The podcast is taking a break, but I'm still writing breakdowns. You can find them on my Substack at https://ineswrites.substack.comبقلم Ines Johnson

One of the four types of deceptions in a romantic comedy is the Magic Potion Deception. Magic potion deceptions in romantic comedies like "Splash," "Mannequin," and "Penelope" offer love and acceptance through the lens of magical realism. Be it a mermaid, a mannequin or a cursed woman, each film cleverly uses the magic potion deception to challenge…

One of the four types of deceptions in a romantic comedy is the Bet Deception. The bet deception is all about trying to win against the odds, but the characters wind up falling down hard -falling in love that is!بقلم Ines Johnson

One of the four types of deceptions in a romantic comedy is the Identity Deception. Identity deception in romantic comedies can involve characters concealing or misrepresenting their true selves or the nature of their relationship, leading to a series of laugh out loud situations before culminating in an emotional revelation.…

One of the four types of deceptions in a romantic comedy is the Merry War. The "Merry War" deception in a romantic comedy happens when the romantic partners engage in a playful, antagonistic, and/or competitive relationship that masks an underlying attraction or affection. This tension-filled interplay is characterized by witty banter, humorous dis…

By treating your setting with the same care and detail as you would a character, you can create a rich, immersive world that captivates readers and enhances the emotional impact of your story known as Anthropomorphizing.بقلم Ines Johnson

The marriage of convenience trope has a rich history that mirrors societal views on marriage, love, and individual agency. From strategic alliances in ancient times to a tool for social critique and exploration of personal desires in modern literature, this trope has evolved significantly, always offering fresh insights into the human experience of…

If we think about scene launches, purposeful middles, and punctuated endings, we can keep readers turning those pages at a fast and satisfying pace.بقلم Ines Johnson

In this special tips and tricks episode, learn some tools to use in crafting a swoony hero and a strong heroine.بقلم Ines Johnson

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's The Guardians of the Galaxy using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.بقلم Ines Johnson

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's Thor using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.بقلم Ines Johnson

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's Black Panther using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.بقلم Ines Johnson

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's Doctor Srtange using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.بقلم Ines Johnson

In this episode, I'm breaking down Marvel's Incredible Hulk using Blake Snyder's Five Part Finale from the Save the Cat Plotting Method.بقلم Ines Johnson

I've noticed eight rules for packs in shifter romance. Wanna know what they are? Listen to this episode on Paranormal Pack Rules!بقلم Ines Johnson

Have you been paying attention to the evolution of the Cinderella story? Young girls and women are no longer waiting around for a man to come by on his horse, sweep them off their feet, and give them shoes…Okay, I doubt any of us would turn down the shoes!بقلم Ines Johnson

In “Moll Flanders,” Daniel Defoe aimed to pen a tale of a heroine who faced a life of poverty, perversion, and penitence. Instead, the title character was an unlikeable heroine with surprisingly few empathetic qualities and a negative character arc showing that not women are heroines.بقلم Ines Johnson

To become a Darcy, a hero needs the Five M's. Misunderstood Character(istics) Mistreat the Heroine Movement towards Awkwardly Pursuing the Heroine Magnanimity: an Act of Kindness Missive Swoonworthy Declaration of Loveبقلم Ines Johnson

A BM is a big misunderstanding. What? What did you think it was? This is my least favorite craft technique. I also don't appreciate them as a reader. But I've found that they abound as a plotting device in early romances like "The Flame and the Flower" by Kathleen E Woodiwiss. In this episode, I break it down.…

I presented my first academic paper on romance. It got rave reviews and I'd like to present it to you in two parts. It's entitled From Bodice Rippers to Booktok. Ready? Here's Part 2!بقلم Ines Johnson

I presented my first academic paper on romance. It got rave reviews and I'd like to present it to you in two parts. It's entitled From Bodice Rippers to Booktok. Ready? Here's Part One!بقلم Ines Johnson

Grand gestures are significant in romance as they heighten emotions and often bring about resolution or clarity in relationships. They're powerful tools in a writer's arsenal to amplify the romantic stakes. If you're plotting scenes, integrating such moments can evoke strong reactions from readers. FIVE TYPES OF GRAND GESTURES Declaration: The gest…

The Dark Moment is a crucial scene in a romance novel, where the hero and/or heroine face a major obstacle or challenge that threatens to tear or keep them apart. This moment typically occurs towards the end of the story, and creates a sense of tension and conflict that the hero and/or heroine must overcome in order to achieve a happy ending. Here'…

In the romance genre, the "fun and games" phase is pivotal, marked by budding connections and escalating stakes. 1. Buddy Love: From initial friction to deep bonds, relationships often mirror dynamics from buddy films like Lethal Weapon. 2. Romance Beats: Gwen Hayes highlights the crescendo of feelings, leading to relationship turning points. 3. Ob…

The "Meet Cute" is the memorable first encounter in romance. Four key elements define this moment: 1. Setting: From Pride and Prejudice's Victorian backdrop to Fifty Shades' modern city. 2. Trope: Common narratives, like "opposites attract," set the emotional stakes. 3. Attraction: Mutual allure as in Romeo and Juliet, or one-sided interest like in…

Story beginnings vary, but empathy remains key. How do we make readers connect with our characters instantly? 1. Highlight Extraordinary Qualities: Think Buffy's strength or Sherlock's intellect. 2. Position in a Unique World: Like Mark Watney's survival on Mars or the Gilmores in quirky Stars Hollow. 3. The "Save the Cat" Moment: Showcase a kind a…

Genres like comedy, science fiction, and horror have their classics, but what defines quintessential romance? From iconic authors such as Kathleen E. Woodiwiss to modern BookTok faves, we delve into romance's evolving heart. We'll trace tropes from the 'bodice ripper' era, understand the enduring allure of 'enemies to lovers', and see how societal …

Ines Johnson is having a bit of a breakdown... so she's going on summer break!بقلم Ines Johnson

Grab your copy of my Give Me a Beat worksheet to help you craft your next amazing love story! https://ineswrites.com/give-me-a-beat-docx/بقلم Ines Johnson

These episode is all about the Romance Beats. Want to make sure readers fall in love with your love story? Then be sure and follow these seven beats! ORDINARY WORLD MEET CUTE ADHESION FUN AND GAMES Dark Moment Grand Gesture HEA or HFNبقلم Ines Johnson

Mysteries and Thrillers are similar in beats with a few differences. Check out this episode to get clued into the mystery beats. THE CRIME ADHESION TO THE CASE INITIAL THEORY THREE SUSPECTS AND A KILLER REMINDER OF DANGER HERO IN PERIL (ALL IS LOST) SPEECH IN PRAISE OF THE VILLAIN/WHO DUNNIT RESOLUTION…

I believe there are 7 Beats -obligatory scenes that readers or viewers expect- in a thriller; particularly romantic suspense. Come learn all about The Crime or Threat Adhesion to the Case The Initial Theory Three Bangs and an Explosion Reminder of Danger Speech in Praise of the Villain (Why/How Dunnit) Resolution…

Want a breakdown of the beats of Paranormal Romance? This episode lists the nine beats I believe are common in all romances that feature werewolves, vampires, fae and other kinds of supernatural beings.بقلم Ines Johnson

You just finished writing thousands and thousands of words in your manuscript and told an emotional love story with kissing. But wait, you're not done. Now you have to write a couple hundred words to sell that story.بقلم Ines Johnson

Faith is a tricky subject when it comes to taking someone else's work and making it your own. Following Krevolin's rules of originality, seeking without destroying, keeping the key things, while maintaining the character arc can get you through adapting a work as short as a newspaper headline or as long as a 500-plus page novel.…

Did you know there's only four types of obstacles that your protagonist can face? They are an Antagonist, Physical Obstruction, Inner/Psychology Problems, or a Mystic Force. Let's break these four down with a trip to Disneyland! Want to learn more about pacing, try my courses Page Turner Pacing Course https://ineswrites.com/PTP Writing Sweet at ine…

There aren't three bases in the game of love. There are twelve. Find out the twelve levels of intimacy in this episode. Want to learn more about pacing, try my courses Page Turner Pacing Course https://ineswrites.com/PTP Writing Sweet at ineswrites.com/writingsweeبقلم Ines Johnson

In a romance novel, the love scenes should be integral to the plot. Otherwise it's just description that readers will gloss over to get back to the important action. Best beats or pacing points for a love scene are scenes of Growth, Setbacks or Regroups because those are scenes where characters tend to grow, learn, and evolve emotionally. Want to l…

In addition to the twelve pacing points that we talked about previously, each genre of popular fiction has beats that readers are expecting see or hear. If you don't hit these beats in your story its like a record scratch. Wanna know the beats I hear every time I read, write, or listen to a love story?…

Buttons are like punctuation marks. Like a period, exclamation point, or question mark, a button is a punctuation mark at the end of an act in a show or a scene (or chapter) in a book. To use these in writing treat the end of your chapters like commercial breaks and turn that last sentence into a question mark, or send in the ellipses in that last …

The Pet the Dog moment can be used to remind us of the stakes of your story before the big battle or ordeal your hero must face. But you can also use it for the villain, or the bad boy, to humanize them and add more conflict to your story by giving the reader pause to consider changing, or challenging, their loyalties.…

The Save the Cat scene is where we meet the hero and the hero does something to make us identify or empathize with them. I know of three ways to establish empathy and make readers instantly get the feels for characters.You showcase their extraordinary qualities. Or their ordinariness in an extraordinary world. Or you have them save a cat from a tre…

A better way to do an infodump of backstory is to use a Novice. The Novice enters the story when we do. They're also brand new to this world, but they're in the story so they can ask the questions we're dying to know, be shown the process of the way the world works, try to model the behaviors of the customs of the people, and make mistakes and get …

Next time you're tempted to write a prologue, determine if you might be better served by a teaser to give your readers a Slice of Life of your world, or Set Up your character's Story question that you'll answer by the end of the book.بقلم Ines Johnson

A teaser has three jobs; it had to be immediate, quick and grab attention. It gets you ready for the meat of the episode. It's like an amuse bouche that leaves you wanting more before you're served the main dish.بقلم Ines Johnson

In the battle of Plotters vs Pantsers, let's take a step back and look at the Pacing of your story.بقلم Ines Johnson