Disclaimer: This is an opinion column intended to generate discussion, not to hate on anyone in particular or tell you what to try to sell as a writer.
This is solid advice. I'm in the midst of writing my own epic fantasy series, and while I don't read much fiction of any kind anymore, I still write it. One thing I've striven for, and in the interest of disclosure I'm 100% pantser, is realism. It surprises me to learn that there's not more of this in fantasy, and that some like to dismiss unrealism like you alluded to: "Lol, it's fantasy". That's a cop out, an excuse for a deus ex machina instead of a real solution. Maybe I should be glad I read mainly nonfiction now. At least it keeps me grounded in reality. Nice op-ed - I enjoyed it!
The more realistic a fact is, the more your readers will expect it to be real. In the famous meme about the WWI T-rex, no one quibbles about the dinosaur. They object that the guns, the jeep, and the helmet prove it to be WWII.
Oh gosh, yes to all of this. I think the videogame and anime culture has seriously damaged writers' ability to think in any kind of rational way. It's like Rule of Cool has been taken way too far. I picked up a mega-popular author's book, opened it up, and was treated to a cutscene from an early Assassin's Creed game, complete with wall-running and the little speed-streamers flowing off the dude. I read it incredulously. Next scene: Link the legendary warrior and his loyal fairy Navi are in a battle, with Navi swiping all the incoming arrows out of the way. I read this even more incredulously. A little later on, we have Halo Spartans fighting demons and jumping miles through the sky. I put the book down. If I want to read a videogame crossover like this, there's plenty of better ones on AO3.
This is solid advice. I'm in the midst of writing my own epic fantasy series, and while I don't read much fiction of any kind anymore, I still write it. One thing I've striven for, and in the interest of disclosure I'm 100% pantser, is realism. It surprises me to learn that there's not more of this in fantasy, and that some like to dismiss unrealism like you alluded to: "Lol, it's fantasy". That's a cop out, an excuse for a deus ex machina instead of a real solution. Maybe I should be glad I read mainly nonfiction now. At least it keeps me grounded in reality. Nice op-ed - I enjoyed it!
The more realistic a fact is, the more your readers will expect it to be real. In the famous meme about the WWI T-rex, no one quibbles about the dinosaur. They object that the guns, the jeep, and the helmet prove it to be WWII.
Wholeheartedly agree. Novels are not video games. If it doesn't make sense, readers will not come back for a second helping.
Oh gosh, yes to all of this. I think the videogame and anime culture has seriously damaged writers' ability to think in any kind of rational way. It's like Rule of Cool has been taken way too far. I picked up a mega-popular author's book, opened it up, and was treated to a cutscene from an early Assassin's Creed game, complete with wall-running and the little speed-streamers flowing off the dude. I read it incredulously. Next scene: Link the legendary warrior and his loyal fairy Navi are in a battle, with Navi swiping all the incoming arrows out of the way. I read this even more incredulously. A little later on, we have Halo Spartans fighting demons and jumping miles through the sky. I put the book down. If I want to read a videogame crossover like this, there's plenty of better ones on AO3.