The Romance Writers' Forum

Welcome to the Romance Writing Center. If you have any questions or comments about writing in general, or writing Romance in particular, this is the place to post. Also, feel free to post work for critique by others. Your host, Julie, is generally around at least a few times a day and will be happy to help if you need it. Enjoy!

It is the role of Hosts to moderate their forum, participate in discussions and keep the forum on-topic. Hosts may remove inappropriate and off-topic posts when they deem it necessary.

Other areas of interest: Writing For Young Adults, Horror Writing Forum, Mystery Writing Forum

• Revision Exercise: Part 3 (Description) Crit Thread JewelTones (8/29/2010 5:04 pm)
  • About Last Night (Revision: Part 3 ) JewelTones (8/29/2010 6:37 pm)
• Revision Exercise: Part 3 -- Description JewelTones (8/23/2010 11:35 am)
• About beginnings... JewelTones (8/22/2010 10:43 pm)
• The Dorchester Drama Goes On.... JewelTones (8/21/2010 11:27 am)
• Revision Exercise: Part 2 -- The Next Step JewelTones (8/16/2010 12:49 am)
• 54 Rejections and Then.... (a story) JewelTones (8/9/2010 12:44 am)
  • RE: 54 Rejections and Then.... (a story) donnalee (8/9/2010 3:58 pm)
• Every Wonder What a Publisher Party @ RWA Nationals Looks Like? JewelTones (8/9/2010 12:13 am)
• Revision Exercise: Part 1 -- Post Your Stories Here JewelTones (8/8/2010 11:58 am)
  • Saving Grace (tentative title) - 1464 words sass (8/8/2010 12:40 am)
    • Crit: Saving Grace (tentative title) - 1464 words JewelTones (8/11/2010 4:55 pm)
    • RE: Saving Grace (tentative title) - 1464 words sinsational (8/13/2010 3:25 pm)
      • Rhoda.......Amante.... sass (8/14/2010 7:20 am)
  • Lanery Eden (1407 words) sinsational (8/9/2010 0:05 am)
    • Crit: Lanery Eden (1407 words) JewelTones (8/11/2010 5:34 pm)
    • RE: Lanery Eden (1407 words) sass (8/14/2010 8:41 am)
      • oh and my apologies... sass (8/14/2010 8:42 am)
  • About Last Night (approx 1800 words) JewelTones (8/9/2010 5:22 pm)
    • RE: About Last Night (approx 1800 words) sinsational (8/14/2010 10:07 am)
      • RE: About Last Night (approx 1800 words) JewelTones (8/14/2010 4:26 pm)
    • RE: About Last Night (approx 1800 words) sass (8/14/2010 11:46 am)
      • RE: About Last Night (approx 1800 words) JewelTones (8/15/2010 12:16 am)
• Is it okay.... sass (8/7/2010 9:54 pm)
  • Absolutely! Feel Free. In fact, anybody who has JewelTones (8/7/2010 10:48 pm)
    • I actually did manage to use the prompt suggested by you.... sass (8/8/2010 6:54 am)
      • I'll put up a new thread since things have gotten cluttered below. JewelTones (8/8/2010 11:55 am)
• Publishing News: Dorchester Books Drops Print Mass Market Books JewelTones (8/6/2010 12:58 am)
  • Wow.... That's big news bliss (8/6/2010 1:48 pm)
    • The question I think Authors now have is.... JewelTones (8/6/2010 3:09 pm)
  • Yikes! sass (8/6/2010 6:42 pm)
• Drive 'Em Wilde Contest -- Finalists Announced (kind of) JewelTones (8/5/2010 12:37 am)
  • RE: Drive 'Em Wilde Contest -- Finalists Announced (kind of) bliss (8/5/2010 12:45 am)
• It didn't even occur to me... RE: Revision Exercise JewelTones (8/4/2010 5:31 pm)
  • RE: It didn't even occur to me... RE: Revision Exercise sinsational (8/4/2010 5:42 pm)
    • Awesome. Looking forward to it! JewelTones (8/4/2010 5:48 pm)
  • I'm interested... just been under the weather and otherwise busy (nm) bliss (8/5/2010 9:46 am)
  • I worked on mine for about 26 minutes... sass (8/5/2010 8:18 pm)
    • Totally fine. I think we'll extend it another week JewelTones (8/5/2010 9:03 pm)
      • I'm finished sinsational (8/6/2010 11:29 am)
        • Then why haven't you posted it? ;-) sass (8/7/2010 9:55 pm)
          • because I ran the raods ALLLLL day yesterday sinsational (8/8/2010 7:24 am)
            • and it sucks? sass (8/8/2010 9:54 am)
• Speaking of Revisions & Trimming... JewelTones (8/2/2010 11:06 pm)
• Revision Exercise: Part 1 JewelTones (7/30/2010 0:24 am)
  • I'm a loser... sass (7/30/2010 8:56 pm)
    • Hey you still have a week, technically, so don't give up. JewelTones (7/30/2010 9:20 pm)
    • I wrote something sinsational (7/30/2010 11:35 pm)
      • Ah the AlphaSmart JewelTones (7/30/2010 11:49 pm)
        • RE: Ah the AlphaSmart sinsational (7/31/2010 0:02 am)
          • Eek! that's very touchy! JewelTones (7/31/2010 9:13 pm)
• CONTEST: Mills & Boon - New Voices (for Unpublished Authors) JewelTones (7/26/2010 1:34 pm)
• Voice & Style Development #4 JewelTones (7/24/2010 4:54 pm)
• Bloomberg Business talks Romance JewelTones (7/23/2010 12:31 am)
  • What makes a bodice-ripper? Steerpike (7/23/2010 4:10 pm)
    • Or a story that takes place during the cival war *W* (nm) bliss (7/23/2010 4:14 pm)
      • Ah yes...can't forget those! Steerpike (7/23/2010 4:17 pm)
        • LOL Why? bliss (7/23/2010 4:19 pm)
          • Well, here's the thing... Steerpike (7/23/2010 4:22 pm)
    • RE: What makes a bodice-ripper? JewelTones (7/23/2010 4:32 pm)
• One of the funniest book trailers I have 'ever' seen bliss (7/23/2010 9:28 am)
  • RE: One of the funniest book trailers I have 'ever' seen donnalee (7/23/2010 10:41 am)
  • Bwha! That was good! JewelTones (7/23/2010 12:38 am)
• Tackling Revision DEADLINE EXTENDED JewelTones (7/21/2010 12:07 am)
• Passive Voice: The Sequel JewelTones (7/20/2010 10:57 pm)
  • Good God. bliss (7/21/2010 9:39 am)
    • I don't think this is something you do.... JewelTones (7/21/2010 12:02 am)
• The Myth of the Evil Editor bliss (7/20/2010 9:35 am)
  • So... you're looking to get me in trouble today? JewelTones (7/20/2010 11:53 am)
    • LOL Ditto bliss (7/20/2010 12:17 am)
• RWA Dings Dorchester Over Unpaid Bills? bliss (7/20/2010 9:31 am)
  • Huh. That's interesting. JewelTones (7/20/2010 11:34 am)
• Voice & Style Development #3 JewelTones (7/19/2010 12:31 am)
  • Geez, I could go at this all day :) bliss (7/19/2010 1:58 pm)
  • In some instances... Steerpike (7/19/2010 2:07 pm)
    • RE: In some instances... JewelTones (7/19/2010 2:15 pm)
      • I know :) Steerpike (7/19/2010 2:20 pm)
        • LOL, I know. But it's a good point JewelTones (7/19/2010 2:27 pm)
  • RE: Voice & Style Development #3 JewelTones (7/19/2010 2:26 pm)
    • Now that's the way to do it. bliss (7/19/2010 3:07 pm)
      • I think these short exercises are a good way to identify those parts JewelTones (7/19/2010 4:56 pm)
        • Not sure... bliss (7/19/2010 6:47 pm)
          • We're always hyper critical of ourselves. nfm JewelTones (7/19/2010 8:23 pm)
• So What's Everybody Working On? JewelTones (7/19/2010 11:03 am)
  • Still trying to finish Book III bliss (7/19/2010 11:54 am)
    • Book III mm (7/19/2010 12:20 am)
    • What's with that lately? JewelTones (7/19/2010 12:27 am)
  • RE: So What's Everybody Working On? mm (7/19/2010 12:13 am)
    • Revisions can be a lot of fun JewelTones (7/19/2010 12:26 am)
      • Absolutely bliss (7/19/2010 1:18 pm)
        • Totally. JewelTones (7/19/2010 2:16 pm)
          • I'm finding the opposite mm (7/19/2010 5:28 pm)
            • Wait a second bliss (7/20/2010 12:22 am)
              • I had to go back mm (7/20/2010 5:35 pm)
              • You are sooo right on that one Bliss.. sass (7/20/2010 6:32 pm)
              • I adore that distance. JewelTones (7/20/2010 10:32 pm)
            • About those dashes, MM..... Susan (7/21/2010 8:08 pm)
              • I know there's a keyboard shortcut, I just can't think of it. JewelTones (7/22/2010 2:46 am)
              • Susan and Jewel mm (7/22/2010 6:47 am)
• Submitting to a Publisher/Editor or Agents JewelTones (7/18/2010 1:03 pm)
• We're going to tackle revising JewelTones (7/17/2010 1:16 pm)
  • I might be interested in giving this one a try but.... sass (7/20/2010 6:41 pm)
    • yay Sass sinsational (7/20/2010 8:07 pm)
      • Headaches must be making the rounds. Mine was awful today! JewelTones (7/21/2010 12:05 am)
        • Perfect! sass (7/21/2010 7:31 pm)
    • Suann, don't worry about genre. This is one of those 'catch all' exercises. JewelTones (7/21/2010 12:04 am)
      • Because I'm at work, and very tired....... Susan (7/21/2010 7:33 pm)
        • lol..there's the next romance challenge.... sass (7/22/2010 9:40 pm)
          • Don't knock it JewelTones (7/23/2010 12:39 am)
            • Oh, I'm definitely not knocking it.... sass (7/28/2010 7:44 pm)
• Drive 'Em Wilde Contest: Deadline Extended JewelTones (7/16/2010 11:42 am)
• SlupshPile Hell bliss (7/16/2010 9:52 am)
  • Dear God. Do we need to talk about the submission process? JewelTones (7/16/2010 11:36 am)
    • LOL bliss (7/16/2010 4:05 pm)
    • RE: Dear God. Do we need to talk about the submission process? donnalee (7/16/2010 7:22 pm)
      • The thing about rejections is -- by and large -- JewelTones (7/17/2010 1:11 pm)
• Voice & Style Development #2 JewelTones (7/10/2010 4:31 pm)
  • RE: Voice & Style Development #2 JewelTones (7/10/2010 9:08 pm)
• A Case of Voice JewelTones (7/6/2010 12:49 am)
  • Voice & Style: It was a Hallmark card. JewelTones (7/6/2010 12:54 am)
  • RE: A Case of Voice donnalee (7/6/2010 2:07 pm)
    • Right idea. :) JewelTones (7/6/2010 2:35 pm)
      • RE: Right idea. :) donnalee (7/6/2010 10:47 pm)
        • That's what I thought too when the example came to me JewelTones (7/7/2010 12:16 am)
• Editing & Revisions JewelTones (7/3/2010 3:23 pm)
  • RE: Editing & Revisions donnalee (7/4/2010 9:21 am)
    • RE: Editing & Revisions JewelTones (7/4/2010 11:58 am)
      • Passive .... sass (7/4/2010 12:15 am)
        • It's a book called 'The Curious Case of the .... JewelTones (7/4/2010 11:48 pm)
          • Great...I'm going to take a look for that book... nm sass (7/8/2010 7:23 pm)
  • RE: Editing & Revisions bliss (7/5/2010 3:04 pm)
• Prologue vs. Chapter 1 JewelTones (6/29/2010 8:24 pm)
  • RE: Prologue vs. Chapter 1 donnalee (6/30/2010 7:20 am)
    • RE: Prologue vs. Chapter 1 JewelTones (6/30/2010 11:51 am)
  • Of course I read the prologue! bliss (6/30/2010 9:12 am)
    • Huge gaps in time is one of the legit reasons, I think, for a Prologue JewelTones (6/30/2010 11:50 am)
      • So if you call it... Steerpike (6/30/2010 12:16 am)
        • I don't know if there really is one. JewelTones (6/30/2010 1:55 pm)
  • Many prologues are useless... Steerpike (6/30/2010 12:11 am)
    • I tend to agree JewelTones (6/30/2010 1:59 pm)
      • I suppose as long as you make it engaging... Steerpike (6/30/2010 2:23 pm)
      • My two cents... sass (7/1/2010 6:03 pm)
        • Oh that's interesting. JewelTones (7/1/2010 9:04 pm)
          • I started my current wip with... sass (7/2/2010 6:37 am)
            • RE: I started my current wip with... JewelTones (7/2/2010 12:13 am)
              • When all is said and done... bliss (7/2/2010 12:23 am)
              • I didn't think that sounded mean.... sass (7/2/2010 1:01 pm)
              • Although, I just thought... sass (7/2/2010 1:03 pm)
              • Oh no, not at all. JewelTones (7/2/2010 1:20 pm)
  • I have a prologue mm (6/30/2010 7:06 pm)
    • LOL! nfm JewelTones (6/30/2010 10:09 pm)
      • It's pretty short mm (7/1/2010 8:55 am)
  • I always read the prologue. sass (7/1/2010 5:57 pm)
    • Sass, have you ever found a prologue you didn't like? JewelTones (7/1/2010 9:08 pm)
      • A prologue I didn't like.... sass (7/2/2010 6:45 am)
        • There's 1 that comes to mind. JewelTones (7/2/2010 12:09 am)
  • RE: Prologue vs. Chapter 1 Toshi (7/17/2010 2:12 pm)
• Passive Voice Was How the Author Wrote JewelTones (6/26/2010 7:12 pm)
• Need a Story Pitch? There's an App for that! JewelTones (6/24/2010 11:09 pm)
• harlequin/mills & boon question liz (6/24/2010 7:18 pm)
  • RE: Welcome to the board, Liz! JewelTones (6/24/2010 10:41 pm)
    • Mills & Boon Website JewelTones (6/24/2010 10:47 pm)
      • Ah ha! Mills & Boon Editor Q&A (including email submissions) JewelTones (6/24/2010 10:52 pm)
        • PS: About return mail from foreign countries bliss (6/25/2010 1:13 pm)
          • That's SO weird JewelTones (6/25/2010 2:04 pm)
            • RE: That's SO weird Liz (6/25/2010 3:46 pm)
              • Manuscripts JewelTones (6/25/2010 6:40 pm)
              • RE: Manuscripts Liz (6/26/2010 6:07 pm)
          • internetional stamps sinsational (6/25/2010 5:08 pm)
            • RE: international stamps Liz (6/26/2010 6:09 pm)
            • I still have some US stamps from.... sass (7/2/2010 6:49 am)
              • RE: I still have some US stamps from.... sinsational (7/2/2010 9:51 am)
              • The ones I have are 33 cent stamps... sass (7/2/2010 10:13 am)
              • You can totally use them as long as you have enough 'make up' stamps JewelTones (7/2/2010 12:02 am)
• POV/Perspective Exercise - Part 2 JewelTones (6/22/2010 12:45 am)
• Great blog on setting bliss (6/21/2010 11:03 am)
  • I read that last night and thought it was interesting as well JewelTones (6/21/2010 12:06 am)
• Contest: Drive 'Em Wilde! (for emerging authors) JewelTones (6/16/2010 1:07 pm)
• Are You Writing? JewelTones (6/15/2010 2:55 pm)
  • That I am bliss (6/15/2010 3:25 pm)
    • Yay Bliss! JewelTones (6/15/2010 3:40 pm)
  • No...and yes... Biscuit (6/15/2010 6:52 pm)
    • I'm so not a pantster. I plot to death JewelTones (6/15/2010 7:50 pm)
      • I'm a pantster totally! sass (7/2/2010 10:21 am)
        • You gotta do what works for you, imo JewelTones (7/2/2010 12:03 am)
          • I'm like Sass... bliss (7/2/2010 12:34 am)
        • RE: I'm a pantster totally! donnalee (7/5/2010 7:53 am)
          • I admire people who can do the panster thing JewelTones (7/5/2010 11:13 pm)
            • RE: I admire people who can do the panster thing donnalee (7/6/2010 8:24 am)
• POV/Perspective Exercise JewelTones (6/13/2010 5:19 pm)
  • I can't believe that... sass (7/2/2010 1:10 pm)
    • I like the idea of this one myself. JewelTones (7/2/2010 10:26 pm)
      • RE: I like the idea of this one myself. sinsational (7/3/2010 7:37 am)
• It's here! It's here!!!! bliss (6/8/2010 1:29 pm)
  • Congratulations!!!! JewelTones (6/8/2010 5:10 pm)
  • Congrats!!! It looks awesome! sass (6/12/2010 12:15 am)
• Remember When the Shark Took on the Bug Girl? JewelTones (6/7/2010 2:05 pm)
• Just a Note on this Week's Flash Fic.... JewelTones (6/4/2010 10:42 pm)
  • Hangs head... bliss (6/7/2010 1:33 pm)
    • Yeah, you're skipping the flash fics cause you've been lazy. JewelTones (6/7/2010 1:51 pm)
  • I have no excuses . . . Biscuit (6/7/2010 5:59 pm)
    • LOL! Well it's not like it's required. JewelTones (6/7/2010 8:13 pm)
• ...Did you mean this for the politics forum? JewelTones (7/23/2010 4:26 pm)
  • There could be romance elements... Steerpike (7/23/2010 4:26 pm)
  • Oops. Yes, I did. bliss (7/23/2010 4:30 pm)
• Oh look, adverstising. He missed the fanfic forum (nm) bliss (7/28/2010 9:17 am)