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Clare calls TB the Emperor of Doom. Is she right, LWW listeners?
TB has started a new book, and she’s wondering why she keeps doing this to herself. Last week, she enjoyed outlining a book and all the shiny-new possibilities. Now, putting it into motion, TB can’t help but wonder why she has a career built around constantly needing words? Words are hard. Is this why Clare calls TB the Emperor of Doom? TB’s highlight of the week involved a day of pampering, including getting her hair done to hide her grays.
Clare’s week has revolved around addressing physical ailments, including a bad shoulder, angry forearm, and hinky hip. She also learned the hard way not to upset a mammogram technician before putting a boob in the torture device. To top off her week, Clare learned she has eyelid dandruff. On the writing front, her Xmas story is half-written. She’s quite pleased with it and got her parent’s approval. A total win!
Also, Clare finally reveals the title of her upcoming book!
The duo turns to this week’s topic: writing books in a series. Even though both of them are known for their series, neither set out to write one. Clare didn’t cotton to the fact she was penning a series until after book 3. Wowzers!
TB was resistant at first but got pulled into the Lizzie series after receiving so many “What happens next?” emails and messages.
They share their journeys and offer advice for how to set up a series, especially in the lesbian romance genre. Basically, don’t do what they did. The good news is they’ve learned so much, and hopefully, their wisdom can help others avoid certain series traps and manage reader expectations from the start. They outline the upsides to writing a series, along with the negatives. Then they bring it home by listing their future dos for how they’d approach a new series.
Series mentioned:
Clare’s London series: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/london-calling/
Clare’s All I Want series: www.clarelydon.co.uk/books/all-i-want-for-christmas/
TB’s Lizzie series: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/a-woman-lost-series/
Are you a series writer or reader? Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.
Stop back next week for an entertaining chat about strange places to set a sex scene. Yep, TB the prude will be squirming. You don’t want to miss it!
Happy listening!
Clare and TB
I am finally caught up with the podcast! I must admit that I will miss listening to it all day long though. I waws spoiled these past few days! *sad face here*
As a reader, I am learning new ways to read. Now I understand why certain scenes are set the way they are, even though I will still want to take a moment to rein in my frustration when a scene goes in the direction I don’t want it to go.
I just downloaded the first book in the Lizzie series. Planning on staring the London Romance series soon too.
Before I go, do you plan on doing a podcast on how to do a good book outline?
Hello Pierrette!
Wow, I’m impressed you made it through all the episodes!
It’s interesting to learn that listening is helping you understand why romance writers include certain scenes that cause readers to get frustrated. Most romances include them and the challenge is to make them seem inevitable, but also avoidable, to pull the reader into the story and experience all the feels of the moment. When I read a romance, I know that scene is coming and I’m always curious how it will manifest. Melissa Brayden pulls it off beautifully.
Thanks so much for starting the Lizzie series and I know you’ll love Clare’s British wit and charming leading ladies.
Have a fab day!
TB
Grinning at the London series – firstly, at the non-planning but also at the ways people perceive the characters. I thought Tanya was brilliant (she’s maybe my fave in all the books), but that Jess was a bit of an asshole. So glad London Calling wasn’t my first Lydon book.. 😀
It always amazes me how readers react differently to characters and stories. It took some time to feel comfortable making certain decisions and understanding it’s impossible to please everyone so you have to write the story that speaks to you. Clare did that with Tanya and it worked.