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The Romance Genre Specialist Blog
Stop here for romance writing prompts, deep dives into your favourite tropes, updates on new romance trends, and advice on how to write your romance novel.
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2 Romance Novels with IBS Representation, and Why There Aren't More of Them
April is IBS Awareness Month in the UK, and while it's a common condition, affecting up to 10% of the UK population, it's often...
1 day ago
7 Reasons Not to Use AI to Plot Your Next Romance Novel
Since ChatGPT came out, I've had a lot of interactions with AI-generated romance writing. And it can all be summed up with two words: not...
3 days ago
How and Why to Include Consent in Your Romance Novel Sex Scenes
So, do you need to include consent in your romance novels? The short answer is, of course, yes. Because it’s what the majority of romance...
Apr 10
How Many (If Any) Sub-Plots Does Your Romance Novel Need?
When I describe the key elements of a romance novel, I always break them down into three things: the romance arc, aka the book's love...
Apr 8
Writing a Romance Novel Sex Scene? Check Out These 27 Intimate Acts That Aren’t Penetrative Sex
For a long time, if you were reading a romance novel with sex in it, sex equalled penetrative sex, with a penis and a vagina. Thankfully...
Apr 4
Maybe Don't Use Chat GPT for Romance Novel Plot Ideas
A year and a half ago, when Chat GPT first became popular, I wrote on LinkedIn that I would research it. To understand it, and how it...
Nov 12, 2024
Is It a Romance Novel If There's No Sex Scene?
Social media has done a lot of great things for the book world in general, and romance in particular. It's raised visibility for...
Oct 15, 2024
What is a Third Act Breakup, and Should You Include One in Your Romance Novel?
If you've been around romance publishing spaces for even a short time, chances are you've probably seen the phrase third-act break-up ....
Sep 2, 2024
It's Not a Romance Novel Without a Happily Ever After (HEA)
Note: this article is written in UK English; I swear I'm not just bad at spelling. When I get emphatic, I get very English. It's pretty...
Jul 12, 2024
What is a Romance Story Arc?
What is a romance story arc? I get this question a lot from clients and see it often in writer forums. And it makes sense! Many of the...
Jul 5, 2024
Learn How to Write Internal and External Conflict in Romance Novels from Bridgerton Season 3
Oof, do I love Bridgerton Season 3. For so many reasons, but among them, it is a great way of learning how to write an essential element...
Jun 28, 2024
Romance Sub Genres: What They Are and Why We Need Them
Sub-genres. They're the foundation of romance novels, as important as the central romance plot and the happily ever after. But what are...
Jun 25, 2024
How to Write Romance During Chronic Illness Flares
Do you live with a chronic illness that flares just when you're finally hitting your romance writing stride? Never fear. These tips will...
Sep 4, 2023
4 Mistakes New Romance Authors Make (And How to Avoid Them)
Updated 23 February 2024 If you're writing your first romance novel, you might feel overwhelmed by all the advice available to you in...
Jun 21, 2023
Want to Write a Good Romance Novel? Read These 5 Books First.
Updated 01 February 2024 There is no shortage of romance writing craft books available to writers today, but these are the time-tested,...
Jun 14, 2023
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