Scene craft for romance writers
These are the notes I wish someone had handed me before my first manuscript: the kiss, the confession and every charged scene that comes before them. Each guide has sample lines and beats you can borrow tonight. My critique group argued over most of them first, so they have been properly tested.
How to write a kissing scene readers will reread
How to write a kissing scene with real build-up: the pause before, two well-chosen senses, the lines around it, the aftermath and the mistakes that flatten it.
6 min read
Spicy romance tropes, and how to actually write them
Twenty-four spicy romance tropes for writers, from enemies to lovers to only one bed, each with why it works on readers and one tip for using it in your draft.
5 min read
How to write romantic tension that hums under every scene
How to write romantic tension that holds: real obstacles, shrinking distance, useful interruptions, subtext and the push-pull, with sample beats to borrow.
5 min read
Romance pacing: what to reveal, and when to reveal it
Romance pacing as a slow reveal: what each lead should learn when, the milestones across a book, scene and sequel, and how to rescue a sagging middle.
5 min read
How to write a love confession that earns its moment
How to write a love confession that lands: the set-up chapters ahead, the exact words, the reply, four kinds of confession and sample lines you can adapt.
5 min read