Romance is a genre full of tropes. From the big ones like friends-to-lovers and office romances to smaller ones like "Sunshine x Grump" pairings, running through the airport scenes, masquerade balls, or the infamous "There's Only One Bed," there is certain to be a trope for every reader out there. Among the most popular is Enemies to Lovers. Commonly cited examples include Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice , Anthony and Kate from the Bridgerton series, Heathcl

As writers expand their oeuvre, it's possible for quirks to emerge. Those little habits we develop over time and things that make our writing distinctly ours. These quirks can be subconscious craft-centric happenings or deliberate choices, and may also be specific to our chosen genres and individual takes on them. They can also evolve over time. With each new story I write, I end up spinning threads connecting them to the ones that came before. Many are intentional, but plent

If prompted to think of a stereotypical romance novel, some might picture a bodice ripper. Barechested men and scantily-clad ladies entangled in the midst of an embrace on the cover. We've all seen them and, if you're like me, you may have even been chided by peers and acquaintances because of your love for reading (or even writing) them. Despite this common association, only a portion of romance novels are as risque as the image described above. While some authors include st

As of this past Thursday, I'm 27. You know what that means! I'm twenty-seven years old, I've no money and no prospects. I'm already a burden to my parents and I'm frightened. Charlotte Lucas memes aside, I'm excited to see what this next year of existence has in store for me. And as in years past, we're celebrating the occasion on the blog with a Q&A. For Q&As, I usually pull topics from comments on my social media posts. This time marks an exception, as it is inspired by a q

No genre is as known for its feel-good nature as romance. The promise of a happy ending has made readers fall in love with stories of characters falling for each other. The variety of subgenres presents options for every reader out there, no matter if they yearn for swashbuckling adventures on the high seas, mingling among the ton , settling in for some small-town coziness, or blazing through the unknown lawlessness of the west. In recent years especially, romance has become

One of the best parts of the writing process is building up the relationships between characters. Whether it’s platonic, antagonistic, awkward, or romantic, the way they evolve over the course of the story is one of the things that keeps readers interested. Relationships are important in any genre, but establishing a strong sense of chemistry between characters is highly important in romance. For your protagonist and your reader, a love interest needs to be someone to fall fo