There is a reason why R.A. Salvatore is a bestseller. When the character Driz'zt Do'Urden came onto the scene, there was zero written about the drow race and people wanted to know more. A lot more. His career was built on that unique character. Yours can too, but don't write about:

1. Boy Wizards with Powers Beyond their Understanding

   Agents have a new term for this new wave of "boy wizards" who must save the world-The Harry Potter Clones. Unless you do something drastic, it's going to be rejected. It made a certain woman in England rich, but it's going to get you a rejection letter.

2. Evil Fairies

   This newest trend is another copy. Again, people don't want a clone. They want the original. If your heroine was captured by fairies and must escape their clutches, you're writing a new cliché.

3. The Same King Arthur

   If your spin on the Arthurian Legend reads like a literary version of Excalibur, then re-think what you're doing. Something must be vastly different to get an agent's attention. This is not to say it cannot be done because it can. But you better be sure yours is better with good reason.

4. Elves, Dwarves, Humans and Others Must Unite Against a Common Foe

   This is the most played out of the plotlines and the most common. If you can replace your character names with ones from Lord of the Rings or The Dragonlance Saga for basically the same plot, you've doomed yourself.

5. Mortals Against the Gods

   This newest wave met with some success, but you are behind the trend if you are submitting your novel now. Again, unless there is something unique about it, it will be a no starter.

6. Secret Royalty that Must Save the Ungrateful World

   If your protagonist is secretly royalty who is disliked by the world he/she must save, you've fallen into another cliché. What's uncommon now is common people rising to the challenge in fantasy. It's always some princess, king, emperor or noble that must do it while the peasants slop the pigs. How about having those pig farmers save the world instead? That would be different.

7. The Handsome Knight Saves the Princess

   What made Shriek standout was that an ugly ogre saved the princess who could save herself at any moment if she wanted. Of course, making the princess an ogre herself was gravy. Indeed, marketable gravy. If your hero is another golden knight on his white charger saving Princess Needs-A-Knight, then you need to think again.

8. Destroy the Evil Artifact

   Has some warlock somehow found an evil trinket that has made him into a power-hungry warmonger? Do your heroes have to come together to stop the despot from ruling with an iron fist? Was it utopia until Mr. Big-Bad got his mojo on? If so, please see number four.

9. Dwarves are Short and Bearded, Elves have Pointy Ears and are Immortal, and Humans are Just Like You and Me

   If this is your work, you love Tolkien. You also love stereotypes. This is not to say it doesn't work. We all know it does, but if you are following the basics of someone else's ideas, you are not really creating your own unique world either. Again, stand out. Make those elves circumcise their ears at birth. Pointy ears are considered unhygienic. They clip them! Trust me, people will take notice.

10. The Antagonist is Irredeemably Evil

    And ugly. And has bad habits. And never calls his mother on Mother's Day. You get the idea.

Always remember that a unique story stands head and shoulders above others to an audience that is hungry for something different. In fantasy literature, your work must stand out. Know this now and be proud to be different!