Writing Fantasy

[Morquesse]

I also write fantasy, and I suggest that you, Meela, try not to worry too much about being a 'copycat'. If it's your writing and you stick in stuff you like, then it's your story. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

I don't think you can write fantasy without taking from Tolkien a little, but one trick is to stop reading it (I can't believe I said that on a Tolkien site!) Some writers stop reading entirely while they are writing, just to keep from being blatantly derivative. Immerse yourself in your own created world, and avoid everyone else's.

A good idea, but it has its disadvantages. By doing that you will be limited to what you have previously read, and you will automaticly copy the fantasy you have read. I suggest that you read as much as you can, but not just Tolkien's stuff but try other authors too. That way you will see what you like and don't like in stories. Also, you could try reading some mythology, a bunch of stuff in there people have yet to use.
See you later! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
~M