There are a few reasons that writers often hesitate to write emotion. For one, it limits the reader’s ability to project their own emotions onto the character’s experience. Another reason is that many writers fear thoughts and circumstances that bring about feelings of hate, shame, guilt, terror, deep sadness, and dread. And a third reason is that many writers do not want to cross the line from emotional expression into melodrama. There is a common confusion that strong emoti

“Good characters are why most people read, I think.” -Joe Bunting, best-selling American writer What is a character arc? A character arc is different from a story arc, which is the framework of a story. A character arc is a series of events that build that character. Through these events, readers glimpse the character’s inner battles and witness the growth those challenges inspire. The character goes through a journey—physical, emotional, or spiritual—and grows through it. Wh

As a lesbian, sapphic stories hold a special place in my heart. I want to read stories that represent my experiences as a woman who loves other women. It is important for these experiences to be depicted with authenticity. When I say authenticity, I don’t mean perfection or rigid representation. I mean stories that resonate with emotional truth and feature characters that are realistic and believable. Sapphic romance has evolved. Readers now crave layered, lived-in portrayals

Continuity is vital in most narratives, but it holds particular significance in love stories. Readers expect that details from one scene carry over to the next. This consistency allows for a seamless flow of events that often goes unnoticed. However, sudden changes—like a character's eye color or an unexpected shift in the love interest's location—can disrupt the reader's experience. Such hiccups can harm the believability of the love story. What is Continuity in a Romance No

Whether I’m proofreading a novel between a heterosexual couple or beta reading a manuscript that features women loving women, I’m always...

Authentic Representation of Queer Characters Are the sapphic characters written with depth and individuality? Do they have their own...

What is Conflict? Merriam-Webster defines conflict as clash, competition, or mutual interference of opposing or incompatible forces or...

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...

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

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

What is an ARC Reader? ARC stands for Advanced Review Copy, and ARC readers are unpaid contributors who affect the reputation of a book....

Where Does The Term "Beta Reading" Come From? The word “beta” is a term used in software development. “Beta testers” review rough or...