But writing an epic is a monumental task, mostly because it's easy to think you're writing an epic and then end up not doing so. So if you're going to write an epic novel of any kind, you have to start by understanding exactly what an epic is. And of course, you have to understand what it is not.
First of all, an epic, whether it is fantasy, adventure, or any other genre, focuses on heroic characters. The characters don't necessarily start out as heroic, but they do have to develop a sense of heroism as the story progresses. Accidental heroes are fine. Characters who are simply forced to go along with the story are not heroes. They might be protagonists, but they're not heroes.
You also have to have some idea of scope before you begin writing an epic novel. An epic is not a story that happens in a small down at the edge of the ocean, with the characters never leaving their own little town. The action in an epic must take place on a grand scale. Across an entire world or at least across an entire country is best. Science fiction epics tend to take place across galaxies. Your epic should capture struggles that are almost majestic in their scope and take place across vast stretches of time. An epic cannot take place in just a few days. Months, at the very least. Sometimes years, as is the case with Pillars of the Earth.
Now you come to the meat of your story, the question of what to write. Many epic stories focus on tales of war or the struggle against good and evil, but this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. You could write an epic about the struggles of a traveling minstrel in medieval times, and war certainly doesn't have to be the focus here. Adventure should be a part of any epic, but it doesn't have to be adventure associated with war.
An epic novel can be of any genre. Fantasy, science fiction, horror, literary fiction, or really any genre you want can serve you well. Just make sure that the genre fits your story. Or better yet, write your epic without worrying about genre and let the genre come from the story itself.
When attempting to write an epic, keep in mind both the heroism expected of your characters and the general scope of your novel. Don't lose sight of these basic principles and you'll be well on your way to creating an epic story.
