Romancing the Story: Writing Romance, Storytelling, and Book Structure

C.A. Szarek is a renaissance woman of romance writing. With 17 books and counting, she writes everything from romantic suspense to epic fantasy romance. She has been both traditional published and self published, has been president of her local Romance Writers, and she is also an editor on the side in addition to her full-time and part-time gigs. No matter what stage you are in your writing journey, Szarek has some nugget of wisdom to sink your teeth into....and lots of dragon mugs. Find C.A. Szarek's books on Amazon:https://amzn.to/3PMXw6mOr connect through her website:http://www.caszarek.com/Twitter - @caszarekInstagram - @caszarekFacebook - @caszarekSupport the Show:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestoryFind me below:Twitter - @RomancetheStoryInstagram - @RomancetheStoryFacebook - @RomancetheStoryMusic:Prelude in C (BWV 846) by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4237-prelude-in-c-bwv-846-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Did you know fanfics were and still are dominated by women? We take a bit of a journey from the usual romance fare to explore the strange new(ish) world of fanfiction. Fanfiction holds a very special place in our hearts and is a personal passion project. We examine the impact of fanfiction in romance and how romantic fanfiction has influenced writers. Fanfiction inspires people to write, whether nurturing a writing passion that has always existed or encouraging a fan who might not have otherwise written at all. Ukulele Star Trek: TOS Cover by thesadchickenhttps://youtu.be/Z0S94lexjo8Find me below:Twitter - @RomancetheStoryInstagram - @RomancetheStoryOpinions are my own, but the references below helped:https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4xa4wq/the-forgotten-early-history-of-fanfictionhttp://www.gender-focus.com/2010/02/18/fanfiction-and-feminism/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdDIMOehLm8https://bookriot.com/2019/10/14/history-of-fanfiction/https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-promise-and-potential-of-fan-fictionhttps://www.techtimes.com/articles/70108/20150723/fan-fiction-star-trek-harry-potter-history-of-fan-fiction-shakespeare-roman-mythology-greek-mythology-sherlock-holmes.htmhttps://sites.duke.edu/unsuitable/fan-fiction/https://repository.library.georgetown.edu/bitstream/handle/10822/551540/17_etd_kem82.pdfMusic:Prelude in C (BWV 846) by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4237-prelude-in-c-bwv-846-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Mia London and Susan Sheehey concoct an author synergy that makes magic happen on the page. Both ladies encourage each other by writing through adversity and created an awesome Indie Romance Author dream team. They co-authored two different series, a Romantic Comedy and a Romantic Suspense. If their characters aren't making you laugh, they are liable to make things explosive - both literally in the book and figuratively in the bedroom. Did we mention they have range?Find Mia and Susan's books on Amazon:https://amzn.to/3LDeCjyOr connect through their website:www.MiaLondon.comwww.SusanSheehey.comSupport the Show:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestoryFind me below:Twitter - @RomancetheStoryInstagram - @RomancetheStoryFacebook - @RomancetheStoryMusic:Prelude in C (BWV 846) by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4237-prelude-in-c-bwv-846-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Kimberly Packard keeps us on our toes with all the feels in women's fiction and builds a case for writing compelling relationships in novels. She also gives writing advice on plot development and process for newbie writers. Learn how romance genre mingles with women's fiction for a little lovin' to all readers. And we take a moment to talk about dogs. Duh. Kimberly's books:https://amzn.to/3ObdFkAFind the video on Youtube:https://youtu.be/TaHKyHjUe3IFind Kim here:www.kimberlypackard.comFacebook - @kimberlypackardauthorTwitter - @kimberlypackardInstagram - @kimberlypackardSupport the Show:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestoryFind me below:Twitter - @RomancetheStoryInstagram - @RomancetheStoryFacebook - @RomancetheStoryMusic:Prelude in C (BWV 846) by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4237-prelude-in-c-bwv-846-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Why is reading a good love story so satisfying but writing one is so hard?  Budding romance writer, Sarah Gamez, answers those questions with a deep-dive look into writing and reading love stories and our favorite guilty pleasures. Including guest speakers and round-table discussions, we focus on the writing elements of romance, how romances influences our favorite stories, and developing our own narratives. Here, happy endings are always guaranteed. Support the show

Technology and the Romance genre, hardly the twain ever meet. Is the internet something we should mix with love stories? As our world continues to evolve with remote connection, we have the opportunity to write about dating online in an authentic and truthful way. Which specific trend or modern development do you feel should be written in more romance?Find me on twitter and instagram. @RomancetheStoryOpinions are my own, but the references below helped:https://www.huffpost.com/entry/who-is-the-the-romance-novel-reader_b_7192588https://sporteluxe.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-online-dating/Music:Prelude in C (BWV 846) by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4237-prelude-in-c-bwv-846-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show

Romance is a key ingredient to almost every story. Whether it be the focal point or a sub-plot, characters seek to find love in some form or another. In the inaugural episode, Sarah gives a personal story as a reader and champions the case for reading romance, both in general and during dark times.Spoiler alert: It's pretty much about love, connection, and female empowerment.After all, HEA is only a page away. Huzzah!  Why do you love romance? What is your favorite thing about the romance community or Romancelandia?Find me on twitter and instagram. @RomancetheStoryOpinions are my own, but the references below helped:https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1057%2F9781137462619_10https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/99818/slmoody_1.pdf?sequence=1Music:Prelude in C (BWV 846) by Kevin MacLeodLink: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4237-prelude-in-c-bwv-846-License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support the show