Kiss the Dragon or Slay It?
A Virtual Writing Retreat on Romantasy vs. Fantasy
Are you writing a sweeping fantasy epic—or a love-soaked romantasy—and not quite sure where the line is?
Kiss the Dragon or Slay It? is a virtual writing retreat designed to help authors understand the key differences between fantasy and romantasy, how reader expectations shape story structure, and how to intentionally build a novel that delivers on the promise of its genre.
Whether your story leans toward epic quests, emotional bonds, or somewhere deliciously in between, this retreat will help you decide:
Are you here for the dragon… or the kiss?
✨ What This Retreat Is About
Fantasy and romantasy may share magic, danger, and high stakes—but they are not the same genre, and readers know it.
This retreat is an immersive, craft-focused space where we’ll explore:
How romantasy and fantasy differ in structure, pacing, and plot focus
What promises each genre makes to readers—and how to fulfill them
How to decide which genre your story actually belongs to
How romance, character arcs, and worldbuilding shift depending on genre
You’ll leave with clarity, confidence, and concrete tools you can apply directly to your current project.
🐉 Who This Retreat Is For
This retreat is perfect for you if:
You’re writing fantasy or romantasy and feel unsure where your story fits
You love both epic stakes and emotional intimacy
You want to better understand genre expectations before revising or pitching
You’re an indie author (or indie-curious) looking to strengthen your craft
You crave thoughtful conversation, community, and focused creative time
✨ All experience levels are welcome.
🖋️ What You’ll Experience
✦ Craft Sessions
Focused discussions on:
Romantasy vs. Fantasy: What defines each genre
Story structure, pacing, and POV considerations
Balancing plot, romance, and character arcs
Choosing the right genre lens for your novel
✦ Guest Conversation & Q&A
A candid discussion with a guest author on:
Navigating genre expectations
Writing across fantasy spaces
Transitioning from indie publishing to traditional publishing
Open Q&A with attendees
(Guest speakers to be announced.)
✦ Writing Time
Guided writing or revision time so you can immediately apply what you’ve learned.
✦ Community
Connect with fellow writers in a supportive, low-pressure environment designed for creativity—not comparison.
🗓️ Retreat Details
Format: Virtual (live via Zoom)
When: April 18, 2026
Length: Full-day retreat
Includes:
Live craft sessions
Guest speaker discussion + Q&A
Guided writing time
Access to replay (if available)
🌿 Hosted by Arden Coutts
Hi, I’m Arden Coutts—a queer speculative fiction author and the creator of Wandering Creative Life, where I host writing retreats centered on craft, intention, and community.
I believe writers deserve spaces that are:
Thoughtful instead of overwhelming
Craft-focused without being rigid
Encouraging, inclusive, and creatively nourishing
Kiss the Dragon or Slay It? was created for writers who want to understand their stories more deeply—and enjoy the process while doing it.
🔥 Why This Retreat Matters
Choosing your genre isn’t about limiting your creativity—it’s about strengthening your story.
When you understand whether your novel is promising:
epic conquest
emotional intimacy
or both, in a very specific balance
you can write with more confidence, revise with purpose, and connect with the readers who are already looking for your book.
✨ Ready to Choose?
Are you kissing the dragon… or slaying it?
Spots are limited to keep the retreat intimate and interactive.
Meet the speakers!
Meet Terry Bartley
Terry Bartley is a fantasy author and English educator whose work explores the intersection of epic stakes and intimate emotional arcs. His debut collection, Tyranny of the Fey, is a character-driven fantasy featuring three queer love stories woven into a world of political and magical upheaval. His upcoming novel, Destined for Greater Things (Summer 2026), continues his exploration of power, identity, and chosen destiny in speculative worlds.
As a literature and writing teacher and presenter at the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), Terry specializes in analyzing how genre expectations shape narrative structure and reader experience. He is the host of the podcasts Most Writers Are Fans, which examines the relationship between fandom and storytelling, and Ink Over AI, which explores the evolving craft of writing in a technological age.
Terry brings both classroom insight and lived experience as a fantasy writer to conversations about where epic fantasy ends and romantasy begins, and how to intentionally build a story that delivers on its promise.