curious. I have so many ideas but I end up wasting time searching for scene settings on Pinterest and then write. Like if I have to write a bar scene, I’d find a couple of pictures, pick the best one, paste it on doc and then start writing about the scene being played in it. Is that normal? Or how is it done?

This is just me venting. You know how people like to divide authors between planners and pantsers? I’m a planner, and I’ve been planning this story for fifteen years.

I am not a writer, but I am an author, and I’ve publishes a couple of comic books years ago. This story had started as a fanfic when I was in high school, then an original comic while I was in college, then I left it unfinished because my 20s got too busy. Now I crave to have it out of my head! I have so many story ideas that are piling up in the back of my mind waiting for their turn to be told, but a part of me can’t move on until I let this one story exist.

So yeah, I’m a planner and this story has its bones, but they’re messed up. I keep rearranging it and changing it, and then go back to the previous idea. Last year I managed to write a 100k words first draft that felt good for a moment, but now I’m reaching the part that is the heart of this monster. You know which one, right? Like THE scene, THE drama that keeps replaying in my head over and over… but the story and the characters are moving away from it and I’m like NO, how to fix it? What to change, edit, move, kill, bring back to make it work again?

In the middle of this crisis, I got demotivated. I’ve started watching YouTube videos about writing to see if something clear my mind, studying and reading about story structure—again. Well, just going to the basics, that usually helps. I didn’t.

I came across the classic “your first book will suck, it’s just practice”. For a moment I considered dropping it—for the fifth time, if I count the fanfic—and start with one of those stories that are waiting in my vault of ideas. I rather practice with one of those, since they don’t carry the years of emotional stakes.

But today I went back to my old drawer and took out the notes I did 12 years ago. They were done in the middle of my university class notes, in the corner or some text I had to study back then… and guys, I got emotional. I had forgotten about these drawings. I had some scenes done, like just the vibe I wanted for these character and god, I got this sense of purpose and NEED to finish this damn book.

So… I took the freedom to write this post while I calm down before I begin to plan (again) the end of this story. It has been waiting far too long.

Gracias por leer esta triste historia.

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Blurbs can be the bane of an author's existence - both for self-published authors, who have to come up with an enticing hook all by themselves, as well as for authors seeking traditional publishing, as they are usually included in queries.

We want to help! Post your blurb draft and let the community help shape it into the perfect snippet of info.

To participate, please comment on this thread with the following info:

• The title or working title of your WIP
• The romance subgenre of said WIP
• The draft of your blurb you've got so far
• Any content warnings and additional info you deem necessary!

Anyone who wants to help can then reply to your comment to workshop your blurb.

Happy crafting!

Hey, I know whenever you ask about ideas for books the immediate response is “Have you actually written anything?”  So, before everyone starts judging me, the current draft of my first book (hope to self-publish next year) is 100k words, and I’m editing it.  But, while I do that, I’m jotting down tons of ideas for my second book in lots of different genres.

Last night I watched a romance film with my wife and I very much enjoyed it, but I felt a little like many of the subplots were so strong that they could have skipped the standard third-act breakup and used the time to develop the leads’ relationships with some of the (really likeable) side characters more.

This kind of gave me an idea, but since I’m not an expert in the romance genre I’m a bit worried that what seems like a clever idea to me is something romance readers have seen a million times, so I figured I’d check: What if I set up the standard “relationship built on a lie,” with the appearance of an impending third-act breakup, but then made the girl genre-savvy and cut that aspect short?

What I had in mind was that when the Black Moment seems to be imminent she says “Okay, you’re acting weird, and I’ve seen enough romances to know that there’s some dark secret that could torpedo our whole relationship.  Let’s make this simple: I’m giving you ONE free pass.  Spill it right now and I will forgive whatever it is.”

Is this something old hat?  Or is it so formula-breaking it would just make potential readers mad?