Have you received the apathetic "oh..." on mentioning you write fantasy?

I understand.

To be utterly honest, I am not even certain the majority of my writings would be classified as fantasy, since many of them are void of magic and other traditional fantasy-elements, but since they are so difficult to explain, I prefer to classify them as fantasy in my own mind.

When extended family and friends learned, especially last year, that I was writing a novel, the inevitable question always seemed to be asked: "So... what are you writing?" I would try to give an answer, but, like you said, the conversation always seemed to die immediately. If I said I was writing a modern fiction or even a science fiction, you know they would be all interested and demanding to know the characters and plot. But since my stories are pseudo-fantasies and heavily influenced by my history degree, very few people know what to say. I usually get an awkward: "Well, that's nice." And then it is a shift in conversation.

I do not let it bother me, though, because I have a very supportive (immediate) family who love to hear my stories read aloud. Whenever I find myself stuck, both of my parents do not hesitate to toss out wonderful suggestions. My father, who is in the military, helps me with the practical side of events and my mother is wonderful at giving just the right advice for smoothing over tricky relationships. And my younger sister keeps my spirits up whenever I feel frustrated and what to toss the novel out the window. To be honest, if it was not for them, I would not have the drive to finish this awfully complex novel.

And it is great to have online friends who share an interest in writing fantasy or fantasy-ish novels! That way, no matter what people in RL say, you have a support network of those who are interested in your writing and encouraging you forward. =D

~Jacquelyn
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NaNo '07: Healer's Quest, the Sequel

deviantart | writing journal

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I really do feel for the writers who delve into all sorts of magic and the like. They have an even harder time than those of us who write fantasy without the magical elements. I prefer more realistic elements in my fantasy stories, that are driven by characters rather than supernatural creatures and events. But with nothing else to call it by, fantasy is my genre as well.

My mother has actually started to become more supportive of my stories. Last year she told me to stop writing and to do something 'more productive with my time,' which was definitely disheartening. I mustered up the courage to tell her my plot this year, and she was baffled by how complex it was, especially considering the very noncomplex person I am. She was wondering where I got all of my ideas, and even helped me come up with some interesting devices to use.

She was in the car group with me when her friend commented apathetically about my story, and she tried to get her more interested. It was cute, but I just kind of nudged her and told her that her friend didn't care, because, well, she didn't :) The fact that she tried, though, was encouraging, and I never would have expected it. Just this morning she told me an idea that she thought I could encorporate; it's nice to know that someone is excited about what you write, even if others think it's "just fantasy."

Thanks for sharing, polargriff.

Yes. People have been asking me what I'm writing. I say, "It's a fantasy story, kind of about a parallel world and a woman who journeys there." They say, "Oh." and that's it. Sometimes they add, "Fantasy? Hm. That's not something I've ever read."

It takes all kinds, I guess. Personally, I'm a reading omnivore and I adore anything that's well-written. But fantasy is my genre of choice and always has been--back from 4th grade with the Chronicles of Narnia, LOTR, and Anne McCaffrey.

I usually just mention that my story is a hybrid between a fantasy novel and a political melodrama. I've gotten quizzical responses from that, but they were engaged.

I don't know if people are apathetic to my fantasy stories,. Mainly because I get embarrassed when I try to talk about the novel. I don't know why. Perhaps because I have told people about the stories before only to get laughed at. So I just end up stammering for a few seconds, and then trying to talk about the plot without the fantastical elements.

I really hate it when I try to talk to people about my novel in person.

One of my friends has a Dad that loves The Lord of the Rings, and he was really interested in what I was working on. He was interested because what I do sounded to him nothing like LOTR, because of the modern setting of a world that trades with Earth.

You gotta have a good pitch when you first explain your story in short, even if it's an epic. This is the best summary I got to:

"A 400,000 year old Changeling war veteran must rebuild his shattered life and unite his family"

With a good pitch, you can make even people who don't read much Fantasy interested in your stories. This friend I talked to loves Fight Club and other books/movies with fascinating characters like Tyler Durden was in FC. Because I have a modern setting of a world that trades with Earth, my characters are more or less in tune with Earth's culture, even though sometimes they don't understand their fixation on nuclear bombs that Earthlings threaten each other with, or accuse countries of possessing.

It's a weird book from my weird mind.

Oh i HATE that. My family recently started coming on board with my writing but for the longest time they said it was a hobby and that i was wasting my life and nothing would come of it. When asked what i want to do with my life and i say novelism i get this look like i have gone daft. And then they say oh...i did not think there was in any money in that buisness. I could slap them then, just kill my dreams why don't you. And being a fantasy writer gets me even more dirty looks like i am a child and i need to grow up. I have said it a million times and i will say it again FANTASY IS EXTREMELY HARD TO WRITE. Writing is hard in general but i have written a novel in every genre and nothing as challengin as fantasy. My fantasy has a whole separate world with a completely different belief system and a renaissanistic life style. So not only did i have to reserch in depth on the renaissance period just to make the ways they live and talk realistic i had to make my own religion, gods, rituals, temple, and the whole lot. And then you throw magic on top of that. I have never faced anything so hard as making magic serious and not like the chronicles of narnia but something real and tangible and believable! In other genres they are dealing with the present world and mostly time which makes their setting so ridiculously easy because we already know how the modern age works because we LIVE in it so there are fewer questions, fewer details you need to spend agonizing hours sorting out while still keeping your story striaght. sigh .... So in conclusion it is my humble opinion that fantasy is the hardest to write. the end

"Inspiration doesn't care whether or not it's convenient for the artist."
"There are times when hope itself is an act of heroism. So here's to hope, and everyday heroes. "
-Jacqueline Carey

I'm the same way. It's not that I'm embarrassed with my story. I don't know what it is; I guess I would be that way regardless of the genre. I think I just get self conscious. I understand exactly where you're coming from, though.

I suppose I'm lucky. Everyone takes me seriously when I say I write fantasy/sci-fi hybreds. Of course, I'm lucky to have a mother that obsessed over Lord of the Rings and co-wrote fanfictions with me. >.> And my RL best friend's family also obsessed over Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, and my dad introduced us to Star Wars and is just facinated that I could write this many words, and my other best friend's family also obsesses over LotR, SW, and Monty Python. And my grandparents are all impressed that I write novels--though I admit I wouldn't give what I write to my mom's side of the family... but I think my dad's mom would be able to read what I write and appreciate it. ^^ She's definately where I got my reading gene from.

That said, everyone I know is so messed up that they take me seriously for writing fantasy, though I admit almost no one except my Nanoing friend knows WHAT I write about now. o_o I used to tell everyone, but now I'm just kinda quiet about it and occasionally talk to mom about plot devices when I need advice, which she happily gives. It's just all like "I write fantasy. Yeah, I want to get published".

It was very interesting explaining Nanowrimo to my employer... (snrks) She doesn't have much time for fiction but would like to watch Lord of the Rings and accepted the fact that I was writing a political mystery set in a fictional universe crossing the barriers between our hometown and some imaginary place while her daughter napped quite readily. ^^ She occasionally asks what my word count is and is impressed.

So, yeah, I haven't received too many people just brushing me off for writing fantasy... because they're too busy being impressed by HOW fast I write it. ^^

Ooh, we have a rant on our hands ;)

It's alright, I know where you're coming from. Being discouraged by family in particular is a difficult thing to deal with. At least they're coming around; my parents are as well! And I hate the whole, "You'll die alone in a box if you take up writing as a career." I mean, sure it's true probably 98% of the time, but as writers, it doesn't matter. We do what we love, and we are content that way.

Fantasy is difficult to write, as is every other genre out there. I don't really think it's the hardest, but once again, depending on the content of each story, it varies. Some people fly by the seat of their pants and never do a single ounce of research. Other delve into "Life in a Medieval Castle" for hours on end. Same is true for historical fiction writers, main stream writers, etc. Writing is writing. Each genre is as complicated as you wish it to be :) That's the beauty of it.

I'm not sure how anyone can call fantasy underappreciated in this day and age -- between Tolkien, Narnia, Harry Potter, etc, etc it's more or less mainstream by now. (Though as usual the most popular examples are far from the best...) Next time someone pooh-poohs your genre, remind them that a fantasy novel recently sold more copies then any other book ever written in the history of mankind...

I hate when people react like that. *rolls eyes*

Naw, you shouldn't do that. The best way to make people not give you grief for liking fantasy is by pointing out the silliness of genres they like.
Story:
When I was about 15, my mom decided I needed to start growing up and stop reading so many fantasy books. She didn't want me to stop reading, she just wanted me to read something else. So for the next two months I went through her bookshelf, reading every book. Then I asked her why she liked mysteries(which where formulaic) and romances(the ones she had were essentially written porn) so much while pointing out the silliness of each book. She never bothered me about what I wanted to read ever again.

The response I got when I was talking to one guy was: "No offense, but you and every other female I know."

This sounds stupid, but I wish I had the problem of people looking down on the fact that I'm writing fantasy.
Because then I wouldn't have all these people enthusiastic about reading my novel, which is that exact type of really bad fantasy that makes people look down on all the good fantasy writers such as yourselves.

I'm quite lucky in this respect, almost all of my friends *thinks* no not almost, all but one of my friends read fantasy on a regular basis and 99% of them are roleplayers.
My parents are the first ones to admit that they 'don't get' fantasy but that doesn't stop them supporting me, they've even asked to read one or two of my efforts before admitting that they just can't get into them (but they seem good). My mum is forever asking how the word count is going and if I still intend on getting something published one of these days and she very proudly tells her friends that I can write a novel in a month.

Strangely enough when I was at school, the one who was least supportive of my writing fantasy was my english teacher!
Employers and colleagues though, well I just try and avoid mentioning it to most of them it's not worth the hassle.

Eh, I'd be careful with that one, as it is a good recipe to anger a lot of people. I'm not hardcore religious so it doesn't bother me in particular, but nothing will make a fundamentalist's head explode more quickly than saying the Bible is a fantasy novel. Of course if making a fundamentalist's head explode is what you're after, then feel free :D

I myself have never encountered any objection to writing fantasy EXCEPT in the academic world. Most of my professors don't think it's a "real" genre. I've ranted and raved about that in many a thread, so I don't think I will do so again now ... but it's very annoying to say the least. I'd like to give the department chair a piece of my mind ... but I'm too chicken. Too too chicken. But most of my friends and family, even the ones that aren't that into fantasy, think it's pretty cool that I could come up with all that on my own.

I'm pretty lucky with my parents. They're not exactly mainstream and they just love Sci-fi and Fantasy. I don't think I've seen a regular old real world fiction book on their shelves ever.

My close friends, well we all still play AD&D once and week (and my parents too - see what I mean about them not being main stream), so we're all on the same page fantasy wise. My husband is the DM of said AD&D game, so I'm pretty sure he gets it too :o)

My work friends on the other hand, well, they try. They don't really get fantasy, but they try to be supportive. They think it's cool that I write books, though when I tell them its fantasy they just go 'ooo, are you going to be the next JK Rowling then?', or 'Oh, great, is it about wizards?'. Then they just look really disappointed when I say no, so I have to tell them it has a prince who has to save the world from an evil spirit and they go 'oh, that's all right then'.

They also have very unrealisic ideas of how difficult it is to get published.
Me: It's NaNoWriMo! I'm writing a book!
Work: Wow, that's cool! Are you going to publish it when you're done? We'd better be in the dedication.
Me: Yes, of course. I'm going to take my unedited pile of drivel I wrote in a month along to the local publishing house and I'm sure they'll be only too happy to make sure it's in Waterstones by Christmas.
Work: That's great. Could you write in a part for Johnny Depp to play when the film comes out? He's so dishy.
Me: *headdesk*

Yeah, I get that quite a bit too. My favorite though is when people ask what I'm writing about, so I launch into description about my character and they just give me that glassy-eyed stare and then say, "I hate those kinds of stories." I swear, nothing kills the enthusiasm much faster than that line. *sigh*

However, I'm learning that if the storyline interests me, there's a pretty good chance that although it doesn't interest them it might interest somebody else. So what if "halfbreeds" are overdone? So what if it's cliche? Everything else out there is a cliche too...there's only something like 80 "original" plot lines so there's bound to be some repitition. And with all the novels, short stories, etc, out there, there's more than "some" repitition.

Ah well, what can you do, but grin and bear it, right? Only us writers truly understand the dilemma that comes from writing. Though it never gets old when I tell people, "yeah, I wrote two novels this month...each about 50k words...and that's about 90 pages of MS Word, single-spaced." Their faces are priceless! XD

Yeah, I can completely sympathize. A lot of people assume fantasy is easy because you can just make up whatever and it works. Yeah, well, maybe, if you happen to like incongruities and inconsistencies (synonyms, I know), but if you put a lot of effort into it to make it good, you can't just make up anything. It's hard to write. Coming up with names is one of the hardest things (for me at least) and I never turn down help for that kind of thing. Plus, you have to follow your own rules, and nothing is harder than that. Because you have to remember what you made up and sometimes it's not as easily remembered as the Law of Gravity. Heh, apparently my own mini-rant. Sorry bout that.

Maybe we should have a Fantasy Support Group -- or FSG for short? Where we can rant and complain and share awesome stories of converting people to our side. ^_^

Ah, indeed, I have gotten that response. Like a couple others, I'm always kind of embarrassed to talk about my novel face to face. It feels almost like bragging, and I'm also worried about getting that exact response! As someone else said, nothing kills enthusiasm faster than that. It's disheartening to put so much work into something and then have it be brushed aside like it's nothing.

However, I do understand that not everyone likes the same genres. I'm not a big fan of science fiction, so if someone were telling me their plotline from that genre, I might not be as interested if it were fantasy. Having said that, I would at least listen to the whole thing and offer support where viable. I think that's the difference between writers and non-writers. Writers tend to better understand that even if it's not something you would read, that doesn't mean it's not important//worthwhile/viable.

The only people who would do that are my parents, and they're the only people who don't know that I write fantasy. v_v. Some of my friends write fantasy and sci-fi, and the rest are nerdy enough to understand.

As an adoptee, I have parents from all sides of the fence. But there is always one person in the group that says, "You're a writer you should write X." Like such things fall from the sky. The problem is that the people who don't read fantasy won't relate to it. The people who don't read whatever genre you are writing are less likely to support you in that genre. I can always tell what a person likes to read by what they tell me to write. I rather get an "Oh" than a "I read Anne McCaffrey, write like HER" --;;;

My parents on the adoptive side, my mom is an in-closet chic lit reader with feminist views. I stopped giving her my stories when she 1. Told me that I should do "something real" when I told her I was writing and submitting she said "You need to get a job." 2. When she kept trying to make feminist passes at my work (there should be more female character in X work... I like that you put feminist ideas in your work. --;; It was enough to make me rebel and write anti-feminist things. Having female characters in a novel DOES NOT make it feminist. *sighs* 3. When she didn't respect the genre I chose to work in. then to top it off... I haven't seen your work in a while, what are you writing? --;; She's a BAAADDD second reader. I plan on *not* ever telling her that I'm published at this point. I want the other "oh" the one that says, "You can make it?"

My Dad is a pretty good reader though he doesn't give specific comments. He's better at plot pointing. Saying things don't make sense in the plot. But he's kind of neutral in supporting me, I think because of my mom.

Appa (my birth father) gushes praise at me for doing a task like writing, understanding that it's really, really difficult. It might be because he did some poetry in his younger days. While he doesn't understand the heart of a writer, he's surprisingly supportive. ^^;; If I could write the whole book in Korean, I'd choose him first out of the three. At least he's written *something*, plus he likes Romance and doesn't mind chic lit. I have a feeling he wouldn't mind my fantasy either.

I learned you'll get more of an "Oh" if you say the vague "Everything". Which I do try to achieve.

Fantasy is *not* easy to write. You need to know tons of miscellaneous information to make it work. Sociological, political, geographical, geological, herbology, taxonomy, historical, cultural and lots of random facts to now and tell. Fantasy is great because you can dump random information into it and make it work. Fantasy is easily blended with other genres as well. So I think we can safely say that people say that because they truly are jealous that we fantasy writers get to use the whole breathe of our knowledge and *they* don't. I know why buttons are on the opposite side of women's costs than mens. This is a random fact that doesn't look like it could ever be used, but what do you know, my character can be a dressmaker and note that she sewed the buttons on the wrong side... The cacao tree doesn't grow 15 degrees from the equator. My world is an unstable environment that doesn't have a steady climate globally... no chocolate for my characters! These random facts combined you won't find in any other genre. And it's easy to get things *wrong* such as gender constructions in an agricultural society. Or the idea of beauty in a tribal society. Getting a guild system wrong. Making a political structure impossible for humans to actually work and live in. These things we have to watch out for. And no one else in this world has a definitive guide book to tell us that these things are wrong. Fantasy takes lots and lots of research, which is why I love the genre so much. Fantasy also can tackle political issues and sociological issues in a way that many other genres can't. If you remove the name and allegiances, you really can discover why people would go to war for one assassinated King. (WWI, to give it a name). It's more challenging than any other genre I've done. And I can proudly say that.

Y'all are lucky.... my friends look on me as insane, my parents don't care as long as it gets published and gets them money, and if I ever read any part of my story(ies) to them, they would be horrified.... 'tis disheartening. But then, (they call, and I remember...) I come on here, and you guys help me out. :-)

You're welcome, Tasha. I think you could become a good Author. *grins and waves* And you probably are insane. I mean, you won NaNo. Sure sign of insanity.

My writing teacher was very encouraging, especially with fantasy. Three-quarters of my Writing the Popular Novel class wrote some kind of speculative fiction. The teacher said just because HE is a famous sci-fi and fantasy writer, we don't have to write sci-fi and fantasy. And I thought, Card, don't give yourself so much credit. I've been really making up fantasy stories since I was twelve.

Yah, it really annoys me when I get that reaction. I try to explain my novel very briefly, I say it's modern and there is magic and generally people don't ask anything more then that.

What exactually upset me was my boyfriends mother. She writes science fiction, as does my boyfriend. Now, in the spirit of competition I understand arguing that one or the other is better, but from what I got she actually believes that fantasy is just wordy garbage. Maybe I misunderstood her...I hope did.

To write fantasy we need to understand not only history, philosophy, and the basics of setting and plot development (according to a book I read that is what you need to be a writer), but also how to discuss magic and actually use that history in a concise and intelliget manner well maintaining the existence of characters who enter into the realm of the absurd.

Oh well, we aren't writing these for them anyway.

I don't tell a lot of people that I am writing, much less the genre. I am very secret about my writing, simply because I know that a lot of people at my school, and a lot of the people around me, could really care less. I live in a town that is driven by sports. If you're not in a sport, you aren't considered worthy of attention, basically.

Sorry, mini rant.

Sure, my teachers would probably love it if they knew I was trying to write a novel. I have cool teachers. I did tell one english teacher I had last year I was doing NaNoWriMo. He seemed proud of me because I was trying something so hard. My other english teachers would also be ecstatic...except for my world lit. teacher...he doesn't seem to be excited about anything. He's too stoic.

So, to answer your question, I don't get that apathetic "oh." But I would rather get the "oh" instead of someone asking me to tell them what my novel is about.

In reality? I get that apathetic "oh" about any form of writing.

I am on the side of those that write fantasy; I love fantasy. However, you do have to admit this: sometimes fantasy IS just wordy garbage. There are some novels out there that just grind my gears with the way they are written and then shoved on the genre shelf labeled "fantasy." I have a lot of respect for this genre...but, I have to be realistic.

The fantasy genre, while potentially hard, is a comfortable one. You can do almost anything you want. You can make up magics, diseases, languages; you can have dragons and elves, faeries and vampyres...but a lot of times, these things get cliched. Especially the plot "Hero/Heroine goes on quest to find *insert helpful magical item* that will kill *insert evil villain* and along the way Hero and Heroine fall in love and have wild, passionate sex."

Maybe I am clumping things together too harshly, but this is what I see, and this is also what people have come to see fantasy as.

Oh yes. My mother does not care (I don't think she even knows that I finished my novel, since I didn't get to do a 50k word dance around the house) at all, to the point where if I tell her about it on one day she will forget the next day (this is the woman who keeps the schedule for both of us without any electronic whatsits) that I am even writing. The conversation was lost on my father. My closer friends think it's cool, but that's because a lot of them are either nerds like me or airheads who haven't had their hopes and dreams stolen from them yet. My friends who are more like slightly glorified acquaintances couldn't care less; one of them is even seriously opposed to the fact that I write fantasy. I'm sure that even as I write this she's plotting some way to introduce me to another genre. (I have read other genres and they are boring.)

I agree with many of the posters; fantasy is severely looked down upon. Probably because really crappy books (ahem Eragon) sell. Also, a lot of fantasy authors don't put enough work into it. Just because it's fantasy doesn't mean it gets to not make sense, nor does it mean that it gets to not have realistic elements. Your characters still have to act like humans (or, if they're not humans, at least have recognizable behavior), they still have to have flaws, they still have to encounter problems they can't deal with, etc etc. What people don't get is that fantasy is fiction with a world that works differently, a statement which can be applied to most genres (except, of course, normal fiction, which is boring. I don't want to read about real life. That's what living is for. I want something new).

So, in short, yes to your question because people are stupid (well, that wasn't a very good summary but it's close).

Dear gods yes, why do you think so many of us write fantasy for nano?! Fantasy is incredibly easy to write badly.

If you're going to try and write good fantasy then it's a lot harder than most people seem to think and can take you far further out of your comfort zone than almost any other genre. I've tried writing sci-fi as have a couple of friends of mine, it's great until you hit that 'ummm, what can I call my spangly new ray-gun' point but you can research. I did both chemistry and biology at A level and can still babble enough to blind a lot of people with science jargon, if you want to write sci-fi you can take existing science and tweak it without it being as immediately obvious than if you take existing fantasy and tweak it.

Please note, I am not trying to say that sci-fi is 'easy', like fantasy it's very easy to do badly!

Fantasy is wonderful in that you can use all kinds of funky new races, magic, diseases, plants, creatures and anything else that springs to mind (but then again the same could be said for sci-fi) but you still have to name them. If you want to write something credible, something that will allow people to suspend their disbelief rather than throwing the book down in exasperation, then you need to set rules for anything that shows up in your world. They need to be able to exist in context and function within set perameters otherwise you will confuse yourself just as much as your reader. I think what I'm trying to say in all this rambling is that the world building aspect of most genres (at least those that require it) have the same requirements and pitfalls.

When it comes to plot you could say the same thing, yes there are a lot of cliches out there, perhaps moreso in fantasy because it sometimes seems to be the most prolific genre on the shelves. There is a fine line between bad cliche and good plot that just happens to have elements that have been used a hundred times before.

Yep, hideously over used but then again so are elves, dragons, dwarves, vampires, insane rulers, usurpers to the throne, scheming eunuchs, good-hearted theives and knights in shining armour. That doesn't mean that they can't be done well and with new twists that make you forget the cliches.

Seeing bad fantasy published gives me hopes that I might just be able to get some of my work on the shelves one of these days but it does mean that the general public perception is that everyone writes bad fantasy. I've pretty much stopped opening conversations with 'I write fantasy', get them hooked on the crux of your plot first and they'll concentrate on that rather than what they think they know about fantasy writers.