But now I have been slapped in the face with the utter realization that everyone hates the 'Chosen One'.
Nah. Simply not true. It's cliche, but that doesn't mean people hate it. It just means it's been done a lot. If you're writing fantasy, you're writing escapist fiction (for the most part).
Young people without solidified identities finding out that they are unique and special...that's going to always stick around. for obvious reasons. If I were worried about cliches, I'd be more worried about the farm girl/farm village thing.
But then again, I skimmed pretty much everything up until I saw "the story begins with"...because I'm very much uninterested in reading people's worldbuilding unless they have a specific question about it.
I understand that its all about approach and the actual storyline and deliverance,
seriously, this. I know it's not really helpful while you're still in the 'planning' stage of a story...but yeah.
I'd read a book about a farmboy that finds out he's really the king's lost son...and only he has the magical powers needed to stop the dark lord.. he finds an old, wise wizard and a disgraced knight to help him realize his full potential as the world's savior (according to the prophecy).
I would gladly read that if it was written well with engaging characters and good pacing.
but if you really want to fuck with people's head, why not have it turn out that she isn't the chosen one? the chosen one could really have been her father. one of your evil god dudes knew it. Chojin or whatever..and he helped manufacture the plague that killed him. Then have Kim or whatever lie to Madison...so then you have this chick running around thinking she's the chosen one...making progress...but at the end of the day, it's not really guaranteed that she'll win. she's a wildcard and doesn't even know it.
or whatever. there are a million twists and turns you can take. some more cliche than others...but seriously, writing is probably one of the best ways to brainstorm.
your brain starts making some really weird connections when you're in the middle of telling a story. things you wouldn't normally link together when you're in the 'planning' stage. and watch out for the trap of worldbuilding/outlining endlessly.
It's easy to fall into. you focus on your 'perfect' idea so hard that you end up not writing anything. you have an entire series planned out, all these amazing key scenes and emotional tsunamis..this huge epic of GOOD VS EVIL... villages and cities so real you feel like you could visit them... a planned history of everything that's happened for the last thousand years....even how major cities take care of their waste problem....
and you just keep building on that, year after year..telling yourself "I'll actually write it soon..I just need to do some more work on the stuff that doesn't involve writing the story."
before you know it, you're so hyped up on this incredible story..that deep down you're afraid to write it. you're nervous that it won't match the majesty of this massive tale in your head.
Do yourself a favor and start writing side stories from your world while you figure out your Madison novel. Trust me.