#i do it way too often bc tumblr mobile in browser specifically is a bit shit

[keygenmemory]

if i ever reblog something and it wasnt on this blog by accident you didnt see anything OK?

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Wolf’s Fantasy Notes: Historical Fantasy

Hello all! I am back again with historical fantasy. This one was a bit trickier to do given that historical fantasy is a little harder to spot. So I decided to focus on the use of historical figures, events, and mythologies as fodder for your fics!

Historical Fantasy

This is an interesting category that has only recently gained prominence. Pop culture wise you have shows like Merlin or books like Abe Lincoln Vampire Slayer and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. More recently you have Harriet Tubman Demon Slayer added to the list. The movie The Black Knight with Martin Lawrence is also a possible example. Some people even consider Game of Thrones historical fantasy given that several of the book’s events draw inspiration from wars and events in Europe. Given that it can be easy to mistake anything with a castle and royalty as high fantasy… finding actual historical fantasy examples is a little difficult!

If you know of any, please comment on the post, I and others would love to see them!

So first up on my list of potential fic fodder: Mythologies!

Now I have mentioned use of these before. They are great starting points! But I wanna go a little deeper this time!

When people think of myths the usual ones that come to mind are the shenanigans of Gods and Goddesses, struggles of demigods, and mighty war stories if one is so inclined. But myths cover more than the epic! They cover the world and how it works, people and their relationships, and history! Greece, for example, has the story of Narcissus as the origin story of the Narcissus flower! Or the story of Archne and Athena, which is the origin of the spider! And that is just two of hundreds!

Mythology also sports a host of beings and creatures that can be added to your story! Searching the various cultures can give you a plethora of monsters to be fought or otherworldly beings to befriend. Various landscapes and magic to explore, too! Google is your friend! Make use of it!

Don’t for religions, either! They have their own mythologies and events that can be looked at. Fairy tales, too! They were often commentary on the time periods in which they were set which can also give you some ideas!

Next on the list: History

There are a ton of cool historical figures that can serve a basis for fantasy stories. Amazing warriors aided by magic. Powerful figures brought low by curses or a broken deal. There are a ton of stories of people surviving or perishing under mysterious circumstances that could be explored!

One of my favorite Tumblrs for this is Rejected Princesses! This blog hosts beautiful illustrations and blog entries about amazing women throughout history doing equally amazing things! There are a ton of lovely stories there ranging from heart breaking to funny to triumphant to epic! Also I strongly recommend using the desktop version of the site. It is far more organied than the mobile version will be!

Even though it specifically details women, there is plenty of room to make them fit who you want!  

Googling urban legends with some grains of truth can help, too! Look into local stories passed down in your area. Researching major historical events and normal people in them can yield some fun nuggets, as well!

Don’t wanna spend time looking for events or people?

Go for time periods! There are many to choose from!

Ancient times (Anything with BC behind it!)

Dark Ages

The Renaissance

The European Revolution

The Emergence of the Silk Road

The Rococo Period where pirates and the like ruled

Industrialization

Victorian Era

Colonization of America

The WIld West

World Wars 1 and 2

Cold War

Heck, within the USA all the decades in the 20th century have their own mythos and culture to dive into!

One of my favorite movies is Cats Don’t Dance which is a fantasy retelling of the struggles facing POC in Hollywood! Anthropomorphic animals struggle to be taken seriously as actors. The whole premise screams fantasy, but it covers a turbulent point in history for a section of its citizens.

Ok! So you have your research done and have a story in mind… now what?

Yes, changing locations… yada yada...

But another way to do it is to change time periods!

-Turn a pirate into a railway smuggler who is running from an angry being that he stole from!

-Make a cursed princes into a cursed cursed high society socialite instead!

-Instead of Cinderella wanting to go to the ball, have her want to go West and make a fortune for herself with the help of a fairy godmother that hangs out at the local saloon!

Another way to use history is to find new challenges or goals for your characters to strive against or for. Magic can either help them or harm them! Same for the creatures involved!

Next time I'll cover Punk fantasy, ie Steampunk and the like. There are several of them and I want to lay out what they are and how you can combine them with what we have already discussed!

Also! I made some changes to my modern fantasy post! You can take a look at it here! If it loops on the mobile app, run it through your web browser instead!

Have any questions about history as a starting point for fantasy works or something you would like me to answer about fantasy in general? Hit me up in my ask box here!

See you soon!

~Admin Wolf