Top Highlights

• it is important to have an emotional reason to keep your hero and heroine in a conflict that does not entirely revolve around the suspense element. Internal conflicts like different beliefs, outlooks, or motivations, or the need to overcome a fear, trauma, or misunderstanding can allow your characters to help each other grow and heal. Let me repeat...
• You need to heal at least one emotional need apart from solving the suspense plot. Do not rely on your suspense plot as a crutch. Otherwise, there is no reason for your characters to stay together after the suspense is resolved.
• To design a perfect villain, start with an overarching flaw, such as hatred of women, disdain of the weak, hunger for world domination, thirst for revenge, or obsession for finding secrets. Give him an easily described ruling passion which drives his need to dominate. Envy. Lust. Power. Greed. What is his personality type? Is he persistent and dete...
• Seven Romance Plot Points · Hook – Something interesting about the character or her situation that causes the reader to want to find out more. · Cute or Not-So-Cute Meet: hero meets heroine. Show attraction and hint of conflict. Make it sparkle. · Locked and Loaded: A situation that glues the hero and heroine together along with enough conflict to ...
• Seven Suspense Plot Points · The Death Grip – The opening grips the reader with a dangerous threat. It could be the discovery of a body, an assassination, a car crash, a kidnapping, or an assignment to a mission. The opening image could either be an event in the distant past or something happening in real time. The hero is introduced with his motiv...