I’ve been visiting some writers’ web sites and noting the criticisms writers have received and their responses to that criticism. And the responses of third parties, which is of some significance in the blogosphere. You read something on a web site, and you fire off a flip comment. Boom. You’ve flamed someone. They respond. Or  … Read more

I just finished reading a story in which the hero was a dolt. A very sexy dolt, but a dolt nevertheless. He was rich, and rich men are idols of fantasy regardless of dolt status. Women like to think that successful romance with a rich man would be the ultimate pleasure. Or maybe the ultimate  … Read more

I went to a movie in which a romantic teenage girl in the boondocks falls hard for a worldly older boy from the big city. She’s been waiting all her life to meet her true love, and she decides he’s it. So she daringly sends him a love letter. The very next day, he rejects  … Read more

I meant to post this a week ago, but I got so aggravated that I had to walk away for a while. Yes, even mild-mannered romance comic editors get testy. So, what was the problem? I went to this really annoying web site called BeaucoupKevin (dot)com on which a romance comic story entitled “I Don’t  … Read more

I’ve been doing some considering lately about what an outline is. This is because some of our hopeful writers who send submissions seem extremely puzzled when we ask to see an outline before we okay writing a script. The distinctive difference between writing for other people and writing just for yourself is that for other  … Read more

So, was I too harsh on women in my rant against Valentine’s Day? Oh, probably. We’re not all spoiled princesses. Far from it. Many of us don’t want lavish gifts. We just wish the men in our lives would show a little open affection occasionally. That’s because many of us are married to or involved  … Read more

Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us, and that means a lot of men are under pressure to perform (sound familiar?) and a lot of women have unrealistic expectations. Oh, it’s not that bad, you say. Men enjoy rushing out to the stores and buying cards and chocolates, jewelry and roses, and perfume and lingerie. Men  … Read more

My great-uncle was crazy about the Disney movie “Mary Poppins.” So much so that he went to see it again and again. (It came out in 1964, long before videotapes and VCRs brought movies into people’s homes on their own schedule.) At first I did not understand why he, a man of advanced years, was  … Read more

Even the word “dating” still makes me uncomfortable. When I got old enough to date, I was so shy I could barely talk to a boy, let alone imagine having a date with one. Eventually, I did have dates. But I didn’t know the rules. So I wasn’t good at it and I probably gave  … Read more

Over the weekend we had our first snow storm of the season in the DC metro area. So what better time to curl up with your laptop and enjoy a little romance. You can also put that laptop and your writing skills to use for the chance to win cash or prizes. Recently Tina Wainscott  … Read more