When you imagine a fantasy writer at work, what do you picture? For me, the image was always some variation of this: the author, face irrelevant, types (or scribbles) away at a hulking ornate writing desk. Light pours in through a set of bay windows—windows that overlook, of course, an enchanting forest. It’s a lovely picture, to be sure… and one that couldn’t be farther from the reality of being a fantasy fiction author in Florida.
Being a Fantasy Fiction Author in Florida is Weird
I have the desk now—I wouldn’t call it hulking, but it’s big and pretty and mine. I don’t have the bay windows, but I do have a nice little workspace (and regular windows). The thing that I truly envy that writer in my head is the forest—not just for the view, but for its immeasurable value in terms of firsthand research.
Fantasy doesn’t have to take place in the woods. It also doesn’t have to follow the Medieval European template that most classic fairy tales did back in the day. But I like those settings—it’s one of the things that drew me to the genre in the beginning—and I enjoy writing about them. And man, would it be so much easier to do so if I could just go for a walk in the woods anytime I needed a little inspiration.
Instead, I look out the window and see… other people’s houses. I walk down the block to the park, and instead of a fairy tale forest, I get a tiny manmade lake and pine scrub. I don’t even get disparate seasons—I’ve never seen snow, and I’ve never seen a proper changing of the leaves. My world is closer to that of The Little Mermaid than The Lord of the Rings.
Despite the challenges—in fact, because of them in some cases—there are some perks to being a fantasy author in Florida.
Finding Inspiration for Fantasy Stories in Florida
I used to use fantasy to shut the world out. Now… all right, sometimes I still do that. But I also use stories—both the ones I read and the ones I write—to explore and understand the world in ways I otherwise could not. And the truth is, living in the particular part of the world that I do has influenced me and my writing, too.
- It forces me to do deeper research into those places I don’t live in but want to write about—and I’ve learned some pretty neat stuff along the way
- It inspires me to write with a greater diversity of settings—Shadow of the Curse-Eater, for example, is set on a tropical (magical) island
- It’s given me firsthand experience in surviving deadly hurricanes and heat waves as well as alligator-infested rivers—yes, really
- It’s taught me a lot about feeling disconnected from, and finding ways to reconnect to, nature—something I’m exploring more in my writing lately
- It forces me to feed my imagination with a wider variety of input—I watch videos, read books, listen to music (or sounds), and even take VR walks to research new places
- It’ll be really handy when I finally write a pirate novel (which is going to happen at some point)
- It pushes me to travel more—which will ultimately be a good thing for me and my stories
And of course, just because you don’t live in the setting you’re writing in doesn’t mean you can’t pick up inspiration from the world around you anyway. I once took a solo writing vacation and stayed down by the beach for a few days. Just spending time daydreaming by the shore on my own gave me so many ideas for so many different projects. Plus, the beach is excellent for people-watching.
The beach isn’t my only favorite haunt for inspiration. The downtown area of my city is, in many ways, a writer’s haven. I have my choice of cafes, benches in the park, metaphysical stores, an art museum, or the docks—perfect for a sunset stroll. The library is just a stone’s throw away, too.
Fantasy Authors in Florida: An Endangered Species?
The longer I live here, the more of my kind I meet—especially at events like SWFL SpaceCon. Being a fantasy fiction author in Florida may not always be easy, but it hasn’t stopped any of us yet.
That’s the brilliant thing about writing fantasy—ultimately, you get to make it up as you go along anyway. So what if I’ve never lived in a cottage in the mountains? I’ve also never seen a mythical creature in person (that I’m aware of), but that’s not going to stop me from writing about dragons and talking cats.
It’s important to do research where research is due, of course. But it’s just as important to know when to let go and let the words go where they will.
Kim Berkley is a fantasy author and video game writer who grew up visiting mountains but living in the sunshine state. Want more to read? Be sure to sign up for her free monthly newsletter!
