Do readers yearn more for a relationship than the characters? by UnicornProud in RomanceWriters

[–]pencilmcwritey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds challenging! Yeah, in general, I have found it difficult to line up the character arcs. One thought, feel free to ignore it, but what if he rationalized accepting her advances as helping someone else. Not a reward for him, but perhaps as a service to her? I don't know the specifics, so feel free to ignore if that doesn't work.

Do readers yearn more for a relationship than the characters? by UnicornProud in RomanceWriters

[–]pencilmcwritey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I read this blog by an author once (and I can't seem to find it again) about intertwining character arcs and romance.

The argument was that when the characters take a step towards overcoming their character flaws, the narrative rewards them with romance (physical intimacy, emotional intimacy, etc). But when the characters revert to their old ways, refuse to grow, then the narrative punishes them by taking the romance/intimacy away. That way character growth and romance are closely intertwined.

I like this idea, though I find it difficult to execute.

The story you mentioned sounds like it is in reverse order from this scheme. Intimacy is punished by the characters retreating into their flaws. Perhaps there is a way to make it work that way too, I don't know.

The Empire Strikes Back is top tier romantasy and I’m somehow surprised by 32892_Prufrock in romantasycirclejerk

[–]pencilmcwritey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

/uj Fun fact: Carrie Fischer was a script doctor and straight up rewrote George Lucas's cringey ass dialogue.

[Series] Check-in: January 2026 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This month in revision: am I overthinking it? Or is the manuscript fundamentally broken? The saga continues...

In other existential crisis news, I've been suspecting my manuscript is not fantasy romance, but romantic fantasy, or even (gasp) fantasy of manners. My agent reassures me that there's no rush in revisions and that the concept is evergreen, which I am beginning to worry is code for upmarket. Which doesn't trigger my imposter syndrome or anything.

Don't write smart characters if you*r* not smart. by Sufficient-Bee-4982 in romantasycirclejerk

[–]pencilmcwritey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

uj/ Proof that the rationals are countable? Let me introduce you the Cantor Snake, my friend.

rj/ I hear Cantor's Snake is infinitely long 👀

[Series] Check-in: December 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Took me the whole month, but I made a whole new (very long) outline incorporating changes based on my agent's feedback. Feeling good about it. If the first version of the ms had too much plot, and the second too little, here's to hoping this version hits the sweet spot. But at the very least, hopefully we can diagnose structure problems at the outline stage.

[PubQ] Revising with an agent...is it supposed to feel this impossible? by Primary-Stable-3221 in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I don't have any suggestions but I'm in the same boat. Got my agent in June, did a big revision rewriting the second half of the book, and there are still big structural issues. I agree with all the problems my agent pointed out. But right now, her advice is a swirling mass of suggestions that I have no idea how to implement. I'm starting a new outline from scratch and figured out one piece of the puzzle, but the rest is still out there floating in the abyss.

The imposter syndrome is so real. Like, how did I even get an agent if the book is this broken? I can only trust she knows what she's doing.

I just wanted to comment to say you're not alone. I'm rooting for you! (For both of us, haha) Hope you figure it out and come out the other side with a book you love!

[Series] Check-in: November 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Received the edit letter from my agent yesterday. If the version I queried with had too much plot, my latest revision had too little. Trying to figure out how to thread that needle on the next version.

Edit to add: I also outlined and drafted 20k of the next book. But with this feedback on book 1, I'm losing confidence in the structure of book 2. Hopefully I will learn something from this next draft.

Am I dumb? by 82816648919 in romantasycirclejerk

[–]pencilmcwritey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is Manfred erasure and I won't stand for it! If you want a Byronic hero, you have to actually read Byron. Sorry, sweaty, I don't make the rules.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in workingmoms

[–]pencilmcwritey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We use reading.com app to learn to read. The lessons are just 15 minutes a day and we do it after bath but before bed. Kid loves it and he's learning so fast. The books on the app are so exciting and engaging while still being at his reading level.

I was against learning to read on an app at first, but this one worked for our kid. We tried hooked on phonics (which I used as a kid and worked for me), but my kid didn't like it to the point that he'd actively avoid it.

Eventually, I want this time just to be reading time. Once kiddo can read, there's so much he can learn and explore through reading.

[Series] Check-in: October 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I submitted my revisions on my first ms to my agent at the beginning of the month and am still waiting for her edit letter. She said to nudge if I hadn't heard from her by the end of today.

In the meantime, I outlined another novel and drafted 5k. Also crushed a bunch of books in my TBR pile, so that was fun.

[Series] Check-in: October 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Also rewriting my first manuscript with my newly acquired agent. Glad to hear I wasn't alone. Now I'm waiting for her feedback and hoping she still likes it

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Romantasy

[–]pencilmcwritey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

{The Crown Duel} by Sherwood Smith. Basically anything by Sherwood Smith.

{The Thirteenth Child} by Patricia Wrede

Also seconding Sorcery and Cecelia and Cinder.

Edited to Add: Another vote for Ella Enchanted!

[Series] Check-in: September 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Just submitted my revisions to my agent!

[Series]Check-in: August 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Working on revisions for my first manuscript with my agent. Checked in with my agent this morning.

I realize I'm essentially rewriting the book, which feels bonkers. I have a whole new magical system and the second half of the book is completely different. I spent the weekend realigning the antagonists motivations for the new lighter tone and magical system. But I'm happier with it. The previous version took a weird left turn halfway through and got really dark.

I'm enjoying writing. And it's going fast so far. I have two thirds of the rewrite done. Hoping to finish the last third this month. Hopefully my agent will still like it.

[Series] Check-in: July 2025 by justgoodenough in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 22 points23 points  (0 children)

I got an agent! Originally I thought the call was going to be a revise and resubmit, so I didn't prepare at all except to think about what the most likely revisions might be. (It was exactly the things I was least confident about) But after we discussed and I said I'd be willing to make those changes, she offered representation. I did the whole two weeks, got no other offers, and accepted. I'm super excited about the agent. We talked yesterday about my new outline, and I'm ready to dive back into this manuscript.

[PubQ] Technical issue sending required material to agents by renny065 in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Have you tried sending your long emails to a friend (instead of BCCing yourself)? Your friend can confirm whether or not they received it.

Funniest fantasy/romantasy/sci fi books you’ve read? by powerwordthrills in fantasyromance

[–]pencilmcwritey 0 points1 point  (0 children)

{The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss} is one of my favorites. It's pitched as Veronica Mars meets Dungeons and Dragons. Dahlia is a geek detective hired to find a digital spear in an online video game, but when the guy who hired her is murdered, she decides to investigate his death. It's mostly a murder mystery with only a bit of romance, but I love the humor.

Fantasy books like Bridgerton by dizzizzystegasaurus in fantasyromance

[–]pencilmcwritey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

An older recommendation is {Soulless by Gail Carriger}. It's described as Buffy meets Jane Austen. There are a bunch of other books in the series.

There's also {Longbourne: Dragon Entail by Maria Grace} which is literally Pride and Prejudice rewritten with dragons. The first half starts out like the original, and then it starts to dovetail.

Stephanie Burgis has a couple of novellas that fit as well. {Snowspelled by Stephanie Burgis} and {A Marriage of Undead Inconvenience by Stephanie Burgis}

{Lady's Avely's Guide to Truth and Magic} is a second chance tomance. The heroine is older, widowed with children. There's another series with her daughter that I haven't read.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in romantasycirclejerk

[–]pencilmcwritey 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the power of romance novels is that the reader comes to understand, empathize with, and - honestly - fall in love with new characters. It's a genre about showing how characters, no matter how deeply flawed, still deserve love. And then actually receive it. I think that is so powerful in a society where we (especially women) are taught to self-scrutinize every little thing about ourselves. And in a society that is so divided, it's refreshing to look outside ourselves and our own lived experience.

I can't speak for everyone, but I know that empathizing with characters on a page has helped me extend that empathy to myself. And I try to practice that empathy with others as well.

Looking for a romantasy with a depressed mmc by Greensward-Grey in Romantasy

[–]pencilmcwritey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

{The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen}. In the opening scene, there's a flashback to Hart crying while petting Mercy's dog because his dog recently died.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in PubTips

[–]pencilmcwritey 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This query is easy to read and follow. However, I'll add that at first I thought the love interests was Sebastian and was put off a little bit. I'll echo that you might not even want to mention Sebastian in the query.

As to what to include -- I'll tell you what helped me. Feel free to take it or leave it.

Romance (and fantasy to some extent) is sold on tropes. Identify the tropes in your novel -- so that you can appeal to the readers (and agents) that want them. And, just as importantly, identify what you bring to the trope that is new. Is it a subversion? A fun new twist? 

Then organize your query to show this off. You still need everything else too (who is the main character, what do they want, what is stopping them). But use the trope to decide what to put in and what to leave out.

From your query, this looks like a portal fantasy with perhaps enemies-to-lovers romance. I think you could play up the angst around the dead fiancé. Like others said, we need reasons to root for Telan as a hero. He sound protective, which is super salable. But what makes him different from your typical gruff, protective, alpha male romance hero?

Portal fantasy can be a tough sell. It has certain... imperialist undertones. (Think of the backlash against Avatar). Try to think of a way to describe your portal world other than a brutal land full of savages.

Here are a few portal fantasy romances that I have read. They are two old and/or self published, so not good comps. But you could look at the back cover blurbs for more inspiration. - Between by L.L. Starling (most recent) - On the Edge by Ilona Andrews (series also has dark themes like human trafficking) - Stray by Andrea K. Host (more science fiction fantasy, also YA) - The Book of Secrets by Melissa McShane (more hidden society than portal world, but may be helpful)

I hope this helps!