Fate and Prophesy

Defying destiny may be just as hazardous as succumbing to it.”

- BY MORIAH RICHARD

This is probably one of my favorite quotes from Andrzej Sapkowski’s Sword of Destiny, and one that summarizes a major theme throughout the short stories and novels in The Witcher series. This is very common in various fantasy subgenres. You see it in tropes like the chosen one, plot arcs like the hero’s journey, and in almost every single romantasy novel I've come across so far. But it’s also present in literary fiction, horror, and other genres.

In a sea of books that tangle with destiny and fate, how can we make ours stand out? Let's discuss.

THE NATURE OF DESTINY

In your storytelling, is fate a fixed line, something that can’t be altered in any way? Or is it more like a current that can be diverted or changed through a character's decisions and free will?

If you're not sure, it might be helpful to think about where fate comes from. Is it decreed by gods as some sort of divine plan? A magical force (like the Force in Star Wars) or a scientific inevitability (like cosmic cause and effect)?

Does fate apply to everyone equally or are there specific, chosen individuals like prophesied heroes, villains, families, etc.? Is it something that can be passed down through a bloodline?