When I think about how to write romantasy, I always come back to the same thing: the romance and the fantasy can’t be separated.
The romance is part of the main plot, and the fantasy setting and elements actively shape the relationship.
One is not more important than the other.
When that balance works, readers get swept up in both the emotional arc and the magic at the same time.
So in this guide, I’m going to break down how to write romantasy in a way that sustains an entire novel. We’ll go through worldbuilding, romantic tension, pacing, plot structure, tropes, character dynamics, and the mistakes to avoid.
P.S. If you prefer video, you can watch the breakdown on how to write romantasy below ↓. Or keep scrolling for the full guide.
What is romantasy?
There are lots of definitions of what romantasy is, but here's my take on it.
Romantasy is a subgenre where the romance and fantasy plot are equally important to the story.
Readers want the magic, the worldbuilding, the political tension, the yearning, the betrayal, the morally grey love interests... all of it.
That’s a huge part of why the genre has exploded recently. According to Bloomberg, romantasy sales jumped from $454 million in 2023 to $610 million in 2024, which explains why every bookstore now has an entire shelf dedicated to romantasy.
The relationship is usually tied directly to the central conflict. If you could remove the romance from the novel and the story still functions almost the same way, you’re probably writing fantasy with romance instead of romantasy.
Popular examples of romantasy books include:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas
- A Forbidden Alchemy by Stacey McEwan
- The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (GORGEOUS prose)
- Spark of the Everflame series by Penn Cole (ultra slow-burn)
- Wicked Games series by Kaylie Smith (gothic/paranormal romantasy)— You can watch my interview with Kaylie Smith on writing high-stakes romantasy here
- The Legends of Thezmarr series by Helen Scheuerer
- Fourth Wing series by Rebecca Yarros
- Reign and Ruin by J.D. Evans'— You can watch my interview with J.D. Evans about her writing process here
(Yes, these are some of my personal favourites. Yes, I recommend you read as many romantasy books as you possibly can before writing your own).
How to write romantasy in 5 steps
1. Build a fantasy world that pressures the relationship
Your worldbuilding should get in the way of the romance.
Constantly.
Whether that's in the form of...
- Forbidden magic
- Rival kingdoms
- Religious laws
- Political marriages
- Bloodlines
- Curses
- Prophecies
- Social hierarchies
Whatever it is, pick something that keeps making the relationship difficult to sustain.
(In my own novel, the love interests belong to two separate armies at war with each other. So you can see how that would pose a major problem.)
2. Write characters with chemistry
Some form of physical attraction obviously needs to exist in romantasy (actually, sometimes not, like in Radiance).
But what matters more than attraction is chemistry.
Your characters should challenge each other emotionally. They should expose vulnerabilities, trigger fears, ruin plans, make each other question things they were previously very committed to.
That’s usually what readers respond to when they obsess over a romantasy couple.
The dynamic between them matters just as much as the trope.
I also think people sometimes forget that romantic tension needs progression. You can’t have your characters circling each other for 400 pages while having the exact same interaction over and over again.
The relationship should evolve.
3. Balance romance and fantasy
I said this before and I'll say it again: If you want to learn how to write romantasy, you must learn how to balance the two.
If there's too much focus on the fantasy plot, readers will stop being emotionally invested in the relationship.
If there's too much focus on the romance, then the readers will inevitably complain that there wasn't enough thought put into worldbuilding.
So here's the fix:
- Your fantasy plot should create emotional tension for the romance
- Your romance should complicate the fantasy plot
For example, maybe your protagonist is forced to choose between protecting their kingdom and protecting the person they love. Or maybe they fall for someone from an enemy faction and that threatens a fragile political alliance (classic).
The point is, the two storylines should constantly collide with each other.
4. Use romantasy tropes wisely
Readers love romantasy tropes for a reason.
- Enemies-to-lovers
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn romance
- Forbidden love
- Fake dating
- Rivals-to-lovers
They're all extremely effective because they're fun.
I don't think the problem is the trope itself.
The problem is when you use a trope as-is and the entire personality of the relationship becomes that.
Or worse, when you stuff your novel with five of these tropes back to back.
(Avid romantasy readers like meself can sniff those out from a mile away).
Use romantasy tropes as frameworks only and add real conflict and personal emotions to it.
For example, enemies-to-lovers becomes way more compelling when the hatred is tied to betrayal, grief, ideological conflict, or personal history instead of two attractive people exchanging sarcastic dialogue for 300 pages.
5. Structure your romantasy story
Here are a few structure and pacing guidelines for balancing romance and fantasy:
- Act 1 (25%): Establish both the romantic tension and the fantasy conflict
- Act 2A (25%): Deepen the romantic connection + escalate the fantasy stakes
- Act 2B (25%): Create the "black moment" where both romance and fantasy plots seem impossible
- Act 3 (25%): Resolve both conflicts with the romance and fantasy climaxes intertwined
Romantasy story structure template - Quill&Steel
Pro tips:
- Alternate between romantic and plot-driven scenes
- Use cliffhangers strategically (like at the end of certain chapters)
- Use a three-act structure (like above) to ensure both the romance and fantasy arcs build toward a satisfying climax
6. Land the emotional payoff
Maybe the biggest takeaway from this guide on how to write romantasy is that readers want (need) emotional payoff.
That's why they're reading romantasy in the first place!
The ending should feel emotionally earned after EVERYTHING your characters went through together.
I'm not saying you need a happily ever after (HEA) ending. A bittersweet ending or happy-for-now (HFN) can work too.
What I'm saying is readers expect some kind of emotional resolution.
Maybe your characters break a curse together. Maybe they destroy an empire. Maybe one of them sacrifices power for the relationship. Maybe they barely survive the plot with their sanity intact.
Whatever direction you take, the ending should feel connected to both the romance and fantasy conflict.
Romantasy writing templates
If you want step-by-step support shaping your love story, the Romantasy Writing Bundle gives you everything you need: a beat sheet designed for fantasy romances, a slow burn workbook for drawing out the tension, and an enemies-to-lovers guide for one of the genre’s most iconic tropes. ⬇️
Frequently asked questions about how to write romantasy
What makes a romantasy different from a traditional romance novel?
Romantasy combines a romance storyline with a fantastical setting. While a traditional romance novel focuses solely on the romantic relationship, a romantasy weaves the romance into a larger fantasy plot with magical elements, epic stakes, and unique worlds.
Can romantasy work without a happily-ever-after ending?
Yes, romantasy doesn’t always require a perfect happy ending. A bittersweet or open-ended conclusion can still resonate deeply with readers if the characters’ journeys and the romance are emotionally satisfying.
Do I need to invent a completely new world to write a romantasy?
Not necessarily. While unique worldbuilding can enhance your story, you can also use familiar fantasy settings with your own twist or even weave fantastical elements into a real-world setting. The key is making the world feel immersive and integral to the romance.
What's the ideal word count for a romantasy novel?
Most successful romantasy novels fall between 80,000-120,000 words. This length allows enough space for both complex romantic development and rich fantasy worldbuilding without overwhelming readers.
Should I use single or dual POV for my romantasy?
Both approaches can work effectively. Single POV allows for deeper character exploration, while dual POV lets readers experience both sides of the romantic tension. Choose based on your story's needs and your comfort level as a writer.
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