by Sophie Pembroke | Aug 19, 2020 | Author Life, First Drafts, Tools, Tips & Tricks
Getting that last 500 words Some days, getting that last 500 words can feel like an impossible slog, and it’s just so darned tempting to give up and try again tomorrow. Except those 500 words will still be there, waiting to be written – along with all the other...
by Sophie Pembroke | Jul 29, 2020 | First Drafts, Writing a Romance, Writing Craft
Show, don’t tell? ‘Show, don’t tell’ is the writer’s mantra. But are there any times when writing a romance novel that you should tell, not show? TL;DR answer? Yes. Longer answer? Yes, especially when writing romance novels. But you need to do it carefully. ...
by Sophie Pembroke | Jul 22, 2020 | First Drafts, Writing a Romance, Writing Craft
How to write a great seasonal romance I love writing Christmas romances – almost as much as I love reading them – and they’re always a favourite with my readers. But I also enjoy reading and writing other seasonal stories, too. I believe that...
by Sophie Pembroke | Jul 14, 2020 | First Drafts, Writing a Romance, Writing Craft
Conflict in Romance Novels We all know that conflict is at the heart of every great romance novel, right? Getting the conflict right is often the hardest part of plotting a romance novel – and when you lock onto a strong, tight conflict, the book can start to...
by Sophie Pembroke | Jul 8, 2020 | Tools, Tips & Tricks, Writing a Romance, Writing Craft
What is a trope, and why are they so powerful? Trope: (in a romantic novel) a plot, theme, device or character used so often that it has become a convention within the genre. In other words: a romantic trope is the thing readers buy the romance for! Tropes aren’t...
