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What Makes A Love Story Feel Authentically Sapphic?
As a lesbian, sapphic stories hold a special place in my heart. I want to read stories that are representative of my experiences as a woman who loves other women, and for those experiences to represented with authenticity. When I say authenticity, I don’t mean perfection or rigid representation, but stories that resonate with emotional truth and characters that are realistic and believable. Sapphic romance has evolved—readers now crave layered, lived-in portrayals of queer wo

Joy Holmes
3 days ago2 min read


Top 5 Mistakes in Romance Manuscripts
Understanding the Role of a Beta Reader As a beta reader, my role is crucial. I provide insights that help authors refine their stories. This process is essential for creating a book that resonates with its audience. My feedback focuses on emotional connections, character development, and plot coherence. Mistake 1: Inconsistent Characterization When characters act outside of their established traits, this raises red flags in readers. Why? Readers need to believe in the charac

Joy Holmes
Sep 182 min read


Why Continuity Matters in Love Stories
Continuity is important in most stories, but especially love stories. Readers expect that what they read in one scene carry over to...

Joy Holmes
Sep 92 min read


How Typos Can Kill The Mood In A Romance Scene
Whether I’m proofreading a novel between a heterosexual couple or beta reading a manuscript that features women loving women, I’m always...

Joy Holmes
Aug 262 min read


What I Look For When Beta Reading Sapphic Fiction:
Authentic Representation of Queer Characters Are the sapphic characters written with depth and individuality? Do they have their own...

Joy Holmes
Aug 132 min read


A Beta Reader Review: Like First Love, Again by J.J. Arias
I enjoy dissecting a story, exploring the characters, and discussing what happened. That's why I became a beta reader. So, I also write...

Joy Holmes
Aug 21 min read


A Proofreader's Perspective: Book Lovers by T.B. Markinson & Miranda MacLeod
Book Lovers by T.B Markinson and Miranda MacLeod is a sapphic friends-to-lovers romance that started off a little slow but eventually...

Joy Holmes
Jul 141 min read


Beta Reader Review: Finding Molly Parsons
I enjoy dissecting a story, exploring the characters, and discussing what happened. That's why I became a beta reader. So, I also write...

Joy Holmes
Jul 51 min read


Beta Reader Review: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
I recently revisited The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo in audiobook format, and the production quality elevated an already gripping...

Joy Holmes
Jun 301 min read


The Role of Conflict in Storytelling: Why Every Great Story Needs It
What is Conflict? Merriam-Webster defines conflict as clash, competition, or mutual interference of opposing or incompatible forces or...

Joy Holmes
Aug 15, 20241 min read


Character Archetypes: The Foundations of Memorable Stories
Archetypes are templates or prototypes that can be used to design a character. They can be used as a base from which to build a...

Joy Holmes
Jul 30, 20244 min read


Worldbuilding 101
One of the most vital elements of any romantasy story is its setting. Fantasy readers crave worlds that are rich, immersive, and full of...

Joy Holmes
Jul 10, 20244 min read


Editing vs. Proofreading: What’s the Difference?
What’s the difference between editing and proofreading? I’m here to shine a little light on the subject! What is Editing? Merriam-Webster...

Joy Holmes
Jun 13, 20241 min read


Beta Readers vs Editors
You may be asking yourself, “What’s the difference between a beta reader and an editor?” Well, I’m here to explain the distinction. What...

Joy Holmes
Apr 10, 20241 min read


ARC Readers vs. Beta Readers: What’s the Difference?
What is an ARC Reader? ARC stands for Advanced Review Copy, and ARC readers are unpaid contributors who affect the reputation of a book....

Joy Holmes
Mar 31, 20241 min read


A Proofreader's Perspective: Pretend to Be My Cowboy by Sophia Quinn
Pretend to Be My Cowboy by Sophia Quinn is a sweet/clean romance with Christian undertones. Emma O’Sullivan is a kindergarten teacher...

Joy Holmes
Mar 16, 20241 min read


A Proofreader's Perspective: Not a Sparrow Falls by Lynnette Bonner
Not a Sparrow Falls by Lynnette Bonner is a historic Christian romance novel. When Charlotte gets her heart broken, she responds to an...

Joy Holmes
Feb 23, 20241 min read


A Proofreader's Perspective: Yesterday’s Treasures by Jessie Gussman
Yesterday’s Treasures by Jessie Gussman is a faith-based second-chance romance novel about Lindy, a woman who leaves her workaholic...

Joy Holmes
Feb 17, 20241 min read


A Proofreader's Perspective: Another Chance by Diane Lil Adams
Today I tried to read Another Chance by Diane Lil Adams, but unfortunately, I had to put it down at Chapter 3. This story starts off...

Joy Holmes
Feb 15, 20241 min read


A Beta Reader Review of Hannah’s Hometown Hero by Lyn Cote
I enjoy dissecting a story, exploring the characters, and discussing what happened. That's why I became a beta reader. So, I also write...

Joy Holmes
Feb 14, 20241 min read
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