A fantastic insight into building a romantasy novel. I always enjoy Jenna's voice as it perseveres even when she's not actually reading it.

This is such an informative book for any aspiring writer, especially those in the fantasy and romance genres. Fantasy and romance are among my favorite genres, and it is very easy for someone who loves a story (and needs to get it down on paper) but has issues with execution. This is the book for such condundrums. This is the book that will take your story from good to great. But most importantly, this book will help get you out of your own head as a writer and turn you into an editor. Remember, one should write AND edit with reckless abandon. Oh, and I love how at the end of each chapter she has a little "to sum it up" area. Every writer needs this book in their arsenal.

Thank you NetGalley and Ten Speed Press for providing this eARC.

This was a very well-structured and easy-to-follow guide. The author explains some basic genre-related concepts and covers the general storytelling flow and structure. While it is very beginner-friendly, it is still better geared toward people who have taken some sort of writing course before and have some general understanding of storytelling.

Overall, this is a well-structured, easy-to-follow book that will be interesting for beginner writers of fanfiction or romantasy books, as well as for people who may still be lurking on the outskirts of the writing community but want to learn more about how romantasy books are constructed and what makes a good book.

The book puts emphasis on crafting inclusive and reader-friendly stories (which is much needed, in my personal opinion!). Super grateful for this ARC and totally recommend if you want to improve your writing.

This book was a delight and I’m so grateful that I was able to read this book in advance. I’m sure that I’ll go back again and again since I’ve been looking for information to help me write my own story.

It is so well written that the information is very digestible and I laughed out loud with the examples throughout the book which helped me to understand them. It answered all the questions I had and gave me the information I didn’t know I needed to know. But mostly, It gave me hope for my own storytelling.
I have had several different experiences with learning about crafting stories but I never had mentioned how a functional romance should work and this was very eye opening. Even after being an avid romance and fantasy reader and knowing what you like in them I didn’t know how to make that happen in my own stories and this guide gave me a solid foundation to start constructing my characters and their journeys.

As requested I didn’t add my review to Goodreads yet though I did have it a five stars rating.

I watched some of the authors youtube videos years and years ago, which I only realized after looking her up after starting this book. I haven't read the authors books either, but I do remember the videos being fun, bite sized and informative.
I think that sums up this book really well too! If you're like me and like to read "how to write" books like this, you'll probably find that much of the information isn't new. But it is presented in an easy to understand way, and the authors voice is really fun. I'd almost call it a page turner, if you can call a book like this that!
What I liked in particular was the chapters on how to build emotional intimacy between the characters - it was super useful for me that's working on a romantacy at the moment, and I will definitely use the beats the author laid out in my own book.

So yes, highly recommend if you want a quick introduction to the genre!

I really like Jenna's voice; it is evident throughout the book and while the book is meant to be informative, you still get doses of her humor as well which keeps the book from feeling like a sterile how-to-book. I am a writer myself and I thought that the information she provided was extremely helpful and though I'm not working on a romantasy right now, I am working on a romance and I think that things that she brought up can be applicable to my own craft as well. She mentions at the beginning her other book and I'm definitely going to look into getting that one too.

This guide is a total gem for anyone looking to dive into writing romantasy. Jenna Moreci breaks down the essentials- world-building, character development, and weaving romance into fantasy- in a way that’s super accessible and fun. Her humor and clear advice make the writing process feel less daunting and more like an exciting adventure- especially like me, when I am writing! If you’re dreaming of crafting your own romantasy tale, this book is a fantastic starting point.

As a long term enjoyer of Jenna's youtube content, I got really curious how does she fare in a written form. I must say the book is written with her signature wit and humour, very much reminiscing of the voice she uses in her comedic short-form videos.

But as much as her videos are more entertaining than informative, so is this book. Read it if:

* you need a motivational pep talk "you too can do it!"
* heard romantasy is getting popular but have no idea what it really is
* read romantasy, but have never written anything long-form besides unstructured fanfics and need introducing to basic novel-building concepts like plot goals, conflict, stakes or character arc
* you want to focus on a classic story going through "intimacy bases" and "relationship escalator"

You will of course not find these terms in the book, I've only learned them by reading specific non-fiction, but these are subconscious underlying beliefs about monogamous romantic heterosexual relationships. While there are same-sex couples mentioned in this book, the assumption is they follow the exact same patterns as cishetero couples progressing through an intimacy / relationship checklist. While there is why choose / polyamory mentioned, it's brushed aside, again with the assumption it's exactly the same as monogamous couples just with extra person / people added.

But overall, for the majority of mainstream audiences these assumptions are true anyway. A lot of romantasy follows these concepts without questioning or deeper exploration. So the book does a good enough job in this area.

You will also not learn intricate plotting or how to avoid common problems like slow start, saggy middle, plot holes, etc. You will need a different, in-depth story structure book for that. Here you will only see the basics like: ensure you have a low moment before the win or a high moment before a loss, or re-check all the sub-plots whether you resolved them and didn't leave any hanging.

I did appreciate the idea that romantic chemistry equals emotional intimacy, and framing it as 5 ingredient mix: friendship (do the people like each other), respect, vulnerability, trust and unity. I always thought so many romances lack the actual romance because it's all hate-lust and bicker-banter but no actual care, trust or understanding.

I'm a bit baffled why Jenna mocks "fantasy euphemisms" for explicit scenes but then keeps calling sex "a romp in the hay" or "going to poundtown" or "doing the dirty". If you hate euphemisms just call sex sex, seriously. It's not like the book avoids any explicit or mature language - it doesn't. There are swears, innuendo and explicit terms mentioned here and there. Anyway I doubt in a typical romantasy full of elegant fae and rich royalty the characters have sex through a "romp in the hay", it feels so out of place.

A lot of more difficult or nuanced subjects were dismissed with "consult your beta readers / sensitivity readers / critique partners / editor" which sorry to say, is a cop-out.

Also if you're a beginner, choosing a suitable circle of beta readers / critique partners is a whole new tricky task that isn't debated here, even though this is a beginner-oriented title. Poorly chosen beta readers and mismatching critique partners can do more harm than good to your motivation and artistic vision. Don't ask me how I know.

4 stars. Moderately entertaining, moderately progressive, useful beginner tips, and Jenna is a great cheerleader. I wished this book had been more though.

Thank you Netgalley, Clarkson Potter and Ten Speed Press for the ARC.

I don't know about other fantasy readers but I have heatedly convinced myself that I want to start my career writing my own book. This is especially so when a book hits me in all the right places. "How To Write Romantasy" convinced me I would be successful just as much it convinced me I would be a failure and end up the laughing stock of the literary world. That is the best thing about this book...it is honest but also encouraging. I loved the writing style of Jenna Moreci. She kept it fun and she kept it real. Who knows maybe you will be reading my Romantasy one day

A very good sourcebook for writers looking to dip their toes into the Romantasy genre. If you're a seasoned writer, there might not be much here you don't already know--it's definitely aimed at those more unfamiliar with the genre--but even so, I would recommend picking it up to brush up on your skills. An easy, well-written read. Recommended for both writers and even readers who want to familiarize themselves with the genre more.

How to Write Romantasy is a non-fiction writing advice guide for the titular genre, romantasy, which is a mash up of romance and fantasy.

I would recommend this title to people acquainted with romantasy as a genre, who nevertheless aren't in-depth students of it or experienced writers. It's very accessible and explains basic concepts and expectations of the genre in a brief and often humorous manner. However it's short and concise, so for a long time connoisseur of the genre it might seem too much of a 101: beginner's class.

I'm glad the author put emphasis on healthy relationships, equality and queer-inclusivity, and remains both sex-positive and supportive of closed door romance. Some subjects are unfortunately glossed over, like dark romance or reverse harem / why choose. I wonder is it because those sub-genres are less "mainstream" or because the author lacks personal experience with them.

The book also explains fiction writing concepts like having a central conflict in the story, both romantic and fantastical, having important milestones the story travels toward so it isn't aimless, and focusing on an emotional roller-coaster like darker moments before the triumph and vice versa. Similarly, with romance writing, it puts emphasis on creating "chemistry" and crafting characters' personalities in a way they clash but also ultimately match together.

There are also common mentions what if you write a series where the final resolution only happens in the last book, because that's often the biggest difference between popular romantasy titles and typical standalone romance books.

Overall, I think this title will be useful for its intended audience: casual readers of romantasy who want to write their own, or people familiar with writing adjacent genres like fantasy or romance who want to give a try to this new trendy mix.

Content warnings: some crass language.

I received an ARC from Netgalley & Ten Speed Press for the purpose of leaving a honest review.

As a writer currently planning a Romantasy novel, I can honestly say that I’m ready to get started. This book is packed with great and specific tips for writing in this wonderful genre. Honest, witty, and encouraging, the author takes aspiring writers on a step by step journey that explains the process of writing Romantasy in clear and manageable chunks, while providing all the information you need to get started on your manuscript. A must read for anyone looking forward to writing their own Romantasy story.

Thank you for the ARC.

I will say while I genuinely don't usually read Nonfiction. I found this to be a very good motivator for anyone who is interested in romantasy as both a reader and/or a writer. While this book is definitely more useful for people writing romantasy, romantic fantasy or fantasy romance. I think this book does try to explore every topic in a unique and interesting way. I think just in my opinion I do feel that some things were over explained while others could be a bit more dived into. Overall thoughts are just it's a useful guide and has amazing tips for anyone interested in the romantasy genre as a whole.

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 How to Write Romantasy
✒️ Jenna Moreci
💫💫💫💫

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is simply a how-to-guide and it was interesting to see how one writer depicts the concepts behind the genre that is taking the bookstagram world by storm. I always had a WIP in my head, nothing major but reading this helped me to have more ideas and actually start to write it - which is exactly what the pitch said I would do!

If you're looking to try your hand at writing a Romantasy story, this is a great start. Moreci does an excellent job of breaking down the nuance between all the various subcategories, as well as defining the tropes. As I read through this book, I often found myself drawn back to my own WIP to see what I could apply and utilize. Written in a way that makes it easily accessible, this book is a great start on a writer's journey to understanding this genre that has taken of booktok. My one caveat is that my understanding of the emergence of the Why Choose trope was that it was created to replace 'Reverse Harem,' due to RH being considered an offensive term for a culture that most do not study or follow. I could be wrong, but I found myself wishing there was a more in depth look at those two specific terms. Otherwise, overall a good basis of knowledge to have when looking at this genre.

How to Write Romantasy is a quick, entertaining read for anyone interested in writing romantasy or understanding what goes into it. I fall into the latter category and now have a better understanding about why I gravitate towards certain types of stories while others fall flat for me.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was so much fun to read , especially about a genre I enjoy to much. Getting into the nitty gritty details was so interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC.

I honestly picked this book up because it had a beautiful cover. Once I had it I looked up the author and discovered that she is indeed a published romantasy author, so that was good news. 

This book ended up being a lot more throughout and helpful than I expected it to be based on the page count. 

It covers everything from what the genre is to the process of writing a book and everything in between. 

I would genuinely recommend people who want to start writing a romantasy to read this book if they're stuck on how to get started.