Can I create characters from fantasy races, such as elves, dwarves, etc.?

Definitely. In fact, there are eleven different races to choose from for each of your characters: humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes, hobbits, faeries, lizardmen, dracons, rawulfs, felpurrs, and mooks. More.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.