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Writing Romantasy: Worldbuilding, Tropes, and Chemistry with H. Leighton Dixon
In this episode of the World Anvil Worldbuilding Podcast, Janet sits down with author H. Leighton Dixon to explore the booming romantasy genre. Dixon, known for the Dragons of Solanus series, discusses her latest release, Ship of Spells, a nautical romantasy featuring a sentient ship, a Warsguard mage, and an enemies-to-lovers slow burn. The conversation covers what actually separates romantasy from fantasy-with-romance or romance-with-fantasy elements, why the genre has exploded in popularity (from the influence of Game of Thrones and Harry Potter-raised readers to the evolution of paranormal romance), and the persistent misconceptions that dismiss it as "fluff." Dixon and Janet dig into craft specifics: How worldbuilding should generate obstacles and character motivation rather than sit as decoration Popular tropes like found family and grumpy-sunshine pairings Building chemistry and consent on the page Navigating "spice" levels with intention The episode wraps with practical advice for writers curious about the genre, including research strategies, thoughts on writing to market versus writing the story you want to tell, and encouragement to start small with short stories or novellas rather than diving straight into a full novel. Topics covered: defining romantasy, worldbuilding as character foundation, common tropes (enemies-to-lovers, found family, portal fantasy), writing chemistry and consent, spice levels and reader expectations, trend-chasing vs. authentic storytelling, and resources for aspiring romantasy writers.
World Anvil Worldbuilding Podcast
https://www.worldanvil.com
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