From Fleeting Shadow to Epic Saga: My 7 Steps to Planning a Dark Fantasy Novel
- June Skye
- Jun 4, 2025
- 4 min read
Hello, fellow weavers of night-spun tales,
June Skye here. Many of you have reached out, curious about the journey from a single, unsettling idea to a sprawling dark fantasy saga like The Night Chronicles. It’s a path often shrouded in mist, much like the landscapes of Lunaria itself, but with a bit of guidance, those fleeting shadows can indeed coalesce into something vast and compelling. Today, I want to share my personal 7-step approach to planning a dark fantasy novel, framed by my experiences bringing The Night Chronicles to life.
Step 1: Embrace Your Darkest Whispers (The Idea Phase)
Every story begins with a spark – or in my case, often a shiver. For The Night Chronicles, it started with a persistent image: a young woman whose ordinary life was haunted by an inexplicable loss, and the sudden arrival of a terrifyingly powerful figure who knew her deepest secrets. Don't dismiss your strangest, most unsettling notions. Grab a notebook (mine is filled with sketches of moonlit realms and cryptic symbols!) and let your imagination roam free. Freewriting for 10-15 minutes, without judgment, can unearth ancient pacts, forgotten prophecies, or the chilling allure of a hidden world. Sift through these dark gems; the ones that truly resonate, that make your skin prickle, are your starting points.
Step 2: Identify Your Core Shadow (The Theme)
Once your notebook is filled with these dark whispers, look for the recurring echoes. What is the central wound, the driving fear, the forbidden hope? Is it the inescapable weight of an inherited debt, like the one Elizabeth Mitchell carries? Is it the intoxicating peril of forbidden power, or the terrifying allure of a love born in darkness? Pinpointing a core theme – or a few interwoven ones like destiny versus free will, or survival against impossible odds – gives your narrative a beating heart, a purpose that will guide you through the darkest plot twists.
Step 3: Breathe Life into Your Beings (Character Development)
Characters are the souls who will walk your shadowed paths. For The Night Chronicles, I needed an "unwilling Queen" in Elizabeth – someone relatable in her ordinariness, yet possessing a nascent strength forged by trauma and a terrifying, unwanted destiny. And what is a queen without her king? Daemon, the enigmatic ruler of Lunaria, had to be more than a simple villain; he needed to be a force of nature, ancient and powerful, his motivations as complex and shadowed as his realm. Create detailed profiles: their fears, their secret histories, their hidden powers, their potential for both ruin and redemption. Ensure each character, from your central figures to loyal friends like Maya or menacing enforcers like Warren, serves the story and embodies your themes.
Step 4: Chart the Descent (The Outline)
With your world whispering and your characters taking form, it's time to map their perilous journey. I often start with a classic three-act structure, even for a sprawling saga:
Act One – The Shattering of Normalcy: Introduce your protagonist's world, then shatter it with the inciting incident (for Liz, Daemon's arrival and abduction to Lunaria). Establish the stakes and the core conflict.
Act Two – Trials in the Twilight Realm: This is where your protagonist is tested. They explore the new, dangerous world, confront their own awakening powers, and navigate complex relationships. Loyalties are questioned, secrets are unveiled, and the true nature of the threat becomes clearer.
Act Three – Confronting Destiny's Shadow: The narrative drives towards its climax. Your protagonist must make pivotal choices, often involving great sacrifice, confronting the antagonist and their own deepest fears. The ending should provide resolution for the current arc while perhaps hinting at the shadows still to come in a series.
For each act, I jot down key scenes, revelations, and turning points. This roadmap keeps me from getting lost in the darkness.
Step 5: Mark Your Path with Moonstones (Setting Milestones)
Writing a dark fantasy novel, especially a series, can feel like wandering through an endless night. Setting realistic milestones is crucial. Instead of just "finish the book," break it down: "complete Act One by the next full moon," "write X words exploring the Susurri magic this week," or "resolve this character's immediate terrifying ordeal by chapter's end." These smaller victories, like glimmers of moonlight, keep you moving forward.
Step 6: Seek Counsel from Fellow Shadow Weavers (Early Feedback)
Even a King of a hidden realm sometimes needs advisors (though Daemon might dispute that!). Once you have a solid outline and character sketches, share them with a trusted few – fellow readers or writers of dark fantasy who understand the genre's nuances. Their impressions of your unwilling queen's motivations, or the terrifying enigma of your king, can be invaluable. Be open to their constructive criticism; it can illuminate hidden flaws or highlight unexpected strengths in your narrative.
Step 7: Stay Immersed in the Night (Maintaining Inspiration)
With your plan forged, the long journey of drafting begins. To keep the shadows fresh and the inspiration flowing, surround yourself with your chosen atmosphere. For me, it’s rereading gothic tales, listening to haunting orchestral scores, and keeping my writing nook filled with imagery that evokes Lunaria – its three moons, its ancient stones, its pervasive twilight. Revisit your initial "dark gem" ideas often, reminding yourself of the chilling excitement that first drew you into this particular darkness.
Planning a dark fantasy novel is like charting a course through a beautiful, treacherous, moonlit landscape. It requires courage, a willingness to embrace the shadows, and a steadfast belief in the story aching to be told. Trust the process, and let your own unique darkness shine.
Until the next alignment of moons, June Skye
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