Romancing the Story: Writing Romance, Storytelling, and Book Structure

(Recorded in Oct 2020) Kelsey Holmes of Kraken Editing & Literary Service Investigations offers some great insight on research and we talk about how writing styles are both empowered and influenced by what we read.  To add a little spice to the mix, we talk tips for NaNoWriMo and how to help boost your writing when you hit a wall. Find Kelsey here: https://www.krakenediting.com/ https://www.fa...

What agency does your main character have? Character motives are integral to the plot and writing instructor and fiction author, Amber Royer , helps us get to the core of a character.  We examine what agency looks like in context of romance and use some of your favorite rom-coms as examples. Plus, we gush about chocolate! Find Amber's books here: https://amzn.to/3HLqXCe Connect with Amber: ht...

Dying, writing, and...Cantebury Tales? Kimberly Packard does an impressive juggling act with mixing all three in her latest release - with seven POVs and an emotional core that is a powerhouse read. We talk about what makes Dire's Club special. Kimberly's books: https://amzn.to/3ObdFkA Find Kimberly Packard here: www.kimberlypackard.com Facebook - @kimberlypackardauthor Twitter -  @kimbe...

I provide an update on what's been happening in my world, leaving the podcast for awhile, and looking forward in posting more chats with authors and writers in all genres. Support the show

Writer, speaker, and social media consultant Kathryn McClatchy gives insight on the kind of content authors should be posting and tools for writing productivity. With a background in business and marketing, she has a passion to help authors leverage their assets. Find Kathryn McClatchy here: https://kathrynmcclatchy.com/ Twitter: @Kmmcclatchy Instagram: @kathrynmcclatchy Facebook: @KMMcClatchy Tik...

A self-professed Story Nerd, Amanda Arista is in-the-know of writing tips and tricks for bringing your story to life. She's a lecturer who teaches other aspiring authors and writes paranormal stories with full-realized protagonists that kick butt! She teaches us a thing or two about genre writing and reader expectations. Find Amanda Arista's books on Amazon: Diaries of an Urban Panther:...

We're back at it! Strap in cause I go off-script for this one with some personal stories but I promise I have a point! I discuss my absence, taking care of yourself, and how romance is a form of self-care. It's important to take care of ourselves mentally and emotionally in rough patches and find our safe space.  Find me below: Twitter - @RomancetheStory Instagram - @RomancetheStory Musi...

"It’s dis-heartening to think the author wrote the book using diversity without a diverse audience in mind. The book was about my people - mi gente - but it was not written for me." TW: I talk about my discomfort over misrepresentation of Hispanic culture in a recent book.  Adding diverse characters and settings in your book is a great way to expand your writing skills and a new way to c...

Change starts with us. It starts with the way we think and our actions. This isn't the typical podcast for "Romancing the Story". Instead, I took time to process the social injustice that has come to the forefront of a lot of important discussions. I am a small voice on a platform, and I don't wish to take attention away from the more critical voices in the Black Lives Matter m...

C.A. Szarek is a renaissance woman of romance writing. With 17 books and counting, she writes everything from romantic suspense to epic fantasy romance. She has been both traditional published and self published, has been president of her local Romance Writers, and she is also an editor on the side in addition to her full-time and part-time gigs. No matter what stage you are in your writing journe...

Did you know fanfics were and still are dominated by women? We take a bit of a journey from the usual romance fare to explore the strange new(ish) world of fanfiction. Fanfiction holds a very special place in our hearts and is a personal passion project. We examine the impact of fanfiction in romance and how romantic fanfiction has influenced writers.  Fanfiction inspires people to write, whether...

Mia London and Susan Sheehey concoct an author synergy that makes magic happen on the page. Both ladies encourage each other by writing through adversity and created an awesome Indie Romance Author dream team. They co-authored two different series, a Romantic Comedy and a Romantic Suspense. If their characters aren't making you laugh, they are liable to make things explosive - both literally...

Kimberly Packard keeps us on our toes with all the feels in women's fiction and builds a case for writing compelling relationships in novels. She also gives writing advice on plot development and process for newbie writers. Learn how romance genre mingles with women's fiction for a little lovin' to all readers. And we take a moment to talk about dogs. Duh. Kimberly's books: htt...

Why is reading a good love story so satisfying but writing one is so hard?   Budding romance writer, Sarah Gamez, answers those questions with a deep-dive look into writing and reading love stories and our favorite guilty pleasures. Including guest speakers and round-table discussions, we focus on the writing elements of romance, how romances influences our favorite stories, and developing our own...

Romance is a key ingredient to almost every story. Whether it be the focal point or a sub-plot, characters seek to find love in some form or another. In the inaugural episode, Sarah gives a personal story as a reader and champions the case for reading romance, both in general and during dark times. Spoiler alert: It's pretty much about love, connection, and female empowerment. After all, HEA...

Technology and the Romance genre, hardly the twain ever meet. Is the internet something we should mix with love stories? As our world continues to evolve with remote connection, we have the opportunity to write about dating online in an authentic and truthful way . Which specific trend or modern development do you feel should be written in more romance? Find me on twitter and instagram.  @Romancet...