Tropes – SE White Author

Book Tropes: You Should See The Way They Look at You

2023-06-21

Blogging, Recommendations, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists

Otherwise known as: the fresh scent of pine. Ahhh, this is such a fun niche trope. It generally happens in a ‘hero falls first’ situation, and let’s all admit together that we love us a pining hero. But there is the delicious potential for this uncertainty when any character falls first and is now vulnerable, unsure their love is requited. The best part about all of this troubled water our main character has to paddle through? There’s a happy ending…

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…

Book Tropes: Award For Most Adorkable

2021-04-14

SE White

Blogging, Book Reviews, Recommendations, Reviews, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists

Quick internet search tells me that a nerd is defined as; “a person seen as overly intellectual, obsessive, introverted, interested in obscure or not-popular things, and lacking social skills.” Basically? I am ALL OF THOSE THINGS. It’s like the internet knows my life!* *Dear NSA Agent skimming my blog: please do spend some quality time with my trope rec posts. I promise you will need reading material because my life is very boring and these books are more fun. Also…

Book Tropes: I Can’t Argue With You When You’re Sick!

2021-02-17

SE White

Blogging, Book Reviews, Recommendations, Reviews, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists

For this post it’s that trope, nearly always employed in an enemies-to-lovers type situation, where one of the duo gets sick/injured or is suddenly in imminent danger. Ruh-roh, Scooby! Because they are acting like antagonists life conspires to basically FORCE their defenses down in a way the character would probably never do on their own. Isn’t it the best? When they’re happily spatting, all defensive maneuvers deployed, sarcasm shots launching A+ hard, and then it’s all “Wait, you’re sick? Really…

Book Tropes: A Mail-Order Happily Ever After

2021-01-13

SE White

Blogging, Recommendations, Reviews, Romance Tropes, Top 10 Lists

Another trope rec post! This time the specific mood I’m in is that carefully arranged, sometimes mail-ordered happily ever after. I’ve always loved mail-order bride books (despite knowing arranged marriage is much more complicated in real life). This isn’t reality, this is fiction, and in fiction picking a partner like you’re ordering an entrée from a menu ends perfectly every time. For this list I’m focusing on the mail-order trope but including some of the more standard arranged-marriage books because…

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group Wants to Know: When Do You Drop The DNF Hammer?

2021-01-06

SE White

Blogging, Critique, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, Silliness

The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. You can find the group on social media with #IWSG. Every month a group of wonderful co-hosts steers us all towards meaningful discussion. We owe our January thanks to Ronel Janse van Vuuren (Hi Ronel!) J Lenni Dorner, Gwen Gardner Sandra Cox, and Louise – Fundy Blue! January 6 question – Being…

Insecure Writer’s Support Group October

2019-10-02

SE White

Blogging, Insecure Writer's Support Group Post, Silliness, Top 10 Lists

It’s the first Wednesday and you know what that means! Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Awww, yeah. Come bask in the support, my friends, and know you’ve entered a judgement free zone. Possibly the only one left on the flame filled inter-web. As always you can sign up to be part of the group here. The awesome co-hosts for the October 2 posting of the IWSG are Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Mary Aalgaard, Madeline Mora-Summonte, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor! The optional question this month…

Write All The Tropes

2018-03-23

S.E. White

Blogging, Reviews, Romance Tropes, Silliness, Top 10 Lists

I spend a lot of time over at Books Rock My World bashing on tropes. And yes, they do deserve a bashing. Overused or done with a heavy hand, tropes smother and choke a story. Poking holes in them doesn’t mean that I dislike tropes, however! They are classic for a reason. Having that feeling of familiarity is comforting, and helps me invest with the characters as they go through their story. To me, tropes are both the foundation of…

Rejected Book Titles

2017-12-23

S.E. White

Blogging, Holiday Wishes, Silliness, Top 10 Lists

So self-publishing is a thing, which is awesome. The author has total control over content, editing, cover art and titles. Like every great power, though, this is one that has to be used responsibly. When it comes to titles, this power is sometimes *too* mighty. Look, I know titles are hard but there are certain guidelines that exist for a reason. With this handy visual in mind I wandered over to the big list of free Book Title Generators over at Kindlepreneur.com (which you…

Books Rock My World

2017-06-08

S.E. White

Blogging, Romance Tropes, Silliness

All of my pieces on the Books Rock My World site, in one place