romantasy.md 3.0 KB
name: Romantasy id: romantasy language: en chapterTypes: ["Romance", "Action", "Setup", "Transition", "Payoff"] fatigueWords: ["delve", "tapestry", "testament", "intricate", "pivotal", "vibrant", "comprehensive", "nuanced", "embark", "foster", "underscore", "bolstered", "crucial"] numericalSystem: false powerScaling: false eraResearch: false pacingRule: "Romance beats at every act break. Chemistry scenes every 2-3 chapters. Fantasy romance: consummation at 60-75%. Romantic fantasy: romance resolution aligned with plot resolution." satisfactionTypes: ["Chemistry Moment", "Vulnerability Shared", "Obstacle Overcome Together", "First Kiss", "Relationship Defined", "HEA/HFN Achieved"]
auditDimensions: [1,2,3,6,7,8,9,10,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,24,25,26]
Genre Prohibitions
- Chemistry that isn't earned — readers must understand why characters care for each other
- Love interest who doesn't drive protagonist's transformation
- Easy romance without real conflict — tension is mandatory
- Fantasy romance without HEA/HFN ending — readers feel betrayed
- Mislabeling heat level — communicate clearly in story setup; readers self-select
- World-building that feels like afterthought to romance — setting must complicate or enable the relationship
- Love triangles dragged out without decisive resolution
- "Tell" emotions instead of showing them — inner feelings shown through action, not declaration
Romance Rules
- Show attraction subtly: physical detail notices, lingering touches, involuntary reactions (heartbeat, breath catching)
- Banter and wit: clever dialogue showing mutual understanding and intellectual challenge
- Vulnerability moments: characters sharing weakness, fear, secrets, past trauma
- Shared goals reveal compatibility: working together toward a goal shows how the partner handles conflict
- Conflict must be real — external barriers (class, species, faction, magic) or internal barriers (fear, trust, past wounds)
- Fantasy setting complicates romance: magic bonds, soul connections, species differences, political marriages
- Action scenes show relationship dynamics — fighting together reveals trust and compatibility
- Heat level must be consistent throughout — don't escalate or pull back without narrative reason
Pacing Guidance
- Fantasy romance: heavy romance focus early, building to consummation around 60-75%, resolution after romance established
- Romantic fantasy: romance subplot woven through action plot, key romantic moments at act breaks, romance resolution aligned with plot resolution
- Chemistry scenes every 2-3 chapters minimum — readers came for the relationship
- Sexual tension can heighten during/after action (adrenaline, relief, protective instincts)
- Break up long dialogue-heavy romance scenes with physical action or setting detail
- Enemies-to-lovers needs slow burn: opposition -> forced proximity -> grudging respect -> attraction -> surrender
- Second-chance romance: history adds depth and pain; show how characters have changed