Coming Feb. 25th… Consent

February 19, 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 25 Consent

The role of consent in society and romance is an ever-evolving conversation. The genre’s “bodice ripper” reputation is a throwback to when leading ladies weren’t allowed to want sex without coercion, but many authors and readers have moved on to more sex-positive narratives. This Sunday February 25th, we’ll talk about what consenting relationships look like (even if you like them rough and/or dark), as well as the past, present, and future of consent in Romance.

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.

The Practice of Learning Dialogue

January 16, 2018January 15, 20181 Comment

This coming Sunday, January 15th we’re doing a chat all about dialogue, and our co-host, Kimberly Bell, has lots to share about her process of learning to write authentic conversation.

Dialogue

I get a lot of compliments on my dialogue. In fact, some of the best early advice I got in my career was that my dialogue was my strength, so I should let it shine. But why is it a strength? How? What, exactly, do I do?

I don’t know.

I wish I had a better answer than that. What I do have are some aspects of my life that I think have contributed. Continue reading →

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 Dec. 10th…Depression and Writing

December 4, 2017November 5, 2017Leave a comment

romance writer chat topic depression and writing Most people experience some form of depression in their lives, to varying degrees. For some, it’s a period of self-doubt and hopelessness. For others, it’s a debilitating state of mind that inhibits every aspect of their life. And there are many levels in between. In any form, depression impacts our writing—what we write, how we write it, our productivity and our ability to pursue the business of publishing. Come chat with us about how depression may have impacted your writing life and career, Sunday, December 10th, 4pm PT / 7pm ET.

Coming Dec. 3rd…Queries & Cover Copy

November 27, 2017November 5, 2017Leave a comment

Your query letter is your first impression, the first taste an agent or editor gets of your writing, and can sometimes become the base for your book’s blurb. Writing a query often feels more nerve-wracking than writing the book itself! There’s so much pressure to “get it right.” Same with writing your cover copy or blurb. This is the text that will draw in readers, push their trope buttons, and whet their appetites for the journey ahead. Let’s talk about writing queries and cover copy on Sunday, December 3rd, at 7pmET/4pmPT.

Making A Writing Calendar (Or, Writing A Novel In A Month)

November 14, 2017November 15, 20171 Comment

This Sunday’s #rwchat topic is about Stealing Time To Write and how difficult it can be to find writing time amidst our busy schedules. Here’s Robin Lovett’s strategy for planning her writing when real life threatens to steal it away.

I’m pretty lucky. For the most part, writing is my addiction of choice. When I run out of things to write, that’s when I have a problem. I also love deadlines. When someone is waiting for my work and likes it so much and believes in it so much they’ve contracted me to write it, I get even more excited.

But that doesn’t mean that life never gets in the way. Or edits come back with a half-rewrite (!) and eat a month out of my deadline to write the next book. So I make plans, honest plans, because if they’re not honest, they won’t work. Continue reading →

Coming Nov. 19th…Stealing Time to Write

November 13, 2017November 5, 20171 Comment

romance writers chat topic stealing time to write All year round, but especially with the holidays coming up, finding time to write can be difficult. How do you keep putting words on the page when you can’t block out big chunks of time to sit down and work? Whether you struggle with stealing time to write, or you’re an expert with all the answers, come share your knowledge and your struggles with us on Sunday, November 19th @ 4pm PT | 7pm ET.