Behind the Book, My Story Process

People often ask where a romance novel starts for me, and the honest answer is: it could be lots of things.

It could be a feeling. Just a little spark that makes me think, Oh. I need to know what happens to them.

Somes times a a plot twist and I write a whole story around.

It might be an image in my head. A woman standing in the doorway of a small-town bakery, cheeks pink from the cold, and a man looking up like he forgot how to breathe. Or a single dad tightening his grip on his daughter’s hand when someone new steps into their world. That tiny moment becomes my “anchor,” the scene I build everything around.

The Characters

Next I meet the characters. I jot down their habits, hobbies, and hang-ups; what they want, what they’re afraid of, and what they’d never admit out loud. In sweet romance, I’m always chasing emotional stakes. A clean story can still feel intense when the hearts are on the line.

The Plot

Then I map a simple path, sometimes with a timeline if the plot is tricky: how they meet, what keeps them apart, what forces them closer, and the moment they finally choose love. I don’t need every chapter planned at this point, but I do need the big signposts. Otherwise I wander, and my characters start making questionable decisions just to entertain themselves.

The Scenes

After that, I fill in the scenes in each chapter and write the first draft, messy and fast. I let the scenes land, even if the wording is clunky, because momentum matters. Second pass is where the magic shows up: tightening the pacing, sharpening the banter, and making sure every tender moment earns its place.

The Polish

Finally, I polish for tone. Sweet romance should feel warm and safe, like a cozy blanket. When I’m done, I want you closing the book with a sigh, a smile, and that quiet certainty that love can be gentle—and still powerful.