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

"My therapist and I talk all the time about how the support system you have and where you're at (in life) totally dictates how you handle recovery." Romance Author Thea Claire portrays realistic recovery from addiction...

"You want to (write dark themes) in a way that's sensitive and include the dark content but also consider the impact." Sarah Hawley, USA Today Bestselling Author, writes dark fantasy worldbuilding that makes rebellion...

"One thing I love about the romance genre is that you're allowed to have those big, emotional moments....without apology." Romance Author and former Hallmark creative producer, Bryn Donovan discusses the charming and...

"...each enneagram has a really unhealthy bar all the way up to a healthy bar. So for me, it's 'where did my character start on the bar?' and 'how do I get them to a healthy place of the enneagram through the...

"For (the politican couple), it's almost a negotiation - I know what I want. Are you able to give it to me? And just having that back and forth." Romance Author Alicia Wilder created a not-so-secret, forced proximity...

"...if I want readers to be able to identify with the character then I want them to be able to identify with the illness specifically...I can't be ashamed to put the name (of illness) on the page." Romance author Cara...

"I think initially planning it out was kind of difficult. Only because...(the writer) is very descriptive. She says she can't draw, but in my mind, (they) just do it differently. (Writers) do it with words." USA Today...

"....(Screenwriting) is, to me, a lot more puzzle-like than novels...if somebody gives me a screenplay to read that is 140 pages, I know it doesn't work." Award-winning author Emily Roberson explores the intricacies of...

"As a romance fan, we couldn't get anybody or any of the networks to buy into....(or) pay to make these adaptations, and so we started our own streaming platform..." Tosca Musk, CEO and founder behind streaming service...

"...and if you create this single story for a people of a certain historically, marginalized identities; you know, that gets taken by readers and it gets inside of them in ways we might not expect or intend to..."...

"...Introducing family shows a different side (to the character) and allows the character to be a little more well-rounded in the way they interact..." Writing instructor and multi-genre author, Amber Royer, encounters...

"It's been fun to kinda see (Melissa's writing) evolve also in the narration I have done for her....her stories get better and better with time. It's the same with narration too." Romance author Melissa Whitney Author...

"If you're just starting out, I personally would recommend waiting (to invest in audiobooks) until you have a full series that...is selling well. ...If the series isn't working, you're not going to know that until the...

"I try to write really fierce, headstrong characters...but at the same time, it's ok to be vulnerable. It's ok to say I don't have all the answers." Author Kimberly Packard lovingly calls women's fiction the "trash can...

"If it feels like I'm trying to force something...that's usually when I know to kinda let go. Either set it down or hold it with an open hand and see what happens. Whatever happens with it, let that be. " Amy Kelly, the...