Love Scenes Guest Post: Don’t Speak

February 16, 2018February 21, 2018Leave a comment

It’s Flirty February! This week on #RWchat, we’re talking about love scenes! Regular participant LaQuette (author of the Queens of Kings series) is known for writing extra hot love scenes, so we asked her to handle this week’s guest post. Take it away, LaQuette!

I love romance novels. To my way of thinking, that should be a given since I write them for a living. I love the excitement of experiencing the couple’s journey to love. I love knowing I’m going to get a happy ending when it’s finished. And yes, I even love all of the sizzling parts that make me put down my reading device and fan myself because the chemistry and/or love scene is so hot (if you’re not having this experience while reading a romance novel you are missing out on everything that is good in life).

Now that you know I love romance novels, you should also know there is one thing that irks my reader’s brain while reading one. The one thing that will make me roll my eyes, and snatch me out of the reading experience quicker than anything else is too much dialogue during a sex scene.

For the love of all things holy, please, just NO!!

Continue reading →

Coming Feb. 18th… Love Scenes

February 12, 2018January 7, 2018Leave a comment

It’s Flirty February! Join us for a whole month devoted to romance-specific chat topics.

Romance Writer chat topic February 18 Love Scenes

Writing love scenes is hard (hehe). Sometimes it’s hot and heavy, sometimes it’s slow and sweet, sometimes it’s something in between that’s difficult to define. Better yet is when they break the boundaries of the physical intimacy we’ve read before with something unique and new. But no matter what, love scenes have to play a part in the plot and the development of the characters. How do you write meaningful love scenes amidst all the “skip to the good part” pressure? Join us Sunday 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Coming Feb. 11th… Kissing

February 5, 2018January 7, 2018Leave a comment

It’s Flirty February! Join us for a whole month devoted to romance-specific chat topics.

Romance Writer chat topic February 11 Kissing

First kisses. Last kisses. Soft and sweet. Grab you by the hair and ruin your life (in the best way). No matter what heat level you write, there’s a lot riding on the kiss. In fairytales, true love’s kiss is magic, but that’s a lot of pressure on the page. How do you live up to the kissing hype and do it justice for your readers and your characters? Let’s talk about all the ins and outs of locking lips on Sunday, February 11th.

Coming Feb. 4th… Chemistry and Compatibility

January 29, 2018January 7, 2018Leave a comment

It’s Flirty February! Join us for a whole month devoted to romance-specific chat topics.

Romance Writer chat topic February 4 Chemistry and Compatibility

The flames, the sizzle, the burn—whether it’s slow, scorching or subtle, the chemistry that binds our lovers together is what gets the romance started and keeps it going for the whole story. The goal is identifying unique qualities each character has that are compatible enough to end in mutual love and HEA. Everybody has their own way of developing chemistry in a romance. Come share yours and learn about it with others this Sunday 4pm PT/ 7pm ET.

Coming Jan. 28th… Making A Marketing Plan

January 22, 2018January 7, 2018Leave a comment

Romance Writer chat topic January 28 Making a Marketing Plan

Love it or hate it, marketing isn’t something you can wing—not if you want it to be successful. Before diving into the specifics of any individual platform, the first thing you need is a plan. When done right, your overall marketing goal weaves together frequency and different types of platform content to create a comprehensive blanket that is thoughtful and timely. Join us Sunday, January 28th 4pm PT / 7pm ET and dive into making a marketing plan that helps take the mystery (and maybe the misery!) out of marketing your books and your brand.

Coming Jan. 21st… Dialogue

January 15, 2018January 7, 2018Leave a comment

Romance Writer chat topic January 21 Dialogue

How our characters speak says a lot about who they are and what kind of romance the book will be. But finding the right voice and making each character’s word flow unique while keeping it believable and interesting is a tangle of intricacy. Come find out how other writers make their dialogue gripping and not a snoozeville of “hey, how are you?” This Sunday 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Coming Jan. 14th… Your Meet Cutes

January 8, 2018January 7, 2018Leave a comment

Romance Writer chat topic January 14 Meet Cute

Love at first sight is sometimes how it works out, but not always. The meet cute of our lovers’ first encounter makes a big difference in hooking your reader. But coming up with gripping ideas every time isn’t easy. How do you make you meet cute’s stand out and fill them with enough excitement to spark a romance that propels an entire novel? Come share with us Sunday 4pm PT / 7pm ET

Coming Aug. 13th… Writing Strong Settings

August 6, 2017August 6, 2017Leave a comment

Graphic by Alexis Daria

A romance is a romance no matter where is takes place, right? It’s timeless. So does setting really matter? Without a doubt, yes. Where and when a novel takes place is vital to the plot and characters. Setting can create tension, add wonder and even serve as a character in the story. It can supports a novel, makes it richer and unforgettable.

Come chat about how you do your settings and learn how others do it too. Sunday 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Coming July 2nd… The “Starving Artist” and Other Damaging Creative Myths

June 25, 2017June 25, 2017Leave a comment

Graphic by Alexis Daria

We studied those “Starving Artists” in school. Those creative types lauded for making self-sacrifices and mining their depression for the sake of their art. But this leads to a damaging stereotype: we’re not great creative minds unless we’re shrouded in misery. No. We can use our life struggles to help us write, but suffering is a not a requirement to write good books.

Come chat with us about how you combat artistic stereotypes. Sunday 4pm PT/ 7pm ET.

See you then!

Coming June 25th… Heroes & Heroines

June 18, 2017June 18, 2017Leave a comment

Graphic by Alexis Daria

Our main characters are tricky to create. What kind of people they are – whether they follow a trope or not – they’re the foundation of the romance. How the plot and the relationship develops is entirely dependent on who they are. Come chat with us about how you make decisions about who your MCs will be.

Next Sunday 4pm PT/ 7pm ET.

~Robin Lovett