Romancing Your Story
From Rings to Rainstorms: Using Symbols and Motifs to Deepen Your Story
It’s a myth that symbolism and motifs are the sole property of literary writers. They are important tools in…
November 23, 2025-
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Writing Romance
The Act-Three Break-Up: Required or Suggested?
Thanks to a nasty virus, I’ve spent a good amount of the last few weeks on the couch with…
August 24, 2025 -
Romancing Your Story
A Trope with a Twist
Readers, particularly romance readers, love stories that feel familiar—shorthand for they use tropes—but also seem new and bring a…
August 23, 2024 -
Romancing Your StoryTo Thine Own Self Be True
Plotter or Pantser? Or Plottser? Outline or just start writing? Index cards or story map? The Hero’s Journey or…
May 23, 2024 -
Romancing Your Story, Writing Romance
A Rose By Any Other Name (Authenticating Details)
Once upon a time, when I was new to fiction writing, I brought a chapter to my weekly workshop/critique…
February 23, 2024 -
Romancing Your Story
Same Vocabulary, Different Dictionary
I recently attended a conference where one of the speakers talked about how, because of cultural and societal shifts,…
May 23, 2023 -
Romancing Your Story
Why Are Christmas Romances So Popular?
I’m sure you’re aware of all the Christmas romance movies that Hallmark airs on television before Thanksgiving into the…
December 23, 2022 -
Romancing Your Story
Why Are Christmas Romances So Popular
I’m sure you’re aware of all the Christmas romance movies that Hallmark airs on television before Thanksgiving into the…
November 23, 2022 -
Romancing Your Story
Make it Personal
One of my favorite movies is You’ve Got Mail. When Joe Fox attempts to apologize to Kathleen Kelly for…
August 23, 2021 -
Romancing Your Story
The Romance Promise
Every book written begins with a promise. No matter if it is fiction or nonfiction, there is a promise…
October 23, 2020 -
Romancing Your Story
Getting Inside the Romantic Hero’s Head—Part III
Have you ever wondered what the opposite sex is thinking while you’re thinking? Men, as a rule, think in…
December 23, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Falling in Love—NOT the Goal
My name is M. Rose Gardner and I am an aspiring author of contemporary romance. This is my first…
October 23, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Getting Inside the Hero’s Head––Part I
Contrary to popular belief, the male is the key to any romance. The female is usually the “lead” character.…
August 23, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero – Part V
Judah is the man for Tovah. To review: Tovah is a rabbi with rejection issues. Judah is an IDF…
June 23, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part IV
We’re crafting both our romantic heroine and our hero. Our heroine is Tovah, a Jewish rabbi who fears rejection…
May 23, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part III by Donna L.H. Smith
Nobody’s perfect, right? True. Neither can your romantic hero be perfect. Choose a character flaw that will irritate your…
April 23, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part II by Donna L.H. Smith
[bctt tweet=”Judah is going to be the man for Tovah. A romantic hero should be handsome and strong, sweet…
March 23, 2018 -
Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Hero––Part I
Our romantic heroine, Tovah, is about to meet her match. She’s a Jewish rabbi who fears rejection because of…
February 24, 2018 -
Genre, Romancing Your Story
Crafting the Romantic Heroine––Part III
Here’s what we know so far about Susie, our romantic heroine. We’ve made her Jewish, with fears of rejection,…
January 26, 2018
