Tag: Romance

Looking for a spark.

Sara Mazariegos


Whoo boy, have I made some changes.

Remember when I said I was working on my holiday-themed story? I was hit by a creativity spark while reading my beta reader’s feedback on my other novel, so I’m planning to finish the holiday novel’s rewrites in November now (for NaNoWriMo+) and I’m working on rewriting the first story again.

I got a burst of inspiration last Friday as I looked through my notes for a romantasy story I was slowly starting to piece together. It clicked! I could combine elements of that story with my first story. My first story is so personal and matters so much to me. Like they discussed in today’s episode of The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, taking the time to really focus and hone the story I want to publish is important.

I don’t want to give up on it and leave it in a closet to die.

Since Friday, I’ve completely retooled the plot outline, making it follow the Save The Cat beat sheet. It has a real flow now, and the themes jump out much more than they used to. The conflict is much clearer. I’m so excited to work on this draft! I only wish I’d discovered STC sooner, so I wouldn’t have been such a strugglesaurus these past few years. But I know, thanks to WriterThreads, that I’m not alone.

I changed the title of the novel for the fourth time, too. Ha. It fits the story better, though it could’ve worked with the older drafts as well. That’s part of how I know it’s a good one. Titles change a bunch of times, though. I’m not getting attached to any of the ones I come up with.

Thanks to Carly Watters, I have another genre I can add to my pitch paperwork, too: autofiction.

Don’t be afraid to work on something else if you’re feeling stuck on something. Even if that something else is the thing you’ve already “finished” twice. 😉

Wish I knew what you were looking for.

Sara Mazariegos


My goal this week has been to take it easy. I’ve created a novel outline; I’ve thought of things to include in this new draft. I’m not letting myself start writing it until Monday.

Meanwhile, I’ve been reading The Other Side of Disappearing by Kate Clayborn. It’s so good. I need to read everything she’s ever written. Her writing style matches mine and my preferences in novels I like to read. I’m still obsessed with Georgie, All Along.

This go-around, I’m not going to worry so much about the publishing side of things. I want to focus on my writing and enjoy it. I figure the more “business” side can come later, once I’m sure I’ve got a manuscript worthy of the effort.

Short post this time. I said everything I wanted to say in the video above. Plus, I said it through burned lips.

That’s not a figure of speech.

Too much time on my hands.

Sara Mazariegos


The title is meant to be ironic because this week has been pretty busy for me. It’s also a good song by Styx.

I said in my video that I was at ~62k words, but my goal for today is actually ~64k. I’m proud of myself for consistently hitting the mark, or at least near the mark so I’m not struggling with way too much to write per day. I’ve learned!

My little living room laptop has been such a help. There’s something about sitting with limited Internet function that really helps my mind focus on writing instead of what x friend said on social media. I’ve started playing music on my phone, though, because Little Laptop can’t handle a tab of streaming music. 😂

One thing I’ve been working through is some unseen characters in my novel. They matter to the plot, but only vaguely. Without giving too much away*, they’re people in the FMC’s friend’s lives. At first, I thought, “Should I introduce them and have a scene with them?” but I’m realizing it doesn’t matter as long as they’re mentioned. It would slow things down to introduce so-and-so’s partner who doesn’t affect the MCs’ lives much.

I might still throw them in, for some added fun, but only because I want to, not because it’s necessary.

I don’t want to be like Dickens, throwing in a million new character names in the last pages of the story. Dickens was silly. I love him, but he was.

*I’ve read so many warnings about not sharing one’s writing online if you want it to get published, because publishers want exclusivity, etc. I get it, but it’s also hard because I love sharing things.

Sweet parody.

Sara Mazariegos


The daily prompt asks what my parents did when they were my age. They already had two kids. 😬

Another asks what the title of my biography would be. That would be telling.

I’ve gotten into Schmigadoon! recently. I just started season 2, and I love it so much because it’s parodying the musicals I enjoy (Chicago, Cabaret, Sweet Charity… a lot of Cs.)

The Project For Awesome officially starts on Friday! I’ve already donated $30 because of the perks John & Hank Green announced yesterday. We’ll see if I can’t stop myself from donating more…

On the writing front, I’ve reached 54K words! 🎉 I can take today “off” from writing since I’m ahead of my word count goal already, but I will probably still write a little today because I can’t stop myself from that either.

Today is Luis’s and my twelfth dating anniversary! We’ve been together as long as our cat Boo has been alive. We will celebrate this evening by ordering some Fancy French Door Dash and listening to Parisian cafe music, like the sophisticated people we are. The last time we did that, we ended up planning a trip to Paris.

🥖,

You got it down when you appear to be in pain.

Sara Mazariegos


This week has been so topsy-turvy.

First, it has been so snowy that I’ve worked from home two days and I’ll possibly have to do so tomorrow as well. Have I mentioned that I hate this time of year? I’ve never liked the cold, and snow makes everything so much harder. I say this as someone from Montana. I moved away from there when I was three, and I’m glad! 😛

Another big change this week is that the company I work for decided to move my desk from a little office in a corner everyone ignored to the main reception desk on our floor. I’m not a receptionist and social interaction is not my friend, so let’s just say my Bluetooth headphones are really going to come in handy.

They don’t expect me to be a receptionist. They just wanted to move someone into my office and this desk was empty. Fuuuuuun.

Anyway, my blog’s not meant for work woes.

I’ve been rewriting my novel and it’s going okay so far. I’m feeling the usual “Is this good? Do I write like a 4th grader?” feelings, but I’m noticing it’s a trend among writers to feel that way. Kate Clayborn posted on Threads that she felt similar about writing her latest novel. I love Kate Clayborn’s writing! So that made me feel much better.

One bit of exciting revision/developmental news: I finally figured out my romance novel’s hook! It took me far too long, but it was staring me in the face the whole time. I’m skewing the story in a different, but somehow also the same, direction and I’m excited! It’s going to be so cute (if I do say so myself.)

My husband has been THE BIGGEST help. Full credit to him for not only helping me when he doesn’t need to but also listening to me endlessly blather on about writing, my plot, and my ideas. He gives me suggestions to make things better rather than just saying “Yes, dear” and going back to playing Zelda, which he would be fully within his rights to do. He’s my quiet co-writer for a lot of it. ❤️

Hope you’re staying warm out there!

That ice is slowly melting.

Sara Mazariegos


As I read through my novel draft, I keep finding things I want to improve and/or cut. It’s eye-opening, even if it is also a bit frustrating. I’m planning to begin work on rewriting it next week. My goal is to basically “wrimo” my way to March 1st* and then take a break to read my other novel, and then trade places, etc.

It’s nice to have multiple projects to work on. Even if I want to scream “Why can’t you be perfect?!” at both of them.

One thing I’ve noticed I do as a writer (I’m sure I’m not the only one) is overexplaining myself. I’ll have my character (the narrator) say something, and then have an aside or sometimes just an additional thought that’s basically the same information, but in a joking way. I’ve crossed off these superfluous sentences more than twice so far. I wonder if I picked up that sort of writing from Marvel movies?

Either way, I’m annoying myself. Ha!

In other non-writing news, Luis and I are going to Disney World in April for my belated birthday, then back to Guatemala for another family wedding! We’re going to stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort for a special resort day to kick things off. To say I’m excited would be a vast understatement. 🥳

Get you a spouse who shares in your enthusiasm for things. It really is the best.

*giving myself about a month and a half to rewrite it since February is a short month, even with Leap Day.

So it goes.

Sara Mazariegos


Currently paused my writing at 48,484 to post this update. I do love it when my palindrome word counts look like that.

I didn’t reach the NaNoWriMo goal, but I plan to hit the 50,000 words today! Just have to knuckle down (well, fingertip down) and write through the mess.

The second draft will be a monster to edit and rewrite, but I’m looking forward to it because it will improve my story. That’s the point, right? I won’t even bother printing my first draft; there are too many changes to make. I don’t want to waste paper, darn it.

How did your NaNoWriMo go? Did you participate?

Until next time,

Some Perspective.

Sara Mazariegos

When I first started writing my current novel, it was in third person, limited, following the female lead as she flailed through the story (her words, not mine.) After receiving beta feedback, I switched it to first person, still in the female lead’s perspective so there was no illusion that I might go into any other character’s head. The story is Celeste’s.

It’s interesting to me how varied the opinions are on POVs in romance novels. I’ve read both that readers hate third person and that they love and expect it. I’ve also read that readers prefer first person because it allows them to feel immersed in the plot, but some say they dislike it because it limits things. First person has even been called “easy.”

In my experience, it isn’t easy to write in first person. I like being able to play with all of the toys in the box, so focusing on just the feelings and thoughts of one character is challenging. It’s more fun to write, though.

Third person seems like the more traditional POV. The classics generally use it. The story being told is presented clearly and all of the important angles can be reached. This can make a story a little more boring and distant.

First person, present tense is the devil, in my opinion. I don’t want to feel like I’m reading a choose-your-own-adventure story. I know a lot of people these days like it, but it feels almost too informal to me. I want my novels to tell me a story, not make me feel like I’m telling it. I don’t want strange men touching me.

I can imagine it if I want to, but when I read I feel him/his… in novels, it mostly makes me feel grossed out.

Anyway, that’s just my perspective.

It’s COMPlicated.

Sara Mazariegos

Okay, so now that I’m replotting my novel (BIG thanks to my husband for essentially becoming my writing partner these last several months. ❤️) I’ve been thinking about comparative novels again. Comps are important when you’re trying to find representation for your book, and they need to be fresh if not immediately current. I’ve been trying to get my rewrite done in a timely manner since one of my comps is from 2023 (perfect!) and one of them is from 2019 (ehh… I might need to get a new one.)

I’m learning as I go, and though I hit a low point recently, I’m still excited by the process and the potential of my novel. Though I’m rewriting and restructuring, I’m keeping as much of my original writing as I can, as much as still works. I’m confident the muscle of my story is still strong, it just needs a sturdier skeleton.

Queries go on the back burner for now. Queries are currently not my friend.

In other non-book news, who’s excited for Barbenheimer? My husband and I are planning to see both this weekend (one on Saturday, one on Sunday.) Friends will see Barbie with us. That seems like a great movie to see with friends. Oppenheimer might be as well if you and your friends are more macabre. I’m fully expecting to cry during that one.

A lot of great things are planned for after this weekend, actually. I’ve been staggering toward August when the fun starts. Birthday parties and fancy hotel stays and concerts and Atlantic City and Lizzie Borden’s house…

Have I mentioned we’re going to Lizzie Borden’s house? Oh, don’t worry. I will write about the experience.

Oppenheimer makes me sad yet the Lizzie Borden case makes me giddy. Make no mistake, I am macabre. Perhaps just a more compassionate macabre.

“Be more constructive with your feedback, please.”

Sara Mazariegos

Hip and with-it people reference Flight of the Conchords, don’t they?

After switching tracks with my novel, I submitted a new query letter to the query letter critique group I’m in. They seem to think that, because the novel focuses on the growth of the main heroine that it’s not romance. They suggested common romance tropes (like enemies to lovers, forced proximity, etc) are what make a book romance instead of women’s fiction. I’d argue that a novel doesn’t have to conform to (I’m sorry) tired plot themes in order to be a part of a genre. Plenty of romance novels show heroines going through stuff and the hero helps her out of it.

I’ve decided that I might submit my query letter as women’s fiction sometimes, and romance other times, and see what happens.

But first I need to finish revising it AGAIN. Don’t let it ever be said that I’m not a people-pleaser.