Romancing the Story: Writing Romance, Storytelling, and Book Structure – Details, episodes & analysis

"....(Screenwriting) is, to me, a lot more puzzle-like than novels...if somebody gives me a screenplay to read that is 140 pages, I know it doesn't work."

Award-winning author Emily Roberson explores the intricacies of adaptation as she delves into how to write compelling scripts. From options as an author to translating a story to the screen, Emily shares insights, challenges, and plenty of examples. Whether you’re a writer or simply curious about storytelling, join us as we unpack the written word and its visual counterpart.

Connect with Emily
https://www.emilyrobersonbooks.com/
YouTube: @emilyrobersonbooks
TikTok: @robersonemily
Instagram: @robersonemilym
Twitter/X: @RobersonEmily

Lifestyles of Gods and Monsters by Emily Roberson
https://amzn.to/3YW8bCH

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Other Media Mentions:

Time to Write with Amy Kelly and Emily Roberson
https://timetowritepodcast.com/

"The Screenwriting Life” with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna
https://www.thescreenwritinglife.co/

Michael Arndt
https://www.youtube.com/@michaelarndt8848

Cinestory
https://cinestory.org/

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The YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory

Music:
Strawberry Flavor Love by Daystar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMi0dxVgqvo 

Support the show

"As a romance fan, we couldn't get anybody or any of the networks to buy into....(or) pay to make these adaptations, and so we started our own streaming platform..."

Tosca Musk, CEO and founder behind streaming service Passionflix, takes proper time, care, and effort to make a romance book into a movie for the fans. We chat determining what role she takes in each production, the power of delegating and getting fans involved with productions. It's all part of her master plan-fingers crossed!

Connect with Tosca
https://passionflix.com/
Twitter/X: @toscamusk
Instagram: @toscamusk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057793790249

Passionflix membership
https://watch.passionflix.com/

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Media Mentions:

Black Dagger Brotherhood Series by J. R. Ward
https://amzn.to/46YvzBf

The Air He Breathes by Brittainy Cherry
https://amzn.to/4dPG4t2

Gabriel's Inferno Trilogy
https://amzn.to/3yKD5Dp

Hollywood Dirt by Alessandra Torre
https://amzn.to/3yLFBJy

Blood and Ash Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
https://amzn.to/4fUskPl

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The YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory

Music:
Strawberry Flavor Love by Daystar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMi0dxVgqvo 

Support the show

"....Whenever you are going to write disability or anytime you're going to write outside of your lived experience, first you have to ask yourself: Do you already platform and support this community?"

As a romance writer with a disability, Melissa Whitney writes fantastic HEAs for non-typical protagonists - who have disabilities and neurodivergences. In the discussion, we explore the nuances of creating authentic characters with disabilities and how to write with empathy and accuracy while bringing depth to the writing.

Connect with Melissa:
https://www.melissawhitneywrites.com/
Instagram: @Melissa_WhitneyAuthor
TikTok: @melissasuewhitney
Facebook: Melissa Whitney Author
Twitter: @SteamingPlot81
Threads: @melissa_whitneyauthor

Find "In the Hello and In the Goodbye" on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4bhmOUc

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The YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory

Music:
Strawberry Flavor Love by Daystar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMi0dxVgqvo 

Support the show

"...I certainly hope that (this book) reaches the people who do, for one reason or another, feel that the world has just been so unfair to them and why can't it pick on somebody else for once..."

After both her parents died, Courtney penned those tragedies into a debut book, When Happily Ever After Fails. In the book, she proves all tragedies can be rewritten, and happiness can bloom where you least expect it. We chat revising a happily ever after doesn’t have to be an “all or nothing” mentality and mingling dark and light elements of life is more fact than fiction.

Connect with Courtney:
https://www.courtneydeane.com/
YouTube: @CourtneyDeane
Instragram: @authorcourtneydeane
TikTok: @courtneydeane
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/authorcourtneydeane/
Substack: https://substack.com/@courtneydeane

Find When Happily Ever After Fails on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/3Jdi0D0

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The YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory

Music:
Strawberry Flavor Love by Daystar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMi0dxVgqvo 

Support the show

"...as we're solving problems in our own stories, we're creating problems for the other stories that (Lark and Catrina) had to work in... It made for some really creative outcomes." - Lucy Limon

As critique partners and writers with complementary strengths, romance authors Lark Green, Lucy Limon, and Catrina Bell devised a plan for a holiday novella series where a one author took a different book. We chat how their masterful coordination, thorough world-building, and developmental courtesy helped them stay on track to release the series, even in the midst of last-minute fixes and edits.

Connect with Lark Green:
https://www.authorlarkgreen.com/
Instagram: @authorlarkgreen
Facebook: @authorlarkgreen
Goodreads: Lark Green

Connect with Lucy Limon:
https://www.lucylimon.com/
Instagram: @lucylimon.books
BookBub: @LucyLimon_books
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/45367606.Lucy_Lim_n

Connect with Catrina Bell:
linktr.ee/catrinabell
Instagram: @catrinabell
Twitter: @catrinabellxoxo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catrinabellwrites

Find Horned Up for the Holidays on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4aQJefx

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Lark's Other Episode:

Ep 45 - Writing while Working Full-Time with Lark Green
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1064368/12159925

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Other Media Mentioned:

Sweet Monster Treats Series
https://amzn.to/3SaS7cy

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The YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory

Music:
Strawberry Flavor Love by Daystar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMi0dxVgqvo 

Support the show

"They always say start your book on a day that's different. That's called an inciting incident. That's what I try to do naturally. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't."

A decade into writing her Highlander series, USA Today Bestselling Author C.A. Szarek has built a large cast of interconnected books, and her unorthodox method continues to have no hard and fast rules of writing. We chat about how she gets reacquainted with her books after a period of time away from writing in the world and as an important idea with any writer, how the overall pantsing way of writing her books works best for her.

Connect with C.A. Szarek:
http://www.caszarek.com/
Twitter - @caszarek
Instagram - @caszarek
Facebook - @caszarek

Find C.A. Szarek's books on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/3PMXw6m

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C.A. Szarek's Other Episode:

Ep 35 - Highlander Time-Travel Trope and Writing with C.A. Szarek
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1064368/11426240

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Other Authors Mentioned:
 
Cherry Adair:
https://amzn.to/46eWfM7

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The YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory

Music:
Strawberry Flavor Love by Daystar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMi0dxVgqvo 

Support the show

"We need to see writer's block in a different way. It's really not the enemy, but...it's a sign. And usually, it's that your body and your mind are telling you something is off..."

Author and writing coach, Dr. Nicole Janz, helps creatives use their writing voice with breakthroughs on writer's block and procrastination. Straightforward and detailed, we chat about what causes procrastination and how to approach writer's block in a way that is conducive and keeps your story moving forward.

The Write Habit: The Undated Annual Planner and Workbook for Busy Writers
https://amzn.to/47moyJN

Connect with Dr. Nicole
nicolejanz.com
www.thewritehabitplanner.com
Medium:  https://janz-is-writing.medium.com/
Twitter/X:  @camwritinghub
Instragram: @janz.is.writing
Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/710181483039162
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolejanz/

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Media Mentioned:
 
The Art of Impossible: A Peak Performance Primer by Steven Kotler
https://amzn.to/3QtF43w

The Art of Impossible Flow Chart
https://www.nbforum.com/newsroom/blog/steven-kotler-the-art-of-impossible/

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NaNoWriMo Episodes:

Ep 15 - Brianstorming, Writing Research, and NaNoWriMo with Kraken Editing
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1064368/9509081

Ep 41 - Novel Prep and Starting NaNoWriMo with Shayla Raquel
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1064368/11633960

Ep 46 - Trope Thesaurus Romance Edition with Jennifer Hilt
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1064368/12191020

Ep 37 - Top Tropes in Romance Writing with Aimee Walker
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1064368/11519577

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The YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory

Music:
Strawberry Flavor Love by Daystar
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMi0dxVgqvo 

Support the show

"(Not) to dive into the core fear...that we're unrelatable that people will not communicate with us...and I think that's one of those things you see get demonstrated with monsters in the history of storytelling."

Romance Author Kate Prior fell into writing Monster Romance by accident and now, has three books to show for her Claws and Cubicles series. We discuss writing creatures as an allegory for differences in ourselves and reader's interest in an otherworld romance where Monsters are love interests.

Surprisingly, there's a lot of DnD talk too!
 
Claws and Cubicles Series
https://amzn.to/46CDJyz

Connect with Kate
https://kate-prior.com/
Instagram: @bykateprior
Twitter/X: @byKatePrior
TikTok: @bykateprior
Facebook: Kate's Priory of Paranormal Romance
GoodReads: Author Kate Prior

Romance Writer's Therapy Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/romance-writers-therapy/id1595202492

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Media Mentioned:

Shoshana Rain (Fantasy Romance)
https://amzn.to/3QqM7KH

Desirée M. Niccoli (Siren/Mermaid Romance)
https://amzn.to/46WoW1h

Frankenstein (1931 Movie)
https://amzn.to/4958o99

Strange Love by Ann Aguirre
https://amzn.to/491nzAi

Support the show

"You know it is such a beloved story but the modern twist...it's really a celebration of queer joy and community...like a true Hallmark-y story nothing truly bad happens."

We're celebrating the most fabulous time of the year! Contemporary Romance Author Kelly Farmer crafts heart, humor, and depth into her books and gave the premise of "It's a Wonderful Life" a make-over with LGBTQIA+ characters. We chat the process of lightening the mood with Hallmark vibes and the process of switching characters while staying true to the original for a modern re-telling.

Connect with Kelly
https://www.kellyfarmerauthor.com/
Twitter/X: @KellyFarmerAuth
Instagram: @kellyfarmerauthor
Facebook: @kellyfarmerauthor
BookBub: @Kelly_Farmer_Author

It's a Fabulous Life by Kelly Farmer
https://amzn.to/3ZUVqqe

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Amepphire Press Apparel
https://amepphire-press.myshopify.com?sca_ref=3251246.wdTIggePcN.

Use code WELCOME15 for 15% off your first order.

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Media mentioned:

We're Here (TV show)
https://amzn.to/48XxLda

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The YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory 

Support the show

"I think the key is either treat the character (animal) as a sounding board...or you treat this as another character on the same level as a human character."

Writing instructor and multi-genre author, Amber Royer, incorporates all types of animals in her writing - from an octopus to a cockatoo. She directs us in how writing sidekick animals and pets typically follow the "save the cat" rule. Plus, how an animal can provide development and impact in a story - including her own cozy mystery Bean to Bar Series.

Connect with Amber
http://amberroyer.com/
Twitter/X: @amber_royer
Instagram: @amberroyerauthor
Facebook: @Amber.Royer.Author

Bean to Bar Mysteries Series by Amber Royer
https://amzn.to/465yUNI

Amber Royer - YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoA_29HV2nPmRnox9LPVanw

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Amepphire Press Apparel
https://amepphire-press.myshopify.com?sca_ref=3251246.wdTIggePcN.

Use code WELCOME15 for 15% off your first order.

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Other Books Mentioned:

A House-Flipper Mystery Series by Diane Kelly
https://amzn.to/3rsSh4s

Chet and Bernie Mystery Series by Spencer Quinn
https://amzn.to/3H3bZYl

The Cat Who Mysteries by Lilian Jackson Braun
https://amzn.to/3H3bZYl 

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 The YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPcGXevs2NQk3Ab9OD66zuQ

Support the Show
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/romancethestory

Find me below:
Twitter - @RomancetheStory
Instagram - @RomancetheStory
Facebook - @RomancetheStory 

Support the show