romance

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Favorites

2025-10-01
SE White
Blogging, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, Romance Tropes

To bask in the care and support of your fellow authors you just head to The Insecure Writer’s Support Group and sign your blog up on their nifty form. The awesome co-hosts for the October 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine! Don’t forget to go wish them a happy IWSG day and thank them for hosting this month. October 1 question – What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why? To answer,…

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My Favorite Couples in Love

2025-02-12
SE White
Blogging, Recommendations, Romance Tropes, Silliness, Top 10 Lists

In honor of Valentine’s Day: Fictional Couples This topic speaks to me on a deep, personal level as an author of romance. I read all around the genre spectrum. From horror to sci-fi to fantasy, with a short detour in middle grade and a light stop at young adult. Set me loose in a bookstore and I’m hopping between shelves like a monkey on banana-based amphetamines. But there’s one subplot which will always catch and keep my attention. If a book,…

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Book Tropes: Oh No, Looks Like There’s Only One Bed

2024-06-12
SE White
Blogging, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists

Today’s niche trope is not so niche. It’s kinda everywhere, from books to movies to TV. It’s a perennial favorite for a reason, though, and that reason is sweet, sweet TENSION. Having the question of “who gets the bed? How do we share?” shoved into the character’s faces basically forces them into a pivot point in their relationship. If they’ve been denying their feels, they will be feeling some kinda thing ALL NIGHT. If they’ve been trying to keep it…

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Breaking Down a Romance Plot

2023-03-15
SE White
Author Toolbox Blog Hop Post, Blogging, Plotters vs. Pantsers, Writing Process

For this post, let’s break down a well known romance plot to see where the story beats are going. This is an exercise I’d really recommend for authors of any genre. Take your favorite story, or movie, and break it down to see how they made everything work. You’ll be surprised how much it helps you break down your own story! And yes, this is the movie I’m turning into plot points, but it still translates to novel form. Beauty…

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The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Asks Why I Love Romance

2022-10-05
SE White
Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, Romance Tropes, Romance Writers of America, Top 10 Lists

To be fair, no one in the IWSG asked why I love romance. The actual specific question for this month was What do you consider the best characteristics of your favorite genre? But . . . I mean. Come on. We all knew SE was going to answer ‘romance! I freaking adore romance’ and come prepared with an entire listicle of what I consider the best characteristics of romance. With GIFs galore. The co-hosts keeping us on track for October…

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SE and the Teasing Book Taste

2022-08-24
SE White
Goals and Hopes, My Books, Romance Tropes

I mean ‘teasing’ in a very non-creepy, authory way. Don’t worry. I have a book coming out in September and you might like a small nibble. Just a tiny one, to see if it suits your palate. So sit back, relax, and enjoy your appetizer of The Sidekick and The Supervillain. Picture Michaela, innocently at work checking temperatures and taking blood pressure readings, when into her Urgent Care walks one of the biggest supervillains in Smallcity. He’s got robots everywhere,…

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The Basics of Romance, for Your Author Toolbox

2022-05-18
SE White
Author Toolbox Blog Hop Post, Blogging, My Books, Romance Tropes, Romance Writers of America, Writing Process

*Sings* Do you want to write a romance? If you do, you’re in good company. Millions of books printed and sold every year (and probably hundreds of millions of Ebooks downloaded. I haven’t done the research, but I’m feeling pretty confident with that guess.) Thousands of authors. HUGE part of the publishing market share. But . . . where to start? How is a romance different from any other fiction novel? What defines “romance”? At the basic level: A romance…

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Book Tropes: We Stan Step Parents!

2021-08-25
SE White
Blogging, Recommendations, Reviews, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists

Today’s niche trope is all about choosing to love. To me, the decision to step up as a parent figure is the definition of heroic, because it hits close to my own personal experience. I have been a single mom and I have been lucky enough to find a second chance with the most amazing husband and stepfather in the entire world. He’s the best. No arguing. Also, he’s mine. But you can have these books which feature a love…

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Release Day! Beneath Me, SE White

2021-08-17
SE White
Goals and Hopes, My Books, Plotters vs. Pantsers, Romance Tropes, Writing Process

It’s release day for my first indie publishing attempt. I’m unsure if the correct procedure is to scream with excitement, cower under blankets, or accost random strangers and try to get them to read my work? All of those at once? Or maybe the Carlton dance. YES. The Carlton dance is perfect for this moment. Amazon doesn’t *list* books on their website until actual release day, and I’ve heard about long delays in those books showing up on the website…

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