Romance makes the world go ’round. In many respects, it makes the book world go ’round too. Romance consistently remains one of the bestselling of all fiction genres, so it’s no surprise so many people write it—both out of personal enjoyment and because, when it hits the sweet spot, it can be extremely lucrative. Learning […]
August 18, 2014 by 2 Comments CharactersWriting Epic Love Stories
Of all the story types, the love story is perhaps the most evergreen. After all, human beings are wired for love. Almost all of us will have romantic relationships (and those who don’t, want to), so all of us relate to love stories on the page or screen. Even better, the strange and fascinating bond […]
June 23, 2011 by 37 Comments CharactersCan Your Heroine Be Too Strong?
Simpering misses and damsels in distress seem to be out of fashion these days. Rarely do I pick up a book and read about a heroine who is sickly, pale, and teary-eyed all the time. Instead, strong female leads—some magical mixture of Lara Croft, Mother Teresa, and Maya Angelou—populate our fiction. While I’m all for […]
