Kissing Books Critique

By Jenna McCall, Vicki Hilton, Heather Ryder

Your place for step-by-step editing of our work, line by line in some cases, big picture in others. We talk about what works and what doesn't, from adverbs and passive voice to deep POV and charact

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FAQs about Kissing Books Critique:

How many episodes does Kissing Books Critique have?

The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.

Kissing Books Critique episodes:

April 09, 2025 Starting Off Wobbly: Why First Chapters Are So Hard
We’re back—and just a little too excited about it. In this giddy return to the pod, Jenna reads the first chapter of Heather's current WIP, featuring Mason and Ronnie, two characters with too much communication and a whole lot of tension. Vicky brings the critique, and together we dive into why first chapters are so dang hard to get right. Spoiler: nobody’s first draft is sacred. Join us as we navigate awkward openings, info-dump avoidance, and the very real struggle of finding your voice on page one.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 24min
March 26, 2025 Enemies, Tension, and a Slow Burn Done Right
In this episode of Kissing Books Critique, we dive into the art of the slow burn—how to build tension, keep characters at odds, and make every stolen glance count. We tackle passive voice, repetition, and the sneaky ways setting (or lack of it) can impact a scene. Plus, a broody hero fights his feelings, a teasing heroine turns up the heat, and Jenna finally hits her storytelling groove. But can we resist the urge to overanalyze every single word? Tune in to find out!

Subscribe now and follow us on Facebook at Kissing Books Critique!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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52min
March 12, 2025 Revisions, Rainstorms, and One Charismatic Critiquer
Deadlines are closing in, but that doesn’t stop us from diving deep into revisions, refining character depth, and debating the logistics of stormy bar scenes. In this episode of Kissing Books Critique, we analyze pacing, emotional resonance, and the fine line between evocative and overwrought prose—while also getting delightfully derailed by demanding cats, unexpected movie comparisons, and the eternal struggle of describing lace. Plus, Vicki’s charisma takes center stage, whether she’s ready or not.

Join the chaos, sharpen your craft, and subscribe now! Follow us on Facebook at Kissing Books Critique!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 8min
February 26, 2025 Love Scenes SOS
Too many hands, too many mouths, and one big stylistic leap—welcome to the final episode of our Valentine's love scene critique special! This week, we’re unraveling the mysteries of rogue body parts, refining intimacy on the page, and celebrating Heather’s bold new writing style. Can we keep things steamy and sensical? Tune in to find out!

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and follow us on Facebook at Kissing Books Critique!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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59min
February 19, 2025 The Butterflies and the bees and the... logistics
Love scenes: the good, the bad, and the logistically impossible. In this episode of Kissing Books Critique, we’re diving deeper into what makes a love scene work—breaking down sensuality, pacing, and those little details that can make or break the moment. From crafting multi-sensory experiences to avoiding accidental acrobatics, we’re here to make your steamy scenes sizzle.

Subscribe now so you never miss an episode, and follow us on Facebook at Kissing Books Critique!
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 4min
February 12, 2025 The Smutty Bits
We’re back, just in time for Valentine’s Day—and things are heating up! Love them, hate them, or struggle to write them, love scenes are the heart (and heat) of romance, and for the next three episodes, we’re pulling back the covers to critique what makes them sizzle—or fizzle.

As Pink would say, "Got me lit like a candlestick"—that’s the goal! Let’s turn up the heat and make these scenes unforgettable.

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1h 6min
April 16, 2024 Avoid White Room Syndrome
Beats v. stage direction. Setting, setting, setting! Goals, motivation and emotions. Texts being an awesome narrative tool.

We made a couple of references to books this episode. The first was Dwight V. Swain's Techniques of the Selling Author. Mr. Swain discusses scene-sequel and motivation-reaction units. Excellent book despite being pretty dang old. The other book was Lisa Hall-Wilson's Method Acting For Writers: Learn Deep Point Of View Using Emotional Layers, which discusses, remarkably enough, deep point of view. Links for both below.

Swain's Techniques for the Selling Author.

Method Acting For Writers: Learn Deep Point Of View Using Emotional Layers

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1h 18min
April 03, 2024 Details, Details, Details
Setting matters. Romance and smells. Logistics and towels! NOTED!
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1h 12min
March 20, 2024 Do You Have Enough Internal Dialogue?
Size doesn't matter, and neither does quiche. Parkling Spink anyone? Moving with the social times in our writing. Heather takes us to school on attention to detail. Vicki's still living in the nineties. Internal thoughts help drive a narrative.
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52min
February 21, 2024 Valentine's Day Special, Part 3
The last of our naughty adventures in crafting a fun love scene. Join us for our tipsy foray as we help our characters get all the right moves.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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1h 5min

FAQs about Kissing Books Critique:

How many episodes does Kissing Books Critique have?

The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.