Fantasy, and in particular romantasy, is SO HOT right now. Everyone is writing it, but many new authors fall into the trap of exposition. Just because you're writing in a unique setting doesn't mean you have to explain this world to readers. At least, not all at once, and certainly not all in the first few chapters.

Fantasy especially can span multiple books and because you're already telling a unique story about unique characters, it's overwhelming and exhausting for readers to also swallow a unique world.

The best solution is show, don't tell. Let it happen organically, and at natural moments in the story. For example, a wizard walking into a cauldron shop may merit a few sentences as to why he's buying a new cauldron, but probably doesn't need the extra two pages of exposition regarding the cauldron's connection to his late mother, who was also a half-fae princess and died at the hands of his tyrannical father, but only after having a torrid affair with a werewolf whose daughter now owns the very same cauldron shop.

Each writer is different, so it's important to figure out what works for you in terms of process and concrete habits (like how often you'll write, for how long, where you're write, etc.). That said, there are some absolutes.

1) The best writers are readers. You should be reading regularly, and that includes recently published work in your genre. That said, don't feel constrained to your genre; as long as you're reading, you'll be growing as a writer. Reading within your genre is simply important for knowing genre conventions/expectations and keeping up with the market.

2) Embrace feedback, and work to develop a thick skin. You'll only survive as a writer if you're able to brush off rejections and negative reviews. You want to be in a mindset where you can learn from constructive critique without letting it get you down. One strategy I suggest for dealing with rejection is to immediately send out another submission upon rejection. Every time you get a short story or agent rejection, send out another submission or query! Doing so allows you to bounce back and actively brush off the rejection until it's just second nature.

3) Find a community of writers that aligns with your values/interests. It doesn't matter whether that community is online or in person, but you need to be around writers who'll understand what it takes to be writing and working toward publication. Ideally, if you're on the traditional path, you want to find some writing buddies who are also on that same path, and if you're on the self-publishing path, then you want to make sure you have other self-pubbing authors to talk to. There's certainly crossover in terms of the act of writing, but having at least a few writing friends who are on your same path is invaluable when it comes to moral support, advice, and understanding.

4) Keep going. Be tenacious, and know why you're writing. Rejection and self-doubt are par for the course, but if you're determined to just keep writing, and you remind yourself why you started writing in the first place, you'll be putting yourself in a headspace to succeed long-term.

Authors can protect their rights by carefully reviewing publishing contracts and retaining control over how their work is used, especially regarding digital and AI-related clauses.

It’s important to ensure the agreement specifies that their content cannot be used to train AI systems without explicit permission. Registering copyrights, keeping records of drafts, and saving correspondence provide legal protection.

Authors who self-publish should read platform terms closely to confirm ownership remains with them. Staying informed about evolving copyright laws helps authors safeguard both their creative work and its future use.