I finally chose between a medieval fantasy novel and a space opera for my next big project

I went with the medieval fantasy because I found an old map of a fake kingdom my brother and I drew when we were kids. Three chapters in and the tavern scene just feels flat. Has anyone else picked the wrong genre and had to pivot?

2 comments

2 Comments

martin.paige14d ago

Have you considered that maybe the problem isn't the genre at all, but that you're trying too hard to honor your old map? A flat tavern scene usually means the characters don't have enough conflict or need driving them forward. The map can still work as a cool framework, but you might be leaning on it too hard instead of letting your story breathe on its own. Don't blame the genre when what you really need is a sharper hook or a character who wants something badly.

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david_rivera414d ago

Man I just read this article about how the best fantasy stories come from characters making bad choices based on what they want. That's exactly what you're missing! You got a cool map but your characters are just standing around waiting for the plot to happen instead of chasing something.