Fantasy Novel

The 2nd Secret to a Bestselling Fantasy: The Supernatural Plot

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

Have you ever sat down with a brilliant magical system, epic mythical creatures, and an enchanted world, only to feel your manuscript drifting without real direction?

You know your world has magic, but your story feels unfocused, bogged down, or lacking genuine momentum.

If this sounds familiar, you are not alone. Many fantasy writers struggle to balance imaginative worldbuilding with story structure. In our previous discussion, we looked at why every novel requires a strong external plot. However, an external plot alone will not turn your draft into a true fantasy novel.

To create a book readers cannot put down, you must understand the second crucial story arc of your manuscript: the supernatural plot.

What Is the Supernatural Plot?

Kristina Stanley points out a foundational truth for speculative fiction: a story without an external plot is not a story, and a story without a supernatural plot is not a fantasy.

When we look at the supernatural in a fantasy novel, we are referring to magic systems, powers such as telekinesis or precognition, and mythical creatures like dragons, vampires, or fairies. Readers pick up fantasy books specifically to experience the protagonist grappling with and harnessing these forces.

In Secrets to Writing a Fantasy, K. Stanley and L. Cooke explain that whether your world relies on magic or fantastical beings, the supernatural must directly help or hinder the protagonist from reaching their story goal. Magic should have limitations and costs. It cannot exist simply as decorative background detail. It must drive the conflict.

The Five Supernatural Story Arc Scenes

Using The Fictionary Method, you can build a structurally sound supernatural plot by establishing five key story arc scenes that run alongside your external plot:

  • Supernatural Inciting Incident: The protagonist gets an inkling that the supernatural exists or that they can influence it.
  • Supernatural Plot Point 1: The protagonist fully believes in or uses the supernatural for the first time.
  • Supernatural Middle Plot Point: The protagonist proactively uses the supernatural to drive the story forward.
  • Supernatural Plot Point 2: The protagonist faces a major limitation of the supernatural or experiences a painful lesson about its boundaries.
  • Supernatural Climax: The protagonist uses the supernatural in a final attempt to achieve their goal.

Creating Your Supernatural Skeleton Blurb

Before you outline or edit, summarize this plotline into a single sentence called a supernatural skeleton blurb. The structure follows a clear pattern:

The protagonist must use the supernatural, otherwise they will not achieve their supernatural story goal.

By defining your protagonist, the supernatural power or creature they must interact with, and the stakes on the line, you establish focus for every scene. When you weave these five supernatural scenes together with your external plot arc, your novel gains the deep structure found in commercially successful fantasy books.

Take Your Fantasy Writing to the Next Level

Ready to turn your imaginative magic into a commercially successful novel? Grab your copy of Secrets to Writing a Fantasy by K. Stanley and L. Cooke today. Discover how to apply The Fictionary Method, weave your story arcs, and write a fantasy novel that readers will love.

The Secret to Bestselling Fantasy: The External Plot

~ Kristina Stanley ~ Leave a comment

In The Magic of Opening Images and First Chapters, we looked at the power of the opening image—that first glimpse that hooks a reader and promises a journey worth taking. But once you’ve hooked them, how do you keep them?

The answer lies in the External Plot.

Every story needs a visible, tangible goal. It’s the movement of the protagonist through the world. While internal growth is beautiful, the external plot is the engine. It’s the answer to the reader’s subconscious question: What is this person actually trying to do, and what happens if they fail?

In fantasy, where the worlds are vast and the magic is complex, it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. That’s why I want to introduce you to a tool we use at Fictionary: The Skeleton Blurb.

What is a Skeleton Blurb?

A skeleton blurb isn’t the flashy copy you see on the back of a book. It’s a structural tool for you, the writer. It’s the shortest possible version of your story that answers three vital questions:

  1. Who is the protagonist?
  2. What is their goal?
  3. What is at stake?

Think of it as the North Star for your manuscript. If a scene doesn’t move your protagonist closer to that goal or raise those stakes, you have to ask yourself: Does this scene really belong?

The Fantasy Layer: More Than One Skeleton

Fantasy writers have a unique challenge. Often, a “real-world” goal isn’t enough. You might need multiple skeleton blurbs to keep your subplots on track. At a minimum, you’ll likely have an External Plot (the physical journey) and a Supernatural Plot (the magical journey). We’ll cover the supernatural plot next month.

Take Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros. Violet Sorrengail doesn’t just have one problem.

  • External: She must survive the Riders Quadrant; otherwise, she’ll die as a cadet.
  • Supernatural: She must control her signet; otherwise, she can’t protect the borders.

By separating these, you ensure every “layer” of your story has a beginning, middle, and a satisfying climax.

Identifying Your True Protagonist

Before you can write your blurb, you must be certain who your protagonist is. This sounds simple, but in complex fantasies with multiple Point of View (POV) characters, it can get murky.

We look at the data:

  • The Opening Image: Usually, the character we meet first is our lead.
  • Scene Count: Who owns the most “real estate” in your book?

In The Unbroken by C.L. Clark, we have two strong characters: Touraine and Luca. However, Touraine owns 60% of the scenes and leads the opening. She is our single protagonist.

In contrast, look at A Game of Thrones. George R.R. Martin uses a Group Protagonist strategy. No single character’s goal encompasses the whole story. Instead, the skeleton blurb belongs to the collective: The humans must choose who sits on the throne; otherwise, the kingdoms will fall apart.

Build Your Own

Are you writing a single protagonist story like Twilight or A Court of Thorns and Roses? Or are you weaving a massive ensemble?

Whatever your path, I challenge you today: Write your External Plot Skeleton Blurb. 

Protagonist [Name] must [Goal]; otherwise, [Stakes].

If you can’t fit your plot into that sentence, your story might be missing its bones. Get the skeleton right, and the rest of the body will follow.