Is Writing and Publishing Fantasy Novels a Legitimate Part of A Writers Life?

One of the best ways to improv your writing and find more joy in your writing is to spend time reading. Not only to build a better vocabulary but to also allow your mind to wander. One of the ways to do this is by reading science fiction and fantasy books which have an element of both real and "unreal" to them. There are many people who don't see it this way and and find a way to improve your writing in a different way. I read a lot of fantasy, and science fiction novels, and know of many people who want to publish books in these genres. Those who publish in these genres tend to have great questioning minds and many are famous for that. The question becomes is writing a fantasy novel a legitimate means of writing?

These two genres are my more favored ones to read. I do read other genres but mostly these. Over the years, from the time I began to really read fantasy until now I seen one big change. It is not in the style of writing more so then it is in something, that there are still people who wonder why the genre even is out there and why there are still writers who publish novels.

The reason it is harder to be seen as a force before was because there was not a push in terms of readership. That is until the Lord of the Rings, and more so with Game of Thrones, both of which are high fantasy series.

I have a small group of writing friends with whom I talk with and enjoy lunches with, and plain have fun writing with. Two of us are also big fantasy readers, and writers. The others are children's book writers, and writers of literary novels. All of these are different and yet, similar.

When I first began to write fantasy, many would ask me why I was writing such nonsense. I think times have changed and the media, or more precisely Hollywood, has helped. In a big way they have made fantasy much more accessible.

It was after viewing Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, that my cousin mentioned he read Tolkien. I nearly did a double take. He has always been one to comment that fantasy is not legitimate. I couldn't resist. i Had to say it.

"Did you read the novel?" Of course I expected the answer of no, it's fantasy. Here was his answer.

Yes, and I was surprised how well written it was and much better than the movie, I didn't know about Gandalf and how long he had looked for the information he sought about the Ring Frodo had received from his uncle." I was surprised, very much so, that he had read the book, and he had enjoyed it.

"Oh, cool. So is fantasy legitimate?"Was my question to him.

"Well, I suppose so, I think I will reserve judgment until I read more."

He has become quite the reader of fantasy and of literary novels. He would be the first to admit that something is not a good read, and when something is more or less fantasy-science fiction books. While he'll never become a fantasy buff, he will certainly never say that the genre is a joke. He never did read fantasy but Hollywood movies he loves, I suspect that this is one way to get someone to read a book, and that the writer of the novel just got paid for this work.

It took Hollywood to make it work, and yet, for the reader who do read fantasy novels, and writers as well, it is still one of their more enjoyable genres. On the one hand a reader can step into a new world, out of this one for a while, and then come out with different insights into the "ordinary" world. On the other hand, the imagination it takes for an author to write fantasy is harder to maintain than some other genres, as the second it fails the reader will put it down.

The same holds true with any form of writing.

Is writing in the genres of science fiction and fantasy a real means to making money or have a chance to increase your readership, and earn enough income so that you can be writing for a living? Should someone who publishes fantasy be considered a true author?

That's a loaded question, to fantasy readers at least, for most it's legitimate area to read, as they will read whatever is good and well-written. They all have their favorites, but will read something recommended to them by other fantasy lovers. This is a fantasy community and every reader has their favorites, both in style of the books they read and the writers they read about. most are very clear on what they will read and why they read it. Then there are the others the reader who saw it in a big movie... and they do not like the books.

For others... it's a joke, until they see it on the big screen and give it a chance, and then they will say it's more legit. But never a joke anymore. At least as long as the movie caught their imagination and they pad good money to see it time and again.

For others, no matter how much a reader will recommend or not they will never read it or go see it on the big screen without scorn. To them fantasy is a joke, and they will admit to liking science-fiction but that is about all.

Still, fantasy writing is complex and challenging, but for a reader of fantasy they enjoy for what it is: Good writing. If the writing is good they will enjoy it, and that is what links them to other readers everyone who reads wants a good book.