Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [dark-fantasy]

This tag should be used for questions about dark fantasy, such as how to incorporate elements from the typical horror genre in your fantasy setting or how to set the scene in a particularly dark situation.

This tag should be used for questions about dark , such as how to incorporate elements from the typical genre in your fantasy setting or how to set the scene in a particularly dark situation.

23 questions
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Trivial non-dark twist in dark fantasy

I am writing a rather dark, grey fantasy story. It is supposed to feature a twist that turns the antagonist's goal to not to be evil at all (just misjudged) and really trivial (despite requiring large dose of effort). The protagonist changes for the…
Kiratta
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What are most common tropes of a paranormal book and dark fantasy book?

I'm trying to decide what genre my novel should be. I wanna be more generic so the answers can help other people, so my question is: How to know if a story is a dark fantasy or a paranormal story? What are the typical writing styles/tropes to look…
Klara Raškaj
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How should you use sexually deviant monsters in fantasy?

terror is a real and powerful thing. A monster is ever-so-slightly scarier if it violates you in some way. there have been many of these types of creatures seen in myths and fairy tales. This goes beyond the cliche succubus concept, and includes…
Incognito
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How can I make my story's worldbuilding magical but not too far from realistic?

I was trying to do the world building first since I have lots of decisions that I can't make when I'm creating a character. I'm not sure whether to make it all magical or realistic. I want both. Helluva Boss did this well. It took place in Hell,…
Crimsoir
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Portraying the Brutality of War

I'm writing what might be described as a gas-lamp fantasy novel set in a realm similar to the Durrani Empire. Part of the main character's backstory is his experience growing up the son of a prostitute in a not!British military encampment, and…
Soma
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Making the story's change in tone feel natural

I am writing an epic fantasy story for a videogame I will make in the future. In the first half, it has a lot of edgy and dark humor, but the tone feels arcadey when it comes to killing random npcs. Halfway through the story, it ends up becoming…
Crafter
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Having Real-World Gods in a High Fantasy Setting

In my fantasy world, there are various religions and beliefs. To not get too obsessed with the worldbuilding (it is already pretty thick and heavy,) I was thinking of, in terms of their religions, including gods from real-world cultures. For more…
Crafter
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Do the mafia and dark fantasy genres work well together?

I've been writing a book for two years now, and it feels like the plot could work better if I include a mafia, like a lot of things would come together if I include that my male lead is the underboss of a mob. However, it also has fantasy elements…
stuff
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Am I Too Young To Publish?

I am turning 14 years old soon and currently working on a story called "Royal Wings" that I would love to get published someday. When it is completed it will be intended to be a Young Adult/Teen Dark Fantasy story. However, as I am finding myself…
Farren
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Can you write a story without a protagonist?

Is it possible for there to be a story of a villain on a rampage only told in his perspective and his victims? Near the beginning, he defeats the only characters brave enough to stand up against him. I was thinking it might work since you won't get…
Gabriel Burchfield
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How do you come up with conflict for a powerful character?

As I understand it, conflict means presenting a character with an obstacle that he can only overcome through change. The problem is that I can't think of such a thing. Nearly all conflict that comes to my mind, even internal, is expressed…
verified_tinker
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Is fear of the unknown exploitable via extreme ambiguity?

My first horror/fantasy novel has received some criticism from peers, many of them claiming that I introduce the antagonist too early. The introduction of the antagonist is nearly instant, but extremely ambiguous. It appears in 2 major forms, as a…
Gregory
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Can I use pre-existing mythological characters in a story that isn't about any mythology?

I'm writing a fantasy story where I want to incorporate various pantheons of mythology, without having them actually belonging to any pantheon. Is that possible? I mean. I like the idea. But is it possible and would it work? Or should I create my…
Revan
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What are ways to develop a leadership character arc or a character becoming an unexpected leader?

Good morning! I have a character in my novel who I would like to start out as unsure of her place in the group but develops into one of the leaders if not the leader. The setting is post-apocalyptic fantasy, rural to small town, and they also have…
DarkDragonLady
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Is this character too cliche?

So I'm writing a story and my main antagonist is Death (At least from my MCs point of view). Is he as a antagonist too cliche? He owns a casino, his headquarters, and the setting is in 1700, London during a plague.
Gabriel Burchfield
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