Do you fear the line “Well, it’s not ALL crap” when you get your critiques? Merry and Pru can both relate! Merry provides some very sage advice about giving AND RECEIVING critiques—and we read the opening page of a brave listener’s novel. (Not actually so brave; it turns out to be excellent. Well done, Rich!)

Merry and Pru continue their journey into the world of hooks. Now that we've grabbed our reader's eyeballs, we need to keep them glued to the pages of our book. This is how to get our readers turning those pages and staying up way later than their bedtime.

Subtitled "Merry and Pru become hookers." Why do some books draw you in, chapters deep before you even realize you’re invested, while others are so sadly put-downable? What makes the lead of a book into a sharp, silvery hook that draws the reader on? Pru gets entirely overstimulated while Merry explains. Many, many great books are used as examples.

After some arguing and head-scratching, Pru and Merry decide there are eight overarching genres in romance, with a LOT of sub-strata below that. And we come up with a fistful of questions to ask about genre on the new Writer’s Block Party Podcast Discord server. Y’all come, now—hear??

Want to join us on the Discord server and answer some of these endless questions?? We'll be happy to send you the link. Email Merry at  [email protected] or Pru at [email protected]

Pru assumes this will be a useful discussion about pantsing vs. plotting and is IMMEDIATELY hit upside the head with a revelation from Meredith about the critical first step in the writing process. Dang, man! After Pru picks herself up off the floor, Meredith calmly returns to pantsing and plotting and more.

Link to Meredith's "Writing Journal," available on Amazon as a paperback and Lulu in spiral bound.

Today's podcast features a special guest star: Meredith's editor, Chris Hall (of theeditinghall.com), who stands up magnificently under the onslaught of Pru's questions. Once a teacher, always a teacher--the warmth and spirit of partnership that Chris brings to her work sets the standard for the author-editor relationship!

Chris Hall: http://theeditinghall.com

Chris writes as author Aubrey Wynne.

Merry and Pru discuss a recipe for character development: a teaspoon of Goal, a quarter teaspoon of Motivation, and a half a cup of Conflict. Mix vigorously with a trope, then bake at 350 for the length of your story. 

“Merry,” said Pru, “give me the straight skinny on dialogue in a romance, wilya?” “As it happens,” Merry replied, “I can tell you the seven things that dialogue brings to your story.” “Seven? Shut the front door!” Pru goggled in astonishment. “That’s an action tag, by the way,” said Merry. “I know. I paid attention!” Pru beamed with pride.

Far from being “cheats” or ways to ride the coattails of other writers, the trope (and especially the romance trope) is the skeleton on which you build your glorious story. Merry walks Pru through tropes and smiles when Pru has the “EUREKA!” moment of realizing that the trope is also a hugely-valuable marketing tool. Ignorance is banished today!

Show notes:

For Meredith's writer's blog: http://Meredithbond.com

For Mindy Klasky's amazing list of romance tropes: http://MindyKlasky.com

For a Wiki-based trope resource: https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Main_Page

For a Regency-centric blog (search for tropes):  https://riskyregencies.com/blogger/

What actually takes place once a self-published author’s book goes live? Three days after the launch of “Cyn & the Peanut Butter Cup,” Pru throws a word salad of launch news at Merry who laughs and reassures Pru that the launch is going well. Pru attempts to contain her panic and confusion. Onward—onward!