Make a Fantasy Race
When writing fantasy, many writers choose to set their novels in a fantasy world. If this is the case, you will need different fantasy races to live there. While some prefer to just stick to well known fantasy races, others choose to create their own race. If you have chosen this option, but are struggling and wondering where to begin, this is how to create a well developed fantasy race.
Contents
Steps
Creating the race
- Write down the common physical traits of your race. Do they commonly have bright green skin or hazel eyes? Are there reasons behind these physical traits? Be creative. This is your race and your creation, so you have complete control - maybe add on a tail or extra arms if that is what you want. There are no limits to what you could create!
- Choose a theme: Is your race an elegant, peaceful race, or are they brutal monsters?
- Describe the beliefs of your race. This doesn't have to be religious beliefs. Do they have free or strict gender roles? Do they believe their rulers are the descendant of some divine being? The things they believe in will greatly shape the mentality of the race. There's no such thing as an entire race being all evil or all good. You can however make it so that another species believes they are all evil because of certain events in the past which created this stereotype.
- Identify the race's strong and weak attributes. Are they exceptional fighters? Can they use certain types of magic? Are they always bad tempered, etc.? How can they be killed? This is essential to identify, especially if your race will be at war with another race at any point in your story.
- Identify other races. Does your race have any close relatives? Was there interbreeding that caused a mixture of races? Is one race descended from another?
- Explain the history of the race. How did they come to be as they are? Were there any defining aspects of their history that have shaped the way they are now?
- Build a culture for your race. How did they make their weapons? What do their homes look like? What did they do for entertainment?
Locating the race
- Pick where you want your race to be located on your world. Do they all live in one specific place, or do they live all around your world? If there is one place where your race lives, it can help if you draw a map of the race's territory.
- Have they been here for ages, or did they migrate?
Naming the race
- Pick a name for your race. Don't be afraid to slightly change a race that has already been thought up and give it a slightly different name, just make sure to make it yours. For example, an elf could be a desert elf or a low elf. If you have created a completely new and different race and can't think of a name for it, consider using a foreign word that translates to a trait in your race. Many names for races have been chosen in this way.
Drawing the race
- Draw your race. This can help to give a clear physical idea of what you're working with. If drawing isn't your forte, another option can be to write out a physical assessment on your new race to help give an overall description.
Tips
- Have fun using your imagination - remember, you choose to write and create so you should enjoy it.
- If you get stumped, search the web, read fantasy books, research fantasy games or any other resources to provide you with inspiration.
- Take inspiration from reality. Many of J.R.R. Tolkien's races and nations in Lord of the Rings can be attributed to fusions of cultures from around our world. For instance, the Rohirrim were master horse riders and cavalrymen (like the medieval Spanish). Culturally, they lived in the shadow of Gondor, inheriting some of their culture whilst defending their own.
- There is no right/wrong or allowed/prohibited ideas or scenarios - what you decide is your character is completely fine.
- When creating a race or species make sure that you include various details that are all your own so that you don't have to worry about plagiarism.
- If you have trouble coming up with an original name, then perhaps you can do a portmanteau or two words combined together.
