Blending the Unreal with the Everyday: How to Mix Fantasy and Realism Without Losing Your Readers

Writing fantasy is fun—dragons, magic, sirens, talking cats—but slap too many impossible things into your story without grounding them, and readers might bounce faster than a goblin on a pogo stick. The trick? Balance the fantastical with the realistic, so your story feels both wondrous and believable.

Start with the World You Know

Even the most magical lands need rules. If your wizard school has floating classrooms, make sure gravity still does something… or explain why it doesn’t. Realistic elements—like a character’s fear of failure, a messy apartment, or a Monday morning coffee ritual—anchor the story. Readers can suspend disbelief more easily if there’s something familiar to grab onto.

Emotional Truth Over Magical Truth

Your character can summon storms with a snap of their fingers, but their heartbreak over losing a friend should feel real. Emotions are universal, and they’re your secret weapon. If a fantastical plot point hits the heart, readers won’t care if it’s physically impossible—they’ll stay hooked.

Small Details Matter

A well-placed realistic detail can make all the difference. That awkward glance across a crowded hall, the smell of rain on asphalt, the cold bite of winter—all those tiny truths make the magical world feel lived-in. Sprinkle them like seasoning; too much, and you dilute the fantasy, too little, and it floats untethered.

Blend With Purpose

Every fantastical element should serve a purpose. Don’t add a talking fox just because talking foxes are cool—unless it advances plot, builds character, or enhances your theme. The more intentional your fantasy, the more it feels like it belongs in the world you’ve built.

Test Your Suspension of Disbelief

A quick way to check if your blend works: explain the magical parts to someone unfamiliar with the story. If they nod and say, “Okay, I get it,” you’re golden. If they look like they’ve just seen a ghost—or a dragon in flip-flops—you might need to ground things a bit more.

Bottom line: fantasy lets you dream big, realism keeps your readers from floating away into the clouds. Mix them carefully, and you get a story that’s magical, gripping, and somehow… believable.