How do you keep the real world, but still write fantasy?

I've been trying to write a new plot for my old character Ellima, but something just keeps annoying me and nagging away at me.

I want to write her plot in a fantasy world, because there needs to be some form of magic, but all the elements I want and need are set in the real world, for example: trains, radios, schools like ours and I want the reader to connect with the story, because it's set in their world. I know you may be thinking, why don't you just include these things? The problem is, I want to, but the whole fantasy world would be confusing and stupid, in my opinion.

The main thing I want to include is some sort of rebellion against the government, but more like the rebellion in Harry Potter (Dumbledore's army), so this is why I want to set the plot in our world.

But, again, I have a problem. I don't want to write about Ellima in England, or spain or America. (Or do I?) Everytime I find a solution, I just get more and more confused!

Help, anyone?

Make the fantasy world similiar to ours in many ways (technology, government, etc.) and just add the magical elements into the world too.

Keep in mind that fantasy is just something unreal or illogical. It just happens. The world is a different side of the coin completely. *personal opinion*

If you want a world with technology, then make a world with technology. Most worlds will have a government anyway, whether it's a monarchy or a democracy. The government comes up naturally, so just set up the geography and social aspects first. What do kids do for fun? What types of regions are there? Making maps help with this, whether you're an artist or not. That's why you see a lot of fantasy books with maps. xD The author needs them! And if the author needs them, hehe, the reader will definitely need them.

Anyway, don't jump into the technology until you have an idea as to what kind of world you want. If you want to base it off of Dragonlance, let's say, you'll have a lot of forest area and small villages 'cause the heros of the collection always journey in those areas. Sometimes even mountains.

Once you have the general geography down, stick in the technology and the basic history of the world. Save the government for later. Get the little things you want in first, and then decide what type of government is appropriate for that type of world.

By now, you'll have a realistic world of your own. This is when you can include the magical elements that your plot and/or world calls for. Fantasy is just something unreal, so it's fairly easier than it seems. Make a world just like ours and then stick in the fantasy aspects. Rowling took a realistic world and stuck in her own fantasy aspects (the world just so happened to be earth).

Hopefully I helped you a little? PM me or reply here if you're confused still. xD My current novel is held in a realistic world. It feels like this world, but I don't actually say she lives in San Fransisco or Berlin, Germany. And I made up a high school/bookstore/etc. xD So you can use this world and just replace certain names with made-up, fantasy names. The readers won't know the difference. ^^

Guys, I love you!


You've all put it into perspective for me. My head was all over the place and I couldn't seem to match up all the places and ideas etc.

I think I just might have the beggining of a possible idea, that I could maybe use, sometime in the future!

Thanks so much, although I shouldn't have needed you guys to point out the obvious. I think I was in blockhead mode.

Thanks

The Golden Compass or Norther Lights (whatever it's called!) by Philip Pullman uses aspects of magic and technology together. If you want to use it, use it.

It sounds as though you want to create something that's about like Urban Fantasy. My favorite magic is Faery magic, the Fey always seem to sneak into my novels and overrun them with their kind of magic. Mostly second sight type of stuff, but there are other kinds of magic.

I think you need to build up what elements of our world that you want to use, but also decide what kind of magic you want to use. Set down ground rules first, and then expand on them. And, sometimes things come clear as you write.

I would also suggest reading some Urban Fantasy books, to get a good idea of how others combine the two forces. Of course, I suggest that because of all of the Urban Fantasy novels that I like, . The Blue Girl by Charles de Lint was what I used as the start of my Nano this year, it's mostly about faeries and the like. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett is amazing, as angels and demons and magic interact within a world like our own. The Battle of the Oaks by Emma Bull is a really great book, once again mixing faeries and magic with a world like our own. The anthology Firebirds Rising edited by Sharyn November has sci-fi and fantasy, but it's a great mix of all different sorts of Urban fantasies. Finally, A College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer mixes magic and real life in a wonderful way, and although it's set in the past, there are trains and such still. Also set in the past is Sorcery and Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer, which also has a wonderful writing style to it.

It's all how you combine things, really. Good luck!

Thanks again, everyone, you've given some really great advice.

I think I know what to do now, but my story has just become extremely complicated! XD