My last book was a labor of learning. For many of you who may have followed my original blog (and I’ll have to see if I can find my back up posts somewhere, although I’m not holding my breath), you will remember that I was learning to write romance. Romance books and movies all have the same beats (pattern) and it all comes down to a blueprint you can follow to write.
As an avid reader, I began to notice all of these coincidences, so I started to read nonfiction books on writing and how to write. Hopefully I’ll have a list of them for you soon.
My book, Romancing Mr. All Star, was one of the first to come out of that learning phase I had. I was pretty proud of myself for stepping away from the middle grade level books and thrillers that I liked to write. In fact, this is the book that catapulted me into the direction that I am now taking.
I really wanted to lean more toward the adult genre, but not give up entire control of what I write because I have grandchildren, and I will write for them like I did their fathers. It’s a given.
To write a romance in 3 Act structure following the 15 beats of romance where you have the introductions, meet cute, maybe we can, maybe we can’t, all in, breakup, grand gesture, etc. Watch a Hallmark movie, and you will pick up on all of these things. Watch a lot of Hallmark movies (like I do) and you will begin to know what will happen as soon as you click it on. It’s always a Happily Ever After, and there will always be a break up and a get together.
Anyhow, I do hope that you will forgive me for publishing my learning process. I have gotten better, and I hope that you will look forward to reading Stealing Home when it comes out next month.
And while you’re at it, enjoy the first draft of the cover and title. You’ll notice it is different from what the final results were.
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