UNICORNS SELL!Fantasy fiction dominates the world bestseller lists, makes zillions at the box office, and has turned writers like J.K. Rowling and Stephanie Meyer and Christopher Paolini into household names.
Their books have sold more than 500 million copies in the last dozen years. Add the sales of J.R.R Tolkien (150 million for The Lord of the Rings alone), C.S. Lewis (120 million for the Narnia series), Robert Jordan (44 million), Terry Brooks (21 million), Dragonlance (20 million) and the Artemis Fowl books (18 million) – and it is clear that fantasy is the most popular of narrative forms.
The world is hungry for tales of epic quests, dragons, vampires, wizards, magic rings and cloaks of invisibility. One publishing house in the US has even issued their staff with a T-shirt that reads ‘Unicorns Sell!’
And what readers want to read, publishers want to publish!
So what is fantasy? Why is it so popular? And how can aspiring writers tap into that hunger for fantastic fiction?
Kate Forsyth is the award-winning and internationally bestselling author of 23 books for both adults and children. Her books are published in 12 countries including the UK, the US, Japan, Russia, Indonesia and Spain (as well as her homeland of Australia). She has taught ‘Writing Fantasy’ workshops all over the world, including a writers retreat in Fiji last year.
In a week-long course, she will teach participants everything from the history and common motifs of fantasy fiction to world-building and creating characters that leap off the page. She’ll tell you the secret formula to all stories, yet teach you how to make sure your work is fresh and original and imaginative. Kate’s ‘Writing Fantasy’ course helps you build a story from the first flash of inspiration to finding a publisher for your work.
Aristotle said: “A likely impossibility is always preferable to an unconvincing possibility.’ Learn how to make your fantasy book so convincing and so entrancing that your readers will wish the book never had to end, with Kate Forsyth’s ‘Writing Fantasy’ course from 29th May to 5th June. For more information about Kate, check out her website at www.kateforsyth.com.au.
Kate will be facilitating her course 'Fantasy Writing - Ideas' at the Writers' Lab, Skyros Centre in Greece this summer from Saturday 29 May to Saturday 5 June. See www.skyros.com to book online, email office@skyros.com or call 01983 865566. The holiday also includes participation in yoga and music & arts courses.
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