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TB published a surprise Lizzie novel! When COVID struck last year, TB realized Lizzie would be the one character who would freak out the most, and TB wanted to surprise her fans with a gift. Also, TB is at the halfway point on both her British novella and the cowrite with Miranda MacLeod. So, she’s published one book and has two more barreling toward the finish line. As Clare said, TB is cooking on gas.
Clare is trying to keep up her January pep. She’s booked her first editing date and commissioned 2 book covers. Woo-hoo! This is Clare’s launch week for Hot London Nights! While getting the book ready, Clare had another printer fail on the last 60 pages, naturally, because printers hate Clare. She’s on a roll with meditating every morning and yoga-ing. Sadly, Clare is still killing plants. Try to stay alive, Roscoe…
They move on to the main subject: Do your books follow a formula? The simple answer is yes. In order for books to offer all the feels with highs and lows, the story has to hit certain beats, taking the reader on a journey. This does not mean the story can’t be original. It’s one of the challenges for every author, to hit all the beats, but to do so with originality. And, don’t forget to add one necessary ingredient: conflict. Your character has to overcome it by the end.
Do you write to a formula?
Head over to www.lesbianswhowrite.com, and leave a comment on the episode. Or you can email them at: lesbianswhowrite@gmail.com.
Next week, they’ll breakdown what to think about during the final book edit.
Happy listening!
Clare and TB
Links:
First Chapter of Hot London Nights: www.clarelydon.co.uk/2021/01/hot-london-nights-first-chapter-preview/
Clare’s London Romance Books (Sale ends Jan. 25, 2021): payhip.com/custardbooks
Lizzie Books: lesbianromancesbytbm.com/books/a-woman-lost-series/
Nice concise explanation of formula for romance writing, with additional tips on style and preference from each,[which is in part a formula for your podcast each week–info; compare/contrast; add’l help]. Always beneficial and fun to hear.
On the previous episode, you asked if listeners found the podcast valuable, and my wife and I say yes. The information provided is always relevant and helpful, in part because of the subject matter offered, but additionally due to the presentation, which provides a live demonstration of process and method based on individual style or preference of Clare and/or TB. The podcasts also affirm and clarify the ins and outs of so many aspects of writing and self-publishing, so as a resource it’s a huge gift. It’s informal, fun, and free–nice for fans, but really helpful for writers. Similar to TB’s generous assist in networking for lesfic authors with IHL, I support the shift to a reasonable restructure of time which is simply a healthy decision and good modeling–so if LWW needs to space out episodes that’s also positive. Burn out or apathy does not equate to HEA. So, thank you for what you share, and hopefully it will continue in some form that works well for everyone involved.
Thanks Jan! Really pleased that the podcast is helpful, and yes, we plan to keep going. We just need to get our processes sorted, which we are doing. A productive start to 2021 for us both. I hope you’ve had the same!
Cheers,
Clare x
Formula still seems to be a bit of a dirty word around some parts of authordom, but it’s basically just the framing or scaffolding in a story, isn’t it? Helps us authors meet reader expectations more easily, especially when paired with our characters’ traits.
I use a similar list of plot points as you do, Clare, mainly in my early pre-writing phase. I don’t need to know the specifics of each major point, but as long as I have ideas on where/how/what for each one, I’m pretty good to start writing.
Formulas are also handy for beginning authors to navigate story structure – they certainly helped me early on.
I also use them to work out what could be wrong with a story when things just don’t feel right (speaking from the experience of putting a great story aside because I missed the Confession of Love point so everything after felt hollow *facepalm*).
Yes, I love story structure and the romance formula. It helps rather than hinders. I also love that you say it’s story scaffolding – great phrase and exactly right. Put the scaffolding up first, write the story, get all the key scenes in place, and then when you take the scaffolding away, the story should stand up on its own. I think I made that analogy work, right? ;0)
Writers who are a little snobby about the formula probably want to go off-piste. They’re welcome to do that, but just know, your readers won’t be happy.
Thanks for commenting and listening!
Clare x