I'm Writing Romantasy?!
- Emmalia Harrington
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
This week, I got hit with a new hyperfocus. My brain is determined I will write a detailed outline for a romantasy tale, with all the cliches I can think of. My fingers have been flying on the keyboard.
I'm not entirely sure what romantasy is. I know it's a portmanteau of "romance" and "fantasy." For me, the term is new. I typically see it during marketing books and franchises that have popped up in recent years. If there is more to the term, please let me know.
Every so often, I have a powerful urge to write cliche riddled pieces. I don't do this to insult genres or writing styles, but as a way to stretch my brain. Creative writing often encourages people to be original, subvert expectations, tread new ground. My fiction portfolio is full of stories where I do my own thing.
It's also fun to run in the opposite direction, to collect stock plots, stock settings and scenarios, and see how many expectations I can cram into a single paragraph. Subverting my own writing, if you will.
In terms of cliches, most of what I know of romantasy comes from web manhwa. I'll come across romantasy tropes even if the manhwa is supposed to be a very different genre.
Here's what I have so far:
-Rather than portray all the visual tropes in my outline, I note how the leads are absurdly gorgeous. There's also the occasional empathic environment.
-Every major or named character is noble or royalty.
-The love interests are dukes.
-There's an arranged marriage, and it takes up much of the plot.
-Scary character is a sweetheart to the protagonist.
What am I missing?

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