How to Publish Fantasy: Step-by-Step for New & Aspiring Authors
Bella Rose Emmorey
book editor, rogue behaviorist, digital marketer, writer, brand builder, plant aunt, and cheese enthusiast.
So, you've written it, and now you have to figure out how to publish fantasy.
Maybe it's full of rebellious queens, secret portals, dragon companions, or the kind of smutty romance that smolders across three realms. You’ve poured your heart into this story—and now you’re staring at the mountain labeled Publishing and wondering how to climb it.
The good news? You don’t have to do it all at once. You just have to take the next step.
Whether you’re aiming to self-publish, go traditional, or try a hybrid route, here’s a clear roadmap to help you publish your fantasy novel without becoming just another unseen title on Amazon.
1. Finish the Best Book You Can
You can’t publish an unfinished novel.
Publishing starts with a strong story. Fantasy readers expect immersive worlds, complex characters, and plots that feel both fresh and familiar. That doesn’t mean you have to reinvent magic—just make it yours.
Prioritize clarity, stakes, and emotional payoff over adding more creatures or a second invented language (unless that’s your thing). The worldbuilding is super fun, I get it. But you can’t just drop a textbook about your world.
Plus, nobody gets to see your world if you never finish the book anyway.
Hot tip: beta readers are your secret weapon. Choose a few readers who understand the genre and can tell you when your pacing drags or your worldbuilding feels confusing.
2. Decide: Traditional, Indie, or Hybrid?
It’s really up to you, but I’d avoid hybrid and put your eggs into either the traditional or indie basket.
That said, here’s the quick breakdown of each if you’re unfamiliar:
- Traditional publishing means querying agents and obtaining representation before you can publish. And even then, you’re not guaranteed to sell your novel to a publishing house. You’ll need a polished manuscript, a query letter, and often a synopsis. If accepted, they’ll handle editing, cover design, distribution, and some marketing. But you better believe you need a sharp, unique, well-written manuscript just to land an agent.
- Self-publishing puts the power—and responsibility—in your hands. You’re in charge of everything: editing, formatting, cover design, distribution, and marketing. You’re the author, producer, publisher, and marketer. How’s your closet space looking? Because you’ll need to wear several hats to make this work. The upside? You also get to keep the majority of royalties.
- Hybrid publishing is a middle ground. It can mean paying a reputable company for publishing services, or pursuing both traditional and indie strategies with different books or series. Most people understand hybrid publishing as paying someone else to accept your novel and “traditionally” publish it. Which is sort of weird, and usually a scam.
There’s no "right" way. It depends on your goals. Do you want creative control? A shot at big bookstores? A quicker timeline? Define success for you, then choose the path that matches.
If you want to know how to publish fantasy, yours specifically, think about your overall story and concept. Is it unique and (ignore the pun) novel? Traditional publishing favors really unique, interesting takes on the genre.
If your story leans classic genre fantasy, that’s just your own version of much that’s out there (and no shame! This stuff sells and people love it), then self-publishing might bring you more success.
3. Understand the Fantasy Market
Fantasy is broad: epic, dark, romantic, cozy, urban, grimdark, YA, new adult, adult—each has its own flavor and reader expectations. Knowing your subgenre helps you market better and pitch smarter.
Not to mention the ability to better position it using keywords and categories if you want to self-publish your fantasy.
Research comps (comparable titles) that match your tone and themes. Where do they sit on the shelf? How are they marketed? Who reads them? What do those authors do to market their books?
You can even just ask chatGPT to give you comps for your book. Just give it an elevator pitch, specifying tone and style, and it’ll point you in the direction of like authors.
You can then ask it what keywords and categories each of those authors uses in order to better understand how to place yours (if you’re self-publishing).
Publishing is partly about story, and partly about positioning. So if you don’t quite understand the market, you won’t have much success publishing fantasy.
4a. Polish, Format, and Package - Self
You’re the producer! If you’re going the self-publishing route, that is. You get to determine the look, style, title, and all the goods.
If you’re self-publishing, invest in $ professional editing$ . There are different types—developmental, line, and copy editing—each serving a different purpose. You’ll likely need at least two. And I mean it. Even if you’re a really clean writer ( most people aren’t as polished as they think they are), having another set of eyes can do wonders for the quality of your fantasy novel.
It’s also a good way to learn and grow as a writer, too.
Then, format your book for print and eBook (NovelPad can export an epub file in a couple clicks). Hire a cover designer who knows fantasy. Yes, readers do judge a book by its cover—especially in fantasy, where the aesthetic is part of the promise.
For example, if you write $ urban fantasy$ , you should not have a cover that looks like epic fantasy. You’ll get a bunch of irritated buyers. Or none! Even if it’s listed in the right categories, the wrong cover will turn readers away.
Your cover should instantly signal genre and tone: whimsical fae $ romantasy$ ? Gritty sword-and-sorcery? Make sure readers know what kind of ride they’re in for.
4b. Query - Traditional
Traditional publishing is its own beast. But if your goal is to learn how to publish fantasy and $ land an agent$ or a publishing deal with a major house, here’s what that path looks like, step by step:
Write a Query Letter That Hooks
Your query letter is your first impression. It’s your elevator pitch, your handshake, your "here’s why this story matters." A good query will include:
- A hook: the one-sentence pitch that captures your book’s essence.
- A mini-blurb: 1–2 paragraphs describing your main character, what they want, what’s in their way, and what’s at stake.
- Your bio: a short paragraph about you, especially if you have relevant credentials, experience, or publishing history.
Most importantly, your voice should shine through. If your book is dark and lyrical, your query should echo that tone. If your novel’s full of wit and banter, let that come through in how you pitch it. It’s like a little tease of your skill. Agents read hundreds of queries a month, make them wet for your manuscript.
Prepare a Synopsis (Yes, even if it hurts)
The synopsis is where you explain exactly what happens in your book—from beginning to end. No cliffhangers. No mystery. Just the full arc: plot, $ character development$ , major twists, and resolution. Spoil the shit out of it.
Most synopses are 1–2 pages, single-spaced. Keep the tone professional and stick to third person, even if your book is written in first. You can still include voice, but focus on clarity over style.
Think of it like this: your query sells the idea. Your synopsis proves you can execute it.
Track Submissions and Response Times
Once you’re ready to query, do your research. Not every agent represents fantasy—and not every fantasy agent represents your kind of fantasy.
Then:
- Submit according to guidelines. Every agent has specific instructions—read and follow them exactly. Don’t try to skirt the rules. Go full pants on this one.
- Track where you’ve submitted and when. A simple spreadsheet can help you stay organized and prevent accidental resubmissions.
- Be patient. Agents can take weeks or even months to respond. Some don’t respond unless interested. It’s not personal—it’s the volume.
Rejections are part of the process. Every "no" gets you closer to the right "yes." Learn. Adjust. Get back out there.
And in the meantime? Keep writing, improving. The more you understand this process, the better you can navigate it in the future.
5. Publish Your Book - Self
No gate-keepers required! If you want to learn how to publish fantasy simply, this is the way to do it all on your own.
Set a Release Date—and Build Buzz Early
Once your manuscript is fully edited and your cover is designed, choose your release date strategically. Ideally, you want at least 2–3 months to promote it before it goes live.
Create a Marketing Plan
You don’t need to go viral to sell books—but you do need a $ marketing plan$ . Think about where your audience hangs out and how you can consistently connect with them. A good indie marketing plan might include:
- Social media: Choose 1–2 platforms to focus on (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Facebook). Share behind-the-scenes content, quotes, moodboards, character art, and snippets.
- Email newsletter: Build a mailing list early, even if it’s small. This is your most direct line to your readers. Use it for cover reveals, sample chapters, early access, and launch announcements.
- ARCs (): Send free early copies to a small group of readers in exchange for honest reviews. These early reviews are gold for your launch—they build credibility and boost visibility on retail platforms.
- BookTok or Bookstagram: It’s a solid way to build hype and you don’t even have to use your face. There are some .
No matter which tools you use, consistency is key. You don’t need to do everything, but you do need to show up—ideally weeks before your book is live.
Upload Your Book
You’ll want to distribute your book as widely as makes sense for your goals. Here are the major players:
- Amazon KDP: The biggest self-publishing platform for both eBook and print. You can choose to be exclusive to Amazon (via Kindle Unlimited), or go “wide” and publish elsewhere too.
- IngramSpark: Best for wider print distribution—including libraries and bookstores. Professional-looking paperbacks and hardcovers are a strong selling point.
- Kobo, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble Press, Google Play: These are great options for wide eBook distribution. You can upload directly or use an aggregator like Draft2Digital or PublishDrive to simplify the process.
Make sure your metadata (title, subtitle, categories, keywords, and description) is optimized. These details help readers find your book (based on market analysis above.
Plan Your Launch Week
Your launch isn’t just one day—it’s a multi-day window where readers are most excited and momentum is highest.
Some ideas to energize your launch:
- Bonus content: Offer a downloadable prequel scene, map, playlist, or character art for readers who buy early.
- Incentives: Reward readers who preorder with exclusive content or entry into a giveaway.
- Giveaways: Use platforms like Instagram or your newsletter to run small giveaways (signed copies, fantasy merch, etc.) to boost visibility and engagement.
- Launch team: Recruit a small group of readers and fellow authors to help amplify your book. Give them sneak peeks and graphics to share. People love being part of something exciting.
- Live events or Q&As: Host a livestream, Twitter chat, or YouTube premiere to connect with your audience and celebrate.
This is your book’s birthday. Make it feel like a moment.
6. Build Your Author Presence
You don’t need to be everywhere to publish fantasy. Start with one or two platforms where you can connect with readers and other writers—whether it’s Instagram, TikTok, Substack, or YouTube.
Share behind-the-scenes worldbuilding. Character sketches. Your love for other fantasy authors. You don’t have to sell your book every day—but let people know who you are and what kind of stories you tell.
You’re not just publishing a book. You’re building a brand readers can return to, series after series.
6. Keep Going
One book can change your life—but more often, it’s the next one. And the next. Publishing fantasy is a long game. Celebrate each milestone. Learn from every release.
Stay curious, stay consistent, and stay rooted in the kind of stories you love to tell.
You’re writing magic. Publishing it just takes a little strategy, a little patience.
Your story is worth sharing. So take the next step toward publishing your fantasy novel, which is probably finishing it :)
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