Browsing Tag

Romancing Your Story

Romancing Your Story
A Trope with a Twist

Readers, particularly romance readers, love stories that feel familiar—shorthand for they use tropes—but also seem new and bring a…
August 23, 2024
Romancing Your Story
To Thine Own Self Be True

Plotter or Pantser? Or Plottser? Outline or just start writing? Index cards or story map? The Hero’s Journey or…
May 23, 2024
Romancing Your Story, Writing Romance
A Rose By Any Other Name (Authenticating Details)

Once upon a time, when I was new to fiction writing, I brought a chapter to my weekly workshop/critique…
February 23, 2024
Romancing Your Story
Same Vocabulary, Different Dictionary

I recently attended a conference where one of the speakers talked about how, because of cultural and societal shifts,…
May 23, 2023
Romancing Your Story
Why Are Christmas Romances So Popular?

I’m sure you’re aware of all the Christmas romance movies that Hallmark airs on television before Thanksgiving into the…
December 23, 2022
Romancing Your Story
Why Are Christmas Romances So Popular

I’m sure you’re aware of all the Christmas romance movies that Hallmark airs on television before Thanksgiving into the…
November 23, 2022
Romancing Your Story
Make it Personal

One of my favorite movies is You’ve Got Mail. When Joe Fox attempts to apologize to Kathleen Kelly for…
August 23, 2021
Romancing Your Story
The Romance Promise

Every book written begins with a promise. No matter if it is fiction or nonfiction, there is a promise…
October 23, 2020
Romancing Your Story
Getting Inside the Romantic Hero’s Head—Part III

Have you ever wondered what the opposite sex is thinking while you’re thinking? Men, as a rule, think in…
December 23, 2018
Romancing Your Story
Falling in Love—NOT the Goal

My name is M. Rose Gardner and I am an aspiring author of contemporary romance. This is my first…
October 23, 2018
Romancing Your Story
Getting Inside the Hero’s Head––Part I

Contrary to popular belief, the male is the key to any romance. The female is usually the “lead” character.…
August 23, 2018
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero – Part V

Judah is the man for Tovah. To review: Tovah is a rabbi with rejection issues. Judah is an IDF…
June 23, 2018
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part IV

We’re crafting both our romantic heroine and our hero. Our heroine is Tovah, a Jewish rabbi who fears rejection…
May 23, 2018
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part III by Donna L.H. Smith

Nobody’s perfect, right? True. Neither can your romantic hero be perfect. Choose a character flaw that will irritate your…
April 23, 2018
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part II by Donna L.H. Smith

You’ve heard that opposites attract. Let’s list Tovah’s personality characteristics, then see how we can match Judah, our hero,…
March 23, 2018
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part I

Our romantic heroine, Tovah, is about to meet her match. She’s a Jewish rabbi who fears rejection because of…
February 24, 2018
Genre, Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Romantic Heroine––Part III

Here’s what we know so far about Susie, our romantic heroine. We’ve made her Jewish, with fears of rejection,…
January 26, 2018