Ines Johnson is Having a Breakdown

The podcast is taking a break, but I'm still writing breakdowns. You can find them on my Substack at https://ineswrites.substack.com

One of the four types of deceptions in a romantic comedy is the Magic Potion Deception. Magic potion deceptions in romantic comedies like "Splash," "Mannequin," and "Penelope" offer love and acceptance through the lens of magical realism. Be it a mermaid, a mannequin or a cursed woman, each film cleverly uses the magic potion deception to challenge characters to look beyond the surface, leading to...

One of the four types of deceptions in a romantic comedy is the Bet Deception. The bet deception is all about trying to win against the odds, but the characters wind up falling down hard -falling in love that is!

One of the four types of deceptions in a romantic comedy is the Identity Deception.  Identity deception in romantic comedies can involve characters concealing or misrepresenting their true selves or the nature of their relationship, leading to a series of laugh out loud situations before culminating in an emotional revelation. 

One of the four types of deceptions in a romantic comedy is the Merry War. The "Merry War" deception in a romantic comedy happens when the romantic partners engage in a playful, antagonistic, and/or competitive relationship that masks an underlying attraction or affection. This tension-filled interplay is characterized by witty banter, humorous disputes, and a series of conflicts that belie the ch...

By treating your setting with the same care and detail as you would a character, you can create a rich, immersive world that captivates readers and enhances the emotional impact of your story known as Anthropomorphizing. 

The marriage of convenience trope has a rich history that mirrors societal views on marriage, love, and individual agency. From strategic alliances in ancient times to a tool for social critique and exploration of personal desires in modern literature, this trope has evolved significantly, always offering fresh insights into the human experience of love and relationships.

If we think about scene launches, purposeful middles, and punctuated endings, we can keep readers turning those pages at a fast and satisfying pace.

In this special tips and tricks episode, learn some tools to use in crafting a swoony hero and a strong heroine.

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's The Guardians of the Galaxy using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's Thor using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's Black Panther using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's Doctor Srtange using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's Incredible Hulk using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.

I've noticed eight rules for packs in shifter romance. Wanna know what they are? Listen to this episode on Paranormal Pack Rules!

Have you been paying attention to the evolution of the Cinderella story? Young girls and women are no longer waiting around for a man to come by on his horse, sweep them off their feet, and give them shoes…Okay, I doubt any of us would turn down the shoes!

In “Moll Flanders,” Daniel Defoe aimed to pen a tale of a heroine who faced a life of poverty, perversion, and penitence. Instead, the title character was an unlikeable heroine  with surprisingly few empathetic qualities and a negative character arc showing that not women are heroines.

To become a Darcy, a hero needs the Five M's. Misunderstood Character(istics) Mistreat the Heroine Movement towards Awkwardly Pursuing the Heroine Magnanimity: an Act of Kindness Missive Swoonworthy Declaration of Love

A BM is a big misunderstanding. What? What did you think it was? This is my least favorite craft technique. I also don't appreciate them as a reader. But I've found that they abound as a plotting device in early romances like "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen E Woodiwiss. In this episode, I break it down.

I presented my first academic paper on romance. It got rave reviews and I'd like to present it to you in two parts. It's entitled From Bodice Rippers to Booktok. Ready? Here's Part 2!

I presented my first academic paper on romance. It got rave reviews and I'd like to present it to you in two parts. It's entitled From Bodice Rippers to Booktok. Ready? Here's Part One!

Grand gestures are significant in romance as they heighten emotions and often bring about resolution or clarity in relationships. They're powerful tools in a writer's arsenal to amplify the romantic stakes. If you're plotting scenes, integrating such moments can evoke strong reactions from readers. FIVE TYPES OF GRAND GESTURES Declaration: The gesture could be a simple declaration of love, especia...

The Dark Moment is a crucial scene in a romance novel, where the hero and/or heroine face a major obstacle or challenge that threatens to tear or keep them apart. This moment typically occurs towards the end of the story, and creates a sense of tension and conflict that the hero and/or heroine must overcome in order to achieve a happy ending. Here's my list: • a revelation of a deep secret or betr...

In the romance genre, the "fun and games" phase is pivotal, marked by budding connections and escalating stakes.   1. Buddy Love: From initial friction to deep bonds, relationships often mirror dynamics from buddy films like Lethal Weapon. 2. Romance Beats: Gwen Hayes highlights the crescendo of feelings, leading to relationship turning points. 3. Obstacles: Using tales like Cinderella and Shrek a...

The "Meet Cute" is the memorable first encounter in romance. Four key elements define this moment:   1. Setting: From Pride and Prejudice's Victorian backdrop to Fifty Shades' modern city. 2. Trope: Common narratives, like "opposites attract," set the emotional stakes. 3. Attraction: Mutual allure as in Romeo and Juliet, or one-sided interest like in The Notebook. 4. Situation: Be it a heroic resc...