As a reader, I totally agree with Feo. If the mentor is capable of doing the job, why do I have to follow some bratty kid around? In a terrible book I read recently, the mentor not only had the power (until plot conveniently required he didn't) but he also had FOREKNOWLEDGE of everything and...
I love the first one!
1. NEVER TRY TO BE COOL: That’s one of 17 cool pieces of advice by writer Steven Heighton in this post. Posts - Steven Heighton
Other faves...
10. KEEP A WORD LIST
13. TOO EDUCATED TO BE CREATIVE
15. YOU’D NEVER KNOW
A really good list that leads to...
I'm in a similar situation, where humans have died out and there are several "races" of elves that act as the human-equivalent for the world. Personally, I think you're fine calling them elves or your equivalent, and using an elfin standard of comparison. You may have to work a little harder to...
Generally for a main/important character, I'll let the description give the reader an idea before I say what a creature actually is. I really enjoy reading that technique in other books, so I try to follow it in my own. And for an unimportant character, I'll jut refer to the race and maybe a...
Unicorns
Merfolk
Cats - normal and magical
Giants
Kraken
Talking animals (non-shifters) - Not a single race perhaps, but extremely common in fantasy.
Elemental spirits - clouds, fire, ect.
Pegasi
Same here, Sherman. That's been one of the unexpected aspects of my writing - realizing how my religion affects the stories I write (lends toward happy endings/bigger purposes) AND the aspect of writing characters with extremely different religious beliefs. It's surprisingly fun.