151: Let's Talk About Sex (in Romance Novels) - Interview with Robin Lovett

Hey there word nerds! Today we're doing something a little different.  I have here with me in person, author and DIY MFA Romance columnist, Robin Lovett! Robin is the author of two dark, sexy, romance novels, and is a super advocate for the romance genre.  Her next series, of three dark stalker suspense romances,  releases this summer through St. Martin's Press Swerve, beginning with Stranger. In our interview, Robin and I dive into the rarely spoken of domain of sex in romance writing, and tease apart the numerous craft elements of this complex and often overlooked genre.   In this episode Robin and I discuss: Why sex should or should not be included  a romance novel, and how to craft sex scenes the right way. How to create tension and faster pacing by switching back and forth between the hero and the heroine. How to craft a sympathetic anti-hero your readers will want a happy ending for. How to use the inner conflict within a character—the wanting and not wanting—to create steamier love scenes. What the business and legal aspects of romance writing entail, and how organizations like the Romance Writers of America (RWA) champions the genre. Plus, Robin's  #1 tip for writers. For more info and show notes: DIYMFA.com/151