The Write Stuff

🖊 A Maple writes | She/Her | 40s 🖊 💖 Writer for Lovestruck (Yvette & Xenia), Loveverse, & MeChat Apps 💖

[this-is-lit]

what writing achievement are you most proud of?

Being nominated for a genre award 🥰

[this-is-lit]

is it a set in stone that in romance m/f pairings the protagonist is female?

Having an FMC as the romance protagonist is the norm and the most marketable, but if you research your target audience, you can find publishers and promotional options to market a MMC protagonist.

[this-is-lit]

What's the weirdest decisions you've ever made while writing a story?

That I could do this for a living 😅🙈

[this-is-lit]

Tips on a side character love story within a typical romance?

My opinion is to focus only on one romance story at a time. If you love your burgeoning romance between side characters, I suggest you only give them on-page time through the eyes of your MC(s), but even then, keep the b-plot off page.

For example: your FMC's BFF tells her about a lunch she had with MMC's friend in service of the plot (maybe BFF was doing reconnaissance) and briefly mentions the two of them hit it off. Throughout the story, the BFF mentions further meetings in passing, or FMC sees them together at a party being chummy before she finds the MMC to do Plot Things.

If you want to do a series, this is a great way to soft launch your next two love interests. Recently, I've seen author Danielle L. Jensen execute this successfully with her "Bridge Kingdom" series.

[this-is-lit]

In dialogue if my character is listing off points in argument (a, b, c, 1, 2, 3) how would you write that? Thanks for your help!

Suggestions:

"I don't want to go to the beach because: a, it's sandy; b, it's too far; and c, it's way too hot!"

or

"I don't want to go to the beach," said said, "because first of all," she held up a finger, "it's sandy. Second of all," she held up a second finger, "it's too far. And lastly," she waved three fingers, "it's way too hot!"

or

"I don't want to go to the beach," she huffed. "One it's sandy. Two, it's too far. Three, it's way too hot!"

[this-is-lit]

When signing up for ACR review sites, should I use my real name or a pen name?

That depends!

Are you trying to make a name for yourself as an author under your legal name? Or is this a side gig you wouldn't want an employer to stumble across?

[this-is-lit]

When shortening a word ('cause, 'till, 'scuse) should the mark be straight or curly?

Some fonts will do eitehr automatically, but smart (or curly) quotes is the preferred use by professional editors to denote "open" and "close". So, technically, it should be ‘cause to show that the word is closed after the mark.

[this-is-lit]

With multiple POVs in a romance, who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist?

If you have a romance with two MC POVs, you'll want to choose the protagonist based on your target audience. Are you writing a Harlequin for cis women? Best bet is to make the FMC your protagonist. For BDSM lovers? Best best is to make the sub your protagonist.

Do your research!

[this-is-lit]

Do you do prompt challenges?

I'm note sure specifically what you're asking, but:

I used to do the October daily challenges, and I may again in the future, but I started to find them too stressful.

If you're asking about writing sprints, no. I hate those 🤣, though I know people who swear by them.

[this-is-lit]

POV for love stories?

Typically it's 1st person, though I'm hearing rumblings 3rd person is becoming more popular.

I actually really like 2nd person, but most readers HATE that POV.

[this-is-lit]

When I have writer's block, I use the "Call of Writing" app, which thas a lot of prompts. Do you use it?

I don't use the app, but it sounds like a good resource!

My preference is joining writer's groups that you can workshop with.

[this-is-lit]

How do you recommend going from past to present day?

I would recommend using a number of devices.

To start off, obviously use a past and present tense to differentiate what time period the reader is in.

If you're changes are by chapter, you can add in the time difference by subheading, e.g. Chapter 10, 1976. Use asterisks or a horizontal bar if your time change comes mid-chapter.

Some writers like putting past events or flashbacks in italics instead of or in addition to the above options, but my preference is only to use italics for dreams or song lyrics.

[this-is-lit]

Has writing a character ever changed who you are as a person?

Not in any way I've noticed.

Personally, as a writer, I'm always considering different POVs as thought exercises, so maybe once has and I haven't noticed!

[this-is-lit]

how do mpreg birth work?

Thank you for making me chuckle.

If you want a good sampling, I'd advise you to delve into the Omegaverse to see different author's takes on the subject.

Typically it's handwaved away, but I've seen a number of stories where the cervix opens during heat and labor into the anus, which biologically acts like the birth canal during these occasions. There's still some handwaving here, but that's what I've seen!

[this-is-lit]

Do people's pupils actually darken during sex?

Pupils dilate, which makes them appear darker. It's linked to arousal, but arousal is more of a subset of pupils dilating due to positive reactions. Basically, your pupils can dilate with any positive or happy emotion (or in a dark room to get more light.)

Futher reading: Science Daily NLM

[this-is-lit]

Typically the story's protagonist is the one that usually needs to learn something and the antagonist is the one that challenges their status quo. Could this be reversed? How?

Yes, "anti-hero" fiction exists. See: Megamind or Soon I Will Be Invincible by Austin Grossman.

No matter the genre, you need an inciting incident to spur your MC to action. Always try to have the narrative character-driven, but obviously a quest is going to have more focus on an overarching plot than a romance story, whose focus is on the romantic relationship.

[luna-azzurra]

List of 40 character flaws

Stubbornness, Unyielding in one's own views, even when wrong.

Impatience, Difficulty waiting for long-term results.

Self-doubt, Constant uncertainty despite evident abilities.

Quick temper, Excessive reactions to provocations.

Selfishness, Prioritizing one's own needs over others'.

Arrogance, Overestimating one's own abilities.

Trust issues, Difficulty trusting others.

Perfectionism, Setting unreachable high standards.

Fear of change, Avoiding changes.

Haunted by the past, Old mistakes or traumas influencing the present.

Jealousy, Envious of others' successes.

Laziness, Hesitant to exert effort.

Vindictiveness, Strong desire for revenge.

Prejudice, Unfair biases against others.

Shyness, Excessive timidity.

Indecisiveness, Difficulty making decisions.

Vulnerability, Overly sensitive to criticism.

Greed, Strong desire for more (money, power, etc.).

Dishonesty, Tendency to distort the truth.

Recklessness, Ignoring the consequences of one's actions.

Cynicism, Negative attitude and distrust.

Cowardice, Lack of courage in critical moments.

Hotheadedness, Quick, often thoughtless reactions.

Contentiousness, Tendency to provoke conflicts.

Forgetfulness, Difficulty remembering important details.

Kleptomania, Compulsion to steal things.

Hypochondria, Excessive concern about one's health.

Pessimism, Expecting the worst in every situation.

Narcissism, Excessive self-love.

Control freak, Inability to let go or trust others.

Tactlessness, Inability to address sensitive topics sensitively.

Hopelessness, Feeling that nothing will get better.

Dogmatism, Rigidity in one's own beliefs.

Unreliability, Inability to keep promises.

Closed-offness, Difficulty expressing emotions.

Impulsiveness, Acting without thinking.

Wounded pride, Overly sensitive to criticism of oneself.

Isolation, Tendency to withdraw from others.