#182. Writing Romantasy: How to Balance Fantasy Elements and Romance in Your Novel

Fiction Writing Made Easy | Top Creative Writing Podcast for Fiction Writers & Writing Tips

Calling all Romantasy (and Fantasy) authors! Tune in to learn how to write a Romantasy novel that perfectly blends fantasy elements with romance.

Whether you're drafting your first Romantasy novel or refining your approach to an existing manuscript, this episode will help you deliver exactly what readers are looking for in this booming genre.

Tune in for a deep dive into the Romantasy genre and learn things like:

[01:35] Key differences between books like Fourth Wing, Radiance, and The Name of The Wind, and why only two of these would be marketed as Romantasy, despite having many similar elements

[05:24] What the Romantasy genre spectrum looks like—and why knowing where your story fits on this spectrum changes everything about how you write it

[10:55] How to navigate the thematic differences between “Fantasy Romance” (focused on love's power) versus “Romantic Fantasy” (centered on survival)

[18:22] How to craft character relationships that resonate differently depending on your subgenre—and why this matters more than you think

[22:15] Worldbuilding strategies specific to each end of the Romantasy spectrum that will keep readers immersed in your story and coming back for more

If you’ve ever wondered why some Romantasy novels feel like epic adventures with a dash of romance while others are more like swoon-worthy love stories with magical elements, this episode will help clear out some of that confusion.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

• Ep. 145 - How To Develop Your Character's Backstory
• Ep. 7 - 5 Questions To Help You Write Better Characters
• Ep. 23 - The 6 Key Scenes Every Romance Novel Needs
• Ep. 38 - Romance Genre Conventions
• Ep. 41 - The 6 Key Scenes Every Action Story Needs
• Ep. 57 - Action Genre Key Scenes

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👉 Looking for a transcript? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, scroll down below the episode player until you see the transcript.

Chapters

1. Overview of Romanticist Genre (00:00:00)

2. Defining Romantasy: Fantasy Meets Romance (00:26:34)

3. Fantasy Romance vs. Romantic Fantasy (01:01:18)

4. Building Emotional Connections for Success (01:31:09)

5. Steps to Crafting a Successful Romantasy (02:16:00)

6. Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts (03:06:34)