12 Steps to Write Urban Fantasy

Writing urban fantasy involves blending fantastical elements with contemporary settings and characters in urban environments. It often features supernatural creatures, magic, and mythical beings existing alongside everyday life. Here are some steps to help you write urban fantasy:

1. Create a Unique Urban Setting: Choose a modern urban environment as the backdrop for your story. It could be a bustling city, a small town, or a specific neighborhood. Be sure to pay attention to the details of the setting to make it come alive for readers.
2. Develop a Magical System: Establish the rules of magic and the supernatural in your urban fantasy world. Decide how magic works, who can use it, and its limitations or costs. Consistency in your magical system is essential for maintaining believability.
3. Mix the Mundane with the Magical: Integrate fantastical elements seamlessly into the everyday lives of your characters. Show how supernatural beings or magical events coexist with the everyday routines and challenges of urban living.
4. Create Diverse Supernatural Beings: Populate your urban fantasy world with various supernatural creatures, such as vampires, werewolves, witches, fae, or ghosts. Give each species its unique traits, powers, and weaknesses.
5. Craft Complex Characters: Develop well-rounded and relatable human and supernatural characters. Explore their motivations, fears, and relationships to create depth and complexity.
6. Weave in Urban Legends and Myths: Drawing inspiration from urban legends, myths, and folklore to can add richness and depth to your story. Reimagine and incorporate these legends into your urban fantasy world.
7. Include Intriguing Plotlines: Develop engaging, fast-paced plots involving mystery, conflict, and suspense. Balance the supernatural elements with character-driven arcs to keep readers invested in the story.
8. Explore Themes and Real-World Issues: Use urban fantasy as a platform to explore themes like identity, prejudice, power, and the clash between the magical and the mundane. Address real-world issues through the lens of the fantastical.
9. Maintain Consistency in World-Building: Keep track of the rules and details of your urban fantasy world to ensure continuity. Avoid contradictions and plot holes to maintain the reader's suspension of disbelief.
10. Blend Genre Elements: Urban fantasy often combines elements from multiple genres, such as mystery, romance, horror, or thriller. Be mindful of how these genres interweave with the fantasy elements in your story.
11. Use Vivid Descriptions: Describe your urban fantasy world's magical and supernatural elements with vivid and evocative language. Engage the reader's senses to make the fantastical feel tangible.
12. Revise and Edit: After finishing your urban fantasy manuscript, revise it thoroughly. Polish the prose, refine character arcs, and ensure a cohesive and immersive reading experience.

Writing urban fantasy allows you to explore the collision of the extraordinary and the everyday. Embrace the urban landscape as a playground for magical adventures, and let your imagination soar as you bring fantastical elements to life in the midst of the bustling cityscape.