Tag: writing-tips

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A yellow and orange graphic reads Rising from Rejection with a green arrow. An oval image shows a sign with a board reading, not what you expected
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Rising from Rejection: What to Do (and Not to Do) After Receiving a Rejection Letter

Back in October we talked about the dreaded rejection letter and the top 5 reasons we reject a manuscript at […]

Posted on: December 4, 2024
A light purple graphic with a purple road that ends in a pen nib. It reads Roadmap to Writing Romance.
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The Roadmap to Writing Romance: 5 Common Obstacles You Might Face

My authors often tell me how much fun writing romance is (editing it is certainly a joy!). After all, who […]

Posted on: November 25, 2024
A cute Halloween picture of a ghost reading a book under a bare tree. Some cute spiders hang in the opposite corner. Title is 5 Reasons for Getting a Rejection
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Top 5 Reasons We Reject a Manuscript

Are you afraid of the dark? Do visions of vampires haunt your dreams, or is it the zombie apocalypse that […]

Posted on: October 31, 2024
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Trope Spotlight: Workplace Romance

Workplace romance is an exciting and trending trope that carries lots of potential for steamy scenarios and sexy relationships, as […]

Posted on: September 13, 2024
Illustration of five people having a conversation, with colorful speech bubbles above their heads.
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How to Write Convincing Dialogue & Banter

Strong dialogue should engage your readers, drive the plot forwards, and bring your characters to life. Dialogue done poorly, however, […]

Posted on: September 6, 2024
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Trope Spotlight: Marriage of Convenience

Marriage of convenience might be, among all the popular romance tropes, the most traditional of all. This trope was popularized […]

Posted on: July 29, 2024
A two tone purple graphic which reads on the left side Trope Spotlight: Fake Dating. On the right, a photo of two people shaking hands
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Trope Spotlight: Fake Dating

The fake dating/fake relationship plot device has been around at least as long as William Shakespeare and continues to be […]

Posted on: June 17, 2024
Blue to black background with coral curved elements. Text says Write for Harlequin: Writing Advice: Understanding a Villain's Motivation (And How to Write It!). There is a photo of a man in silhouette staring out at the dark ocean.
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Understanding A Villain’s Motivation (and How to Write It)

Of course, your heroes and heroines have clear goals and motivations that resonate with readers. But what about your villains? […]

Posted on: April 17, 2024
A pink and yellow graphic which reads Romance Glossary: The Synopsis
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A Romance Glossary Deep Dive: The Synopsis

Synopsis “An outline or summary of the story, including plot and character development, from the beginning to the end. Most […]

Posted on: April 8, 2024
An open notebook on a desk. A pen, highlighters and post sticks around the notebook.
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Staying within Series Parameters without Losing the Creative Spark

There are three main components in the recipe for a perfect Harlequin romance: establishing the characters’ motivations from the beginning, […]

Posted on: March 20, 2024