Authors use fantasy to stretch their imaginations and explore the depths of their minds. It gives them a chance to consider a more magical place where the rules of the world don’t exist, where somehow, heroes and legends can come alive, where you can earn a happy ending by slaying the dragon, or killing the evil king. But despite that iconic image, fantasy often describes a variety of elements that aren’t usually found in reality. Below are just a few examples of this.

Fairytales
Whether crafted by Disney or read from the tomes of the Brothers Grimm, fairytales often begin with “Once Upon a Time” and end with a “Happily Ever After”. Fairytales are oftentimes read to us when we’re little, and teach us basic morality, showing us that good will often triumph over evil. Whenever we think of fairytales, we think of Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty or even Snow White.

High Fantasy
High fantasy, or epic fantasy, is a type of sub-genre in which the story takes place in an entirely different world. Typically, the story is told from the view of one hero and, like in fairytales, good and evil are central themes in the main plot. There’s a great evil the protagonist has to defeat, and while they may be childish in nature, they learn about the world and mature. Works such as The Well at the World’s End by William Morris and The Lord of the Rings by J.R. R. Tolkien are examples of high fantasy. This is often the first thing people think of whenever they hear the word "fantasy".
 
Magical Realism
Magical realism doesn’t necessarily have to include fantastical elements. Rather, it’s a sort of narrative genre that depicts the real world and its magical qualities. In other words, it presents something real in a way that’s fantastical. It often includes things like fables and myths, and is set in reality. Magical realism has been known to be used to criticize current politics, and introduces revolutionary forces that would demolish the government in favor of a new one. The book, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, is an example of one.

Dark Fantasy
Dark fantasy, unlike its other lighter counterparts, consists of frightening concepts that are integrated into the whole fantasy genre. Generally, it incorporates a dark atmosphere, and often tells the story from the monster’s point of view, trying to depict the villain in a more sympathetic light. The term can also be used to denote supernatural horror. Works such as Anne Rice’s The Vampire Chronicles and Edgar Allen Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death are just a few examples.

Fantasy is a welcoming genre that encompasses everyone's needs. There are different examples in literature that you can draw inspiration from, some of which can even serve as your muse. Whether you’re a fan of horror, long quests, Skyrim, or simply the world in general, you can be sure that you’ll enjoy writing for all types of fantasy.