American Writers Group blog post image on how to self publish a fantasy book with a woman author sitting at a desk with book images on her laptop

Writing a Fantasy Novel? Here’s How to Self-Publish Without Getting Lost in Your Own World

Got a Fantasy Story Brewing? Here’s How to Bring It to Life—And Actually Publish It

Epic quests. Magic systems. Dragons. Royal betrayals. If you’ve got a fantasy story in your head (or on your laptop), you’re already halfway to building a world someone else will fall in love with.

But let’s be real: writing fantasy can get overwhelming fast. There’s so much to build—maps, languages, lore, kingdoms—and it’s easy to get stuck before you ever finish Chapter One.

This guide will help you stay focused, finish your story, and self-publish your fantasy book in a way that won’t leave you buried under a pile of timelines, backstories, and abandoned drafts.

 

Affiliate note: This post includes a few affiliate links. If you click and purchase, we may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools and services we trust and use ourselves.

Step 1: Focus Your Worldbuilding

Fantasy authors often start by building everything—maps, political systems, six religions, and a language no one asked for.

Here’s the thing: if it doesn’t affect the story, it doesn’t need to be on the page.

Start with the basics:
 ✅ Who is your main character?
 ✅ What do they want?
 ✅ What’s stopping them?
 ✅ How does the world shape or challenge them?

You can fill in the lore later—but if your readers don’t connect with the character, no amount of epic history will keep them reading.

📘 Want help structuring your fantasy world? Try the great strategies in the book Save the Cat! Writes a Novel (affiliate link) or use the World Anvil platform to organize ideas without getting lost.

Step 2: Create a Simple Story Arc (Yes, Even for Epics)

Big fantasy books still need clear structure. Keep it simple:

  • Act 1: Introduce your character and their problem 
  • Act 2: Things get worse. Secrets come out. Enemies close in. 
  • Act 3: Final battle or decision. Win, lose, or transform. 

You can add twists and subplots—but stick to a strong emotional core.

📌 Tip: Fantasy doesn’t mean slow. Hook readers with action early—even if the big war comes later.

Step 3: Write with Clarity (Not Just Detail)

Fantasy readers love immersive settings—but they still want to understand what’s going on.

🚫 Avoid info-dumps. Instead of explaining the whole kingdom’s history in Chapter One, show small details through action and dialogue.
 🚫 Don’t invent ten new words per page. If the reader has to stop and Google every third term, you’ll lose them.
 ✅ Use your characters’ experiences to reveal the world.

Think: The magic system is confusing… until the hero has to use it to survive. Now it matters.

Step 4: Edit, Format, and Publish Like a Pro

When your first draft is done (yay!), take time to polish and package your story right.

🖋️ Editing:

📚 Formatting:

  • Use Atticus or Vellum to get Kindle and print-ready files 

🎨 Cover Design:

  • Fantasy covers need to match reader expectations: swords, magic, mysterious symbols, bold fonts
  • Hire a pro on Fiverr or browse premade fantasy covers on The Book Cover Designer 

Step 5: Market to Fantasy Readers Who Love New Worlds

You don’t need a massive fanbase to launch a fantasy novel. Start with simple steps:

  • Build a basic website or book landing page with Canva Websites 
  • Join fantasy reader groups on Facebook or Reddit
  • Use Fiverr book promo services to promote in newsletter swaps or blogs
  • Offer a free prequel or map download to grow your email list

Bonus: Create a character card or world map teaser in Canva to use on Instagram or Pinterest. Fantasy fans love visual extras!

 

Want Help Publishing Your First Fantasy Book?

🎁 Grab our free “Publish Like a Pro” Toolkit
 Includes self-publishing checklists, formatting links, and marketing tools made for first-time authors.
 👉 Download it here

📘 Need a full publishing plan?
 Get the Author’s Quickstart Blueprint for just $17—our step-by-step guide to writing, publishing, and launching your book like a pro.
 👉 Click Here to Get the Blueprint Today

💼 Limited Time Bonus: Add the Author Toolbox Templates at checkout for more tools and resources to help you plan, publish and promote your book.. Includes fantasy-friendly launch plans, email templates, and book launch checklists and more!

Final Thoughts

Writing a fantasy novel is a big adventure—and it doesn’t have to take forever or require a traditional publisher to reach readers.

Start small. Keep going. And remember: every epic starts with just one scene.

We’re here to help you bring your world to life.