Episode 28: Structuring Romance in Fantasy: Key Beats, Tropes, and Reader Payoff

Are you writing a fantasy romance novel? Rebecca Hartwell gives developmental editing tips on what makes a good writer great! In this episode we discuss everything from character development in romance, genre expectations in romance and other romance novel writing tips. In this self-editing series for authors, you will learn how to edit your book yourself.

Want to know how to write a romance or love story that delivers emotional payoff? In Episode 28, developmental editor Rebecca Hartwell [hartboundediting.com] and fantasy author Agnes Wolfe [authorsalcove.com] unpack what makes a great romance—whether it’s the main plot or just a subplot.

They break down the most important beats in a romance arc, from the meet cute to the happily ever after, while discussing creative ways to approach genre conventions. Rebecca also explains the difference between romantasy and romantic fantasy, and how to evaluate if you’re writing a romance at all.
Whether you’re writing epic fantasy with romantic threads or aiming for a classic love story, this episode gives you actionable tips for writing relationships that resonate.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
-How a romance differs from a love story
-Rebecca’s beat sheet for a satisfying romance
-What are the most common romance writing mistakes
-How romance differs as a main plot versus subplot
-The difference between writing romance in a series versus standalone
-Why all tropes and cliches are fairgame

Recommended Resources
-Need a Developmental Editor? hartboundediting.com
-Romancing the Beat by Gwen Hayes
-StoryGrid’s Love Story Guide