genuine and unnatural.
 
I’d suggest joining the Catholic Writer’s Guild. You will find a wealth of knowledge, mentoring, etc. from authors of every genre imaginable. There are many fantasy writers who are Catholic.

BTW, dwarfs are not fantastical creatures, I am one 🙂 well, I am kinda fantastic 🙂

BTW, pick up a copy of the “Infinite God, Infinite Space” anthologies. Also, author Orson Scott Card has written some great essays about fantasy and religion. Seek them out, one was an introduction to an anthology of some of his short stories, I cannot remember the title right now.
 
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Krisvee said:
And there’s a possibility that I want to include holy priestesses as part of the clergy (I say that with great concern). Another concern is including fantastical creatures such as elves, dwarfs, orges, giants, lizardmen, possibly dragons etc. (I also say that with great concern).

So now, my question is… what should I do?
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I don’t understand your concerns. It’s a fantasy story. Made up. Fiction. You can do whatever you want in your world.
 
And this is related to apologetics and moral theology how? I’m just confused what the question is? The morality of writing such a story you mean?

The story sounds interesting, I’d read it based on what you wrote so far. Does remind me a bit of Percy Jackson but in a more christianized setting as opposed to Greek or Roman mythology setting
 
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TheLittleLady said:
BTW, dwarfs are not fantastical creatures, I am one 🙂 well, I am kinda fantastic
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If I may ask, is the term ‘dwarf’ a medical term or a slang term? Like is it a rude term or a correct terminology? I’ve heard it used before but was not sure
 
1ke said:
I don’t understand your concerns. It’s a fantasy story. Made up. Fiction. You can do whatever you want in your world.
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Ehehe… Yes, I suppose so. ^_^; I’m only being cautious and I don’t want to overstep my boundaries.
 
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I am a pseudoachondroplastic dwarf. “Dwarfism” is the medical term, it is precise and accurate.

The slang, actually slur term, is the “m” word.

Some people use the slang term “little people”, I find that term too “cutesy” and in the US it is a brand of children’s toys. I use it tongue in cheek in my user name here, because it is cute when kids say “look at that little lady”.

I have dwarfism. I am fine with you saying “remember her, she is the dwarf lady”.
 
You may already know this, but Tolkien was Catholic and I’ve never seen any concerns about his books on here
 
Donald_S said:
You may already know this, but Tolkien was Catholic and I’ve never seen any concerns about his books on here
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Oh, I know. I’ve read Return of the King and watched all the movies. They were great. 🙂
 
I think you should ask yourself what would having priestesses add to the story? Do you think readers would think you are making a statement as a Catholic writer who added female clergy when it wasn’t needed? Or do you think there is a specific role they would play in the story that being a cleric would add?

The romantic interest part might but she doesn’t have to be a cleric for that to happen. So if she is a priestess, I would develop why that is important to who she is and her characterization. Maybe she holds a grudge against male clergy? Maybe she faces discrimination because she is a female cleric and finally a male who doesn’t judge her falls in love with her? Maybe she falls in love with a male priest but neither are allowed to marry so it is a secret romance? I would develop her story in a way where being a priestess is very important to her characterization and development
 
Dolphin said:
I think you should ask yourself what would having priestesses add to the story? Do you think readers would think you are making a statement as a Catholic writer who added female clergy when it wasn’t needed? Or do you think there is a specific role they would play in the story that being a cleric would add?

The romantic interest part might but she doesn’t have to be a cleric for that to happen. So if she is a priestess, I would develop why that is important to who she is and her characterization. Maybe she holds a grudge against male clergy? Maybe she faces discrimination because she is a female cleric and finally a male who doesn’t judge her falls in love with her? Maybe she falls in love with a male priest but neither are allowed to marry so it is a secret romance? I would develop her story in a way where being a priestess is very important to her characterization and development
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Those are good questions. Questions that take a long time for me to answer 😅 As I told Inquiry, it’s going to be a long thought process if I take that route and sometimes I don’t have all the answers.
 
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