Tag: writing-tips

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A selection of festive items on a table, including a Christmas jumper, a candy cane, a book, pine cones, a glass of eggnog and some holly leaves.
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‘Tis the Season: How to Incorporate the Holidays into Your Story

There’s something so magical about the festive season; twinkly lights strung up everywhere you look, the smell of warming spices […]

Posted on: December 15, 2023
A two-tone purple graphic with Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity written on the left. A photo of two people hugging is on the right
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Trope Spotlight: Forced Proximity

The much-loved forced proximity trope is all about giving two people the chance to fall in love, despite all of […]

Posted on: September 27, 2023
Banner image of two cats fighting next to two cats snuggling. The text in the top left corner reads Trope Spotlight: Enemies to Lovers
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Trope Spotlight: Enemies to Lovers

Romeo and Juliet. Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Tracy Lord and C.K. Dexter Haven (from one of my favorite romances, The […]

Posted on: August 30, 2023
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 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Starting Your Romance Novel

You have the perfect idea for a romance novel and you’re dying to make your characters’ Happily Ever After a […]

Posted on: August 16, 2023
Two chili peppers intertwined on a black background. There are flames rising from the bottom. The text in the lower right reads How Spicy Is Your Story?
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Heat Levels: How Spicy Is Your Romance?

It’s usually simple to decide where you should place your story with Harlequin. If you’ve written a book about Vikings, […]

Posted on: June 14, 2023
A red apple stacked on a small pile of books with the words Writing Advice beside in white.
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Pacing in High-Stakes Stories: How to Sustain Suspense without Losing Romance

Every plot needs to move at a good pace to keep readers interested. But in suspenseful stories, pacing is especially […]

Posted on: May 10, 2023
A man is sitting in a chair with a notebook in his lap and is petting a white dog
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Spotlight on K9s: Writing about Dogs

As you may have noticed, dogs are a very popular element in many of our Harlequin novels. These furry friends […]

Posted on: April 5, 2023
Young Woman working from home who is sitting on the floor in front of the couch.
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Hooks Vs Tropes: What’s the Difference?

This post has been updated from its previously published version “Hooks” and “tropes” are two words that category romance readers […]

Posted on: March 17, 2023
A piece of paper with a red heart drawn in pastel. Behind the paper there is a box of pastels waiting to be used.
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Color Coding Your First Draft for Editing

Happy new year! It’s time for new beginnings. If you’re working on a new manuscript (or if you want to […]

Posted on: January 16, 2023
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A Romance-Writing Reminder: Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff!

For many of us, spring is springing up! (Well, in Toronto we’ve got some unexpected snow.) But if you’re eagerly […]

Posted on: April 21, 2022