A Purr-fect Love Match

by Jessica Eissfeldt from the August 5, 2024 issue

Tagline: Event planner Melissa didn't plan on her van breaking down on the way to a party...but when it did, it just so happened to lead her to a new love.

Observations: This story had a couple of things I thought I'd point out that you usually need.

1. Physical attraction - The editors have stated that they like to see this on the page. Eissfeldt did this many times in her story.

Her heart flipped.

Her pulse fluttered.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear even as her cheeks warmed.

As she took [the cat carrier], their fingers brushed, and warmth zipped through her.

"I'd love to," she replied, and her heart fluttered.

2. You should also establish the love interest's availability because in real life you can't just assume the man who called a tow truck for you is single. LOL

She noted he didn't wear a ring.

3. A black moment when you think "all is lost." This isn't actually mandatory. I've seen stories with no black moment. But usually, if you look really hard, there is one. This story's black moment was obvious.

He held her gaze as he smiled at her. But then he turned to open his driver's door.

Melissa wasn't sure what to think. Had she misread his kindness as something more?

Photo by Alan Cleaver via Flickr CC license

A Garden of Love in Bloom

by Stacey Weeks from the July 29, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Maria Lopez found solitude in her local community garden, she never expected it might also be the place she would stumble upon love.

Observations: This was a truly heartwarming story that spanned quite a lot of time. You'll notice it starts with the day they meet. Then an unknown amount of time goes by and we get another little snippet of their growing friendship. Another unknown amount of time goes by and we get the third act of the story in which David finally makes a move. This was my kind of story. There was no "rushed intimacy" or accidental touches while handing someone an object. In fact, David touches the brim of her hat first, in act two. Then he finally takes her hand in his, but it seems like a natural progression because they've spent so much time together. I truly got goosebumps when I read the end.

Photo by Aaron Baugher via Flickr CC license

The Handiest Man of All

 

by Bill Holton from the July 22, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Lauren hired a handyman to help fix her lawn mower, a classic name mix-up ended up leading her to another handsome helper.

Observations: This was a classic mistaken identity story, so well done. You can see how the mistake continues to be made very naturally. It's explained that there's a one hour minimum, which makes perfect sense, so that's why Lauren continues to find stuff for him to do. And when you read it the second time, it's really funny! Especially the reveal.

"I...I thought you were the handyman," she stammered. "You waved."

"I wave at a lot of people," Bill said. "Not many wave back. So I stopped to introduce myself, and when you told me your lawn mower wasn't working..."

Hilarious!

Then, that epilogue...

..."Not only [did she pay me anyway], but the guy gave me a double tip. I told them, "But I didn't do anything,' and you wouldn've thought I made the funniest joke, the way they laughed..."

10/10!

Photo by Ivan Radic via Flickr CC license

Love's Riddle

by Shelley Cooper from the July 8, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Ian was taking care of his nephew, Jonah, while his parents were away, he ahd to find a way to keep him from becoming homesick. But little did Ian know, his tactic to make Jonah smile would lead to an instant connection with his beautiful neighbor, Claire...and turn into true love. 

Observations: I loved the idea of the kid's joke stand! It's the lemonade stand turned on its head. What a great way to subvert that trope. Ms. Cooper is a master and this description of the hero is so good.

A rumbling chuckle drew Claire's attention to the man standing watch a few feet behind Jonah. He had eyes the color of ripe blueberries, tousled brown hair and an off-kilter smile that did funny things to her sense of balance.

I love "rumbling chuckle," that his eyes were the color of "ripe blueberries," and that he had an "off-kilter smile." 

I loved that Ian asked her out by cracking a joke. So clever.

This story was a 10 for me!

Photo by Neil Conway via Flickr CC License

A Whale of a Time

by Veda Boyd Jones from the July 15, 2024 issue

Tagline: On a summer cruise to Alaska with his dad, Marshall met Abby, who was traveling with her aunt. Soon, sparks fly.

Observations: It's a strange coincidence that I am doing some serious research on an Alaskan cruise for my extended family-- my mom (87 years old and still kicking), my siblings and their families and me and my family! So I immediately identified with the people in this story. I am a bit jealous though because on my whale watching excursion, we saw whales, but only with binoculars.

By the way, if you've never cruised to Alaska, put it on your bucket list. There is no cruise that is like it in the world. The views are majestic and you feel so close to nature.

Back to the story...most of it happens during dinner, but what a dinner! Marshall and Abby really make a connection. We see that they both care deeply about the elder members of their respective families. We see that conversation between the two of them comes easily. Then, on the whale watching trip, Marshal realizes Abby is very special and the ending is perfect.

We even see a second romance budding between the dad and aunt. A twofer!

The only thing that gave me pause was when Marshall declared of Abby's ex, "He was fool!" That came across a little stilted to me. I'd have preferred something more like "What an idiot." Or, "What a lamebrain." Or, "He obviously didn't deserve you."

Photo by Mark Gunn via Flickr CC license

A Star-Spangled July Reunion

by Mina Beckett from the July 1, 2024 issue

Tagline: After a year had gone by, Sophia was stunned to see Jake at the town's Fourth of July event...but the duo picked up right where they left off.

Off the Cuff Literally As I Read Observations: This story is excelling at describing the setting. From the sights, sounds, smells the author depicted, I feel like I'm right there experiencing it all.

Ah, Jake Parker...the one who got away. He's obviously strong, judging from the effortless way he's carrying the crates of refreshments. 

I am wondering how old Sophia is.

She's been thinking about him for a year? I can't help but wonder why she hasn't at least gone into his restaurant with a girlfriend to test the waters.

More super amazing description...

As she weaved through the throngs of youngsters, their sticky fingers reachign for sugary treats and running with boundless energy.

That was only one sentence, but it does so much to create atmosphere.

"Jake...do you remember last year after the fireworks? We were cleaning up and we...well, we talked about everything and anything. It was really nice."

Yeah, Sophia! Way to be assertive! 

Okay, he cups her jaw. Yeah, this makes me uncomfortable. I would have had him place a hand on her shoulder or just meet her gaze squarely, but it seems that my boundaries for physical touch and intimacy between fictional couples are way more sensitive than many writers' and the editors'. (If you're interested, there's a hierarchy of physical intimacy and here's an article about it.) This isn't the first time a character touches another one in a story and I think it's too much too fast. This might be purposeful. A man cupping a woman's jaw is undoubtedly romantic and intimate, so perhaps this is the intention of Beckett and the editors--to add romance. 

As far as writing your own stories, write what you believe your characters would do. Use your own judgment. If you're like me, not so touchy-feely right away, there are plenty of ways to increase romance and dial up the intimacy that don't involve rushing up that hierarchy. You can describe the tone and volume of the voice, have him touch her hand or, as I said before, meet her gaze. 

Okay, so it's much later and this happens:

She leaned into him, her head finding a natural resting place on his shoulder as they watched the show.

And his brushes his lips against her hair and they hold hands too. I was fine with all of this because of the time that had passed. They'd spent the entire day together. For me, that's enough time for their relationship to progress to step 8 on the hierarchy.

All in all, this was a fantastic story full of fantastic setting descriptions and a heroine who finds the courage to make the first move.

Photo by Nigel Howe via Flickr CC license.

Silhouette in Full View

by Wendell J. Potter from the June 17, 2024 issue

Tagline: While on their outing to celebrate Father's Day, Anna and her father have two sweet encounters that soon lead to true love.

Observations: I loved seeing Anna and her dad's relationship. Truth in fact, I'm a little jealous. My dearly departed dad and I weren't close. 

I think it was awesome to get a twofer, too! Two romances in one story. I've read all of Mr. Potter's stories and I can say with confidence, they are much improved, which just goes to show you practice makes perfect.

Note the omniscient point of view. I'm not the best at writing this POV. I like to be in one character's head or the other's. But it's nice to see that Woman's World is flexible with points of view.

Photo by Rolands Lakis via Flickr CC license

Strawberry Festival Love

by Jennifer Anne F. Messing from the June 3, 2024 issue

Tagline: While at her vendor booth at the annual fair, Isabelle finally opens her heart to the possibility of romance--and before she knows it, love walks by.

Observations: "Strawberry Festival Love" gave me another idea for thinking up story plots. This story is set at a strawberry festival--a quintessential summer event. When you want to write a seasonal story, look at your town's event calendar, or even some other town's event calendar, for settings. 

For instance, in Los Angeles, I found:

• Summer Sports Brewfest
• Beachside Summer Brunch
• Summer Cocktail Mixology Class
• Summer Wine Fest
• Summer Love Speed Dating Event
• Summer Culinary Creations
• Summertime Dessert and Tea Pairing Experience
• The Culinary Dude's Summer Cooking Camp: Harry Potter Inspired Recipes - Um, I want to go to this, but it's for kids! 
• Summer of love Charcuterie Class
• Vegan BBQ Party

Getting any ideas from this list of events? I am! So, what are you waiting for? Get writing!

Photo by kahvikisu via Flickr CC License

Flags of Love

by Colleen LaQuay Urbaniuk from the May 27, 2024 issue

Tagline: After losing her beloved husband in combat, Memorial Day was tough for Annie each year. But just when she thought she would never love again, a chance encounter shows her that love can have a second life.

Observations: I apologize for not blogging in so very long. I swear, if I don't write things down in my calendar (and even sometimes when I do), it doesn't get done. Then, I went on vacation and swore I could get some blog posts out of the way. Did I? Nope. But I don't feel too guilty about that. I was on vacation.

This story is the perfect example of how to end a Woman's World first meet story a little differently. We have two people meeting and making a tentative connection. Normally, you would see them arrange a date or go out on one immediately. Here, there is no mention of a date, which is perfectly fine. If the author does a good enough job, you don't need that because you know in your heart that these two will eventually go out together.

Photo by Joey Zanotti via Flickr CC license

The Two Perfect Gifts

by Barbara Catlin Craven from the May 20, 2024 issue

Tagline: Upon listening to her horoscope for the day, Janna made a bold move that was quite out of character, but it led to unexpected love.

Observations: This story brought back great memories for me because the first story I sold to Woman's World was based on a horoscope! 

I think the best part of this story was the ending. We got a lovely two-part epilogue that was so perfect for the story.

However, I think they meant locket, not cameo. Cameos typically don't open up...

"And two-and-a-half years later, Brent gave Janna the traditional second anniversary gifts of cotton: two pink cotton baby blankets as well as a beautiful pink cameo that held pictures of their precious twin girls..."

It all makes sense now because when I read cameo, I was like, I'm 62. Not even my mom would choose a cameo for someone of childbearing age. A locket is still pretty old-fashioned, but might be okay. This is something I would caution writers of a certain age to watch out for. Make sure everything about your story is age appropriate to your characters, not to you.

Anyway, as I said, the first story I sold to Woman's World was based on a horoscope. After two rejections, I decided to look more closely at the contents of the magazine for story ideas and it worked like a charm! 

If you'd like other ways to come up with story ideas, check out the book I wrote on the subject: Story Sparking: How to Generate Ideas for Woman's World 5-Minute Romances. The first chapter goes into greater detail about how to look at the magazine for ideas.

The Gift of Gabby

by Mary Ann Joyce from the May 13, 2024 issue

Tagline: As a surprise Mother's Day gift, Gabby set her mom, Tess, up with the handsome owner of a fix-it shop...and their fix-up soon turns into true love.

Observations: I loved this story. It has all the hallmarks of a classic, well-done Woman's World romance. I'd expect nothing less from Mary Ann Joyce.

Note the three act structure. In the first act, we meet Tess and her daughter, Gabby, the librarian. We get a little background on Jim. We find out Tess is having dishwasher trouble. It's almost Mother's Day. 

In the second act, we meet Jim and see what he looks like. We see them being easy with each other, despite Jim being nervous about his presentation. There's a brief "telling not showing" paragraph about their conversation and how they both like to keep busy. We also find out he's a widower. 

Act three, the class goes off without a hitch. It's discovered that, unbeknownst to the two of them, daughter Gabby set them up, promising Tess would help him with the class if he came and fixed her dishwasher. There's a very brief black moment when Tess tells him he's obviously not obligated to follow through, but never fear--Jim is smitten. 

I also loved the humor about the cat...

"She bought me the Alexa device so it wouldn't be so quiet all the time. It's wonderful and it fills my house with music!"

"My son got me a cat named Oscar," Jim said. "He fills my house with hair."

Cute punny title too. 

Photo by Dylan Foley via Flickr CCL

Carnitas and Love

by Maria Gorman from the May 6, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Ava's neighbor convinces her ot host a Cinco de Mayo party, she never expects it to include tacos, margaritas, and romance.

Observations: I am not sure, but this might be the first Woman's World story I've read to have a person of color in it. Please comment below if you remember this happening before. Either way, it's welcome and might I say long overdue. The time when mixed race couples are frowned upon is far behind us. It's wonderful to see a Woman's World story reflect the current times.

I really appreciated this sentence, which showed a physical reaction that did not include electricity of any kind.

"...he smiled, sending her pulse racing like an Indy car."

I liked seeing carnitas, an authentic Mexican dish, as his specialty. I love carnitas tacos. I live in Southern California and fantastic Mexican food is readily available. (It would have been perfect if they included a carnitas recipe elsewhere in the magazine.)

I also heard Luis's voice in my head with a Mexican accent, which was fun!

A tiny bit of criticism...I wish they'd been consistent with the italics for the Spanish words. They only italicized especialidad but should probably have included "hola," "amiga," and "perfecto."

Photo by Mike McCune via Flickr CCL.

Coming Home to Love

by Shelley Cooper from the April 22, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Mackenzie fostered a pup whose owner was deployed, she never imagined the handsome dog-dad would soon take her breath away.

Off the Cuff Observations: I usually do Off the Cuff Observations when I'm way behind on the blogging, which--as you can tell from the April date--is currently the case.

So, right off the bat, I know I'm going to like this story. I LOVE watching videos with deployed soldiers being reunited with their dogs. I get all the feelz from those and they never get old. 

Can you bring non-service dogs to the airport? Not sure about that, but I'm letting it slide because the promise of the reunion payoff is enough for me.

...she wasn't prepared for the shock to her central nervous system when she saw him. -- No electricity. Yay.

Oh, she took pictures of the dog the whole time and sent them to him? Love it. So they have a relationship. 

"Can I give you a ride?" -- Seems like they would have figured this out beforehand. 

Okay, at this point, I read quickly to the end, engrossed in the story. I noted he checked for her consent before kissing her, something that, in this day and age, seems like a good idea. I liked the banter at the end and that last line had just the right timing. Nice story! Not that I'd expect anything less from Shelley Cooper.

Photo by evan p. cordes via Flickr CCL.

A Promising Partnership

by Chris Maday Schmidt from the April 15, 2024 issue

Tagline: Businesswoman Lila Parker has a meeting about the future of her start-up. But when she makes a professional faux pas, it just might lead to love.

Observations: I was utterly surprised by the twist in this story! Brava, Ms. Schmidt! This plot twist was so well done that after I read the story, I re-read the story to experience everything but with the knowledge that he was her client. What a delight.

Photo by Moresheth via Flickr CCL

Pup Paves the Way to Love

by Kay Layton Sisk from the April 8, 2024 issue

Tagline: Allie never would have guessed the lost puppy that her dog, Biscuit, found in the flower bed would be what led her straight to a budding new romance.

Observations: Great story. I immediately saw a writing tip to share with you.

When you're trying to communicate information and your main character is alone, here are two things Ms. Sisk did that you can do too.

1. Get the info across via her thoughts or the narrative.

Last spring's frog crop had cost a trip to the vet, and Allie didn't want a repeat performance.

2. Have the character talk aloud to a pet/animal (as in this story), to herself, or even to something like a photo of a loved one.

"You're a mess, girl, but let me get a photo and I'll put it on the neighborhood watch site. If it wasn't the weekend, we could go to the vet and see if you're chipped. Either way, we'll find your family pronto!"

Photo by Tyler Allen via Flickr CCL

Love Around the Corner

by Cher L. Tom from the March 25, 2024 issue

Tagline: After a series of bad dates, Marcie opens up to her friend Max--who might end up being the one she was looking for all along.

Observations: I'm not a huge fan of friends to lovers stories, mostly because I am usually frustrated that the two people are too dense to see they belong together. 

I'm an impatient reader, apparently. LOL

However, I really liked Max. He was the best part of this story. His humor...

"Is my hair singed?" he deadpanned.

Hilarious.

He bakes/burns cookies! I mean, come on.

He plays pranks. Love it.

So, in summary, create a really lovable character, one that the reader/editor can't resist either. Make him or her someone you'd like to date. 

Photo by Whatleydude via Flicker CCL

Lucky Find

by Shannon Fay from the March 18, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Melanie went to the park to pick clovers for an upcoming art project, she never expected that her excursion could lead to finding a stroke of good luck on her own--and the possibility of a chance at happily ever after.

Observations: I thought this was a fun, well-written story that follows the structure and story elements we expect from a Woman's World romance. Let's go through them, one by one, shall we? LOL

The heroine is presented along with her goal--finding four leaf clovers for her bookmarks.

She meets a man, whose goal is finding his lost keys. He also has a cute dog whose plot purpose is revealed later.

Someone has to make a move, and in this story it's Melanie. She suggests they look for the keys and the clovers together. (If the hero makes the move, it's fine, it's traditional, but if the heroine makes it, it demonstrates her confidence or her willingness to take chances or action to achieve happiness.)

They engage in conversation. This conversation accomplishes a few things. The dog is used as a vehicle to reveal that Wyatt is single. It establishes that Wyatt is a good listener and they make a solid connection. You must establish a connection between the characters, physically and mentally. You do this by showing and sometimes by telling. In this story, Fay shows them connecting over her making paper, then follows up with a "telling" paragraph that describes that they spent a lot of time together and the heroine "didn't want it to end."

We come to what is developing into a Woman's World cliche--the hand holding. <sigh>  I am not against holding hands in a story, per se. It's a fantastic way to show a relationship in its early stages developing. However, I don't relish it happening too fast in the relationship, i.e. within an hour of meeting someone, not without good reason, like helping someone to their feet after they've fallen or onto a rocking boat. Here, Wyatt has a good reason to offer his hand--he's helping her up from a crouch. Thumbs up. But forcing physical contact for the plot isn't being true to your characters. Imagine yourself in the woman's place. In the exact same circumstances, would you like the man to hold your hand or be creeped out about it? 

Wyatt takes the next step and asks her out to dinner. I like this because earlier, it was Melanie who suggested they search the grass together, so this makes things even and suggests a give and take that would serve them well should things develop between them. 

Lastly, we've ended the story with a callback to the beginning. I like to call this coming full circle. Melanie remembers the clover she found and wonders if it brought her some good luck.

Photo by Cygnus921 via Flickr CC License

A Birthday Surprise

by Barbara Catlin Craven from the March 4, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Jerri's handsome plumber invited her to an impromptu birthday celebration, she would be gived a new chance at love!

Observations: At first, this matchmaker story plays out as expected. There's a set-up--the single mom needs a plumber. Her friend, the matchmaker, recommends someone who is a single dad. They connect as he fixes her problem.

I liked this part. It contributes to the characterization.

While he worked, we talked...and our easy, polite conversation along with his occasional glances out the window to keep an eye on the boys gave further confirmation that Mason was a good man.

Mason invites her to a birthday party. She and her son go to the party. The cake has nine candles. All clues point to the fact that it's a party for the kid, except there aren't any other children at the party. You think to yourself, maybe it's just a family party. But then, Mason the dad, blows out the candles. Plot twist! He's a leap year baby. 

As you know, I'm touchy about holding hands too soon and this story was guilty of that but the plot twist was so good, I didn't care that much.

Photo by Droid Gingerbread via Flickr CC License

Love Finds a Name

by Vicki Cox from the February 26, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Joy's friend Megan secretly plays matchmaker behind her back, she ends up finding true love--and a new furry friend.

Off the Cuff Observations: I'm a little confused, two paragraphs in. Joy seems surprised to be at the animal rescue even though Megan has wanted her to "come for months." And it seems odd that they're running errands together before going to lunch. I usually meet my friends for lunch...

The building is concrete, which is what I'd expect from a city or county shelter, not from a place called "Lily's Rescue and Adoptions." But I'm going to go with it.

Aww, he knows of Megan's Rainbow Bridge dog. 

Max offered his hand to help her back up. -- See, this is an instance of taking a hand that doesn't make me uncomfortable because it's too intimate a gesture for having just met someone. There's a real reason to do it. 

Yeah, great matchmaker story. My confusion about running errands was solved when I realized it was a matchmaker story. Of course, it was fishy.

Cupid Always Knows Best

by Dorothy Wills-Raftery from the February 19, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Sophie decided to spend Valentine's Day solo trying something new, she never imagined Cupid would swoop in with a shot at true love.

I'm so far behind on blogging, it's not funny. Practically a month! Shameful. Anyway, I'm here and, as I often do when I'm lagging, I will be recording my thoughts as I read the story instead of doing a deeper analysis.

Off the Cuff Observations: Here in Southern California where I live, we don't get snow, so the idea of Valentine's Day being snowy is so crazy to me!

What is a snow tube?

...her breath curling up in the cold air. -- I like that phrasing!

He smells like limes? I love limes.

The son, Jackson, is funny with his rapid-fire questions. Leave it to the kid to do what the parent is too shy to do. 

Oh, there's a conveyor belt? This is something completely foreign to me, but I'm imagining something like a ski lift, but maybe just a rope you grab onto.

I think snow tubes are like inner tubes. Okay, I just Googled snow tubes and now I really want to ride one!

"I hope I have something to do with that," Jake whispered before turning in their tubes. -- Seems odd to me that this almost complete stranger is whispering for no apparent reason except intimacy.

Love their jobs--firefighter and pet photographer.

...causing butterflies to burst in her stomach. -- I know what the author meant, but my brain went literal on this one. Maybe a different verb like careened or bat around or even the cliche flutter?

He takes her hand, too? Yeah, sometimes in Woman's World stories, I think things move too fast.

Oh, I do love the epilogue paragrah at the end though!

Photo by MIKI Yoshihito via Flickr CC license

Snow Men

by P.S. Murray from the January 29, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Selina called a number on a flyer tucked under her windshield wiper, she never imagined that it would lead to a winter romance.

Observations: This story had a lot of things I like to see in a Woman's World story, but it really focused hard on the hero. During the course of the story, we see Dane and all his good qualities.

He's shown to be a good uncle, helping his nephew out with his side gig. We see him complimenting the kid. We see his playfulness and humor in the snowball fight. At last, we see his unwillingness to do a good deed when he cuts down the dangerous branch on her tree. He's also a "tall good-looking man."

All of this gives us a chance to develop a crush on him along with the heroine, Selina, because Woman's World stories --indeed all romances--focus on escapism. Readers wnat to live vicariously through the story, experiencing the giddy feeling of falling in love or, in the case of Woman's World first meet stories, finding someone who just could be The One. Never lose sight of that when you're writing.

Photo credit: Via Flickr CC License, Nomadic Lana

As Sweet as a Macaron

by Audrey Wick from the 1/22/24 issue=

Tagline: When Rayna takes a French cooking class, she never expects to whip up romance...until she meets the handsome chef and sparks fly.

Observations: This was a charming story. I love cooking and am a genuine foodie. I love watching cooking shows. The Great British Baking Show is a fave of mine. I imagine Ms. Wick likes macarons and perhaps even makes them. Or, if she's like me, she wants to try her hand at them one day. To be honest, I've even had daydreams of starting a macaron making side gig, selling at farmer's markets and online. Probably never gonna happen, but it's fun to daydream.

The thing is, you can take one of your daydreams, and turn it into a Woman's World story. I talk about this at length in my book, Story Sparking: How to Generate Ideas for Woman's World Magazine 5-Minute Romances. (If you're interested in buying the book, the link is down below.)

For instance, let's say you thought it might be fun to be a blackjack dealer. Maybe your heroine's friend owns a catering company or is a party planner. She needs someone to help her with a casino night and your heroine has played blackjack in the past with her late husband, so she knows the game. Her friend is desperate, so she volunteers to help. One of the guests has never played before so she teaches him some tips and tricks her late husband taught her. One thing leads to another and they make plans to see each other the next weekend.

Now, I have to tell you, I also used another story sparking idea in that story outline, above. Look at your own life. What is going on at this moment? At this moment, I'm at the Red Rock Resort outside of Las Vegas, so when I asked myself, what kind of kooky, out of the norm daydream/interest could I use as an example for this blog post? Blackjack dealer!

Try it yourself. Try either method--current events in your own life or a hobby or interest--and see if you can come up with a story plot. Do this often and it will get easier. The more you brainstorm story ideas, the better you'll get at them. 

To buy Story Sparking: How to Generate Ideas for Woman's World Magazine 5-Minute Romances, click here.

Photo credit: Takeshi Kuboki via Flickr Creative Commons License

Romance Ahoy!

by Wendel J. Potter from the January 15, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Miranda's friend invited her out to the local seafood restaurant, she never imagined she'd end up catching feelings for a new man.

Observations: I liked this story. I like the meta aspect of the heroine being a budding romance author, even if I wondered if Miranda had a day-job, because graduating from college to be a romance novel writer is ambitious and risky. I identified strongly with her writer's block and the fact that she has a writer buddy to help her through the tough times. Also, Shrimp Boat Charlie's sounds like the kind of restaurant I want to go to.

However, other than Naomi saying at the beginning that she might be able to help Miranda figure out what the perfect man looks like, it wasn't crystal clear that this was matchmaker story. Miranda might have wondered if her friend Naomi might be interested in Charlie for herself, but she didn't. This is a very nit-picky point but I would like to have seen some other clue that Naomi meant for Charlie and Miranda to meet. Maybe Naomi could "suddenly remember" she had somewhere else to be. Or maybe Naomi could have been engaged.

Another small point--it's my nature to focus on the tiny details--Charlie would most likely not refer to his son's teacher by her first name.

But otherwise, great story!

Photo by Yoppy via Flickr CC License

Love on Ice

by Rosemary  Hayes from the January 8, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Jacqui had to help cover a shift at the cafe, she never imagined that her heart would be warmed with love on such a chilly day.

Observations: I adored this story! The more I read, the more things I found to love about it.

I loved the heroine's go-to attitude... I wasn't going to let a little snow stop me. Sara couldn't do her shift at the cafe today and Alex would need help.

"...this cafe used to be my uncle's DVD rental store a long time ago." -- Ah, the memories! I remember Blockbuster used to be a regular stop on my errands. That is, until I discovered Netflix would deliver to my mailbox. Gamechanger. I should have invested right then and there.

"Flat white?"

"How did you guess?"

"My hidden talent."

This reminds me of that movie Chocolat, where Viv's special talent is know which chocolate is someone's favorite.

I was quite surprised she was the boss. It's very rare for someone to get a plot twist in without me seeing it in advance. This was so nice!

It was like a scene from a movie. I gazed at him, he gazed at me. Sparks flew. -- Note the short sentences. Great choice. Moves us along their emotional arcs at a snappy pace.

Hayes calls back to the hidden talent comment, which is always nice. It's like an inside joke for the readers to enjoy too.

I also like how he brought photos for her to see. She would definitely love to see what her cafe looked like before she took over, not to mention the fact that it brings them a bit closer together.

I thought the ending was perfect. It even gave me chills. Excellent.

Photo by Bill McChesney via Flickr Creative Commons License

Serving up Romance

by Christine Greifzu from the January 1, 2024 issue

Tagline: When Jessa's sister asked her to help with her catering company on New Year's Eve, she never guessed what might be in store at midnight.

Off the Cuff Observations: So we start off with a paragraph of information to ground us in the time, the date, the situation/problem. Greifzu does a good job of including some of the info in dialogue which can be difficult to make sound natural, not stilted.

Aww, her boyfriend dumped her three weeks before Christmas. Here is where we feel for the heroine and connect with her. On a side note, I hope she hadn't bought him a present!

When he got closer, she gazed into the bluest eyes she could ever recall seeing. -- It's funny...I never notice eye color. Ever. I know, I'm weird.

Cody checked in on Jessa every so often to see if she needed help. -- What a nice guy!

After their first date a few days later, Jessa knew it had been worth the wait. She and Cody had incredible chemistry, and he turned out to be an amazing kisser. The New Year was going to be magnifique. -- I like this epilogue-ish type ending. I liked the call back to the kiss that never happened and the reference to her being a French teacher. It's little details like this that make a story nice and tight and connected.

Black Friday Tussle

by Melinda Cherry from the November 27, 2023 issue

Tagline: A heartbroken Dana found herself injured amid Black Friday chaos, but she was in for a surprise when she later stumbled upon true love.

Observations: I clearly need a better organizational system. I keep finding my Woman's Worlds out of order! My apologies for this Black Friday story analysis coming so late.

I can't recall ever reading a Black Friday Woman's World story before, so that's refreshingly new. I was surprised to see the extent of the heroine's injuries and that she went to the ER. I think in the past, Woman's World shied away from too much drama or danger, but the new editors are more open to expanding the magazine's range a tad.

This story hit a lot of emotional buttons. Obviously, there was a sense of wistfulness about missing her beloved late husband. We were warmed by how her family rallied around her in her time of need. I had some personal experience with that myself right before Christmas. I went into the hospital with a big kidney stone problem along with a bacterial infection that spread to my blood. During my six-day stay, my family were there, bringing me things from home, including yummy things to eat, keeping me company, and in the case of my sister, giving me a full body massage. I'm a very lucky woman, as is Dana, the heroine of the story.

The last emotion this story highlighted was hope. The security guard proves that he would fit right into Dana's family as a caring and thoughtful man.

Well done, Ms. Cherry!

Photo by browniesfordinner via the Flickr Creative Commons License

Mother Nature's Christmas Gift

by Rose Ross Zediker from the December 11, 2023 issue

Tagline: When the weather delayed Gabby's flight and made her miss a Christmas party, she soon met a handsome stranger who turned the delay into a sweet miracle.

Observations: This was a lovely story. I always worry when the story is set in an airport, because the chances the hero and heroine will live in the same city are very low.

If you're familiar at all with Woman's World romances, you will have right away recognized that the handsome stranger she meets in the airport is, in fact, the man she was being set up with. In a novel, you might not want a plot twist to be so obvious. That's why they call them twists, right? Usually the intention is that the reader is blindsided with new information that completely changes the story. And I have seen many a Woman's World story that surprised me with a plot twist I never saw coming.

However, in an 800-word matchmaker story, it's pretty near impossible for the readers not to guess who's going to fall in love. But the great thing is it doesn't matter. Yes, I knew he was The Intended One the minute he appeared, but the fun of these kinds of stories is seeing the characters themselves discover the plot twist. Tension and anticipation builds in the reader... When will they figure it out? Who will figure it out first? How? Then, when they finally see the light, the reader is delighted right along with them.

So, don't worry about your plot twists being obvious. If you can make it a true twist and surprise everyone, more power to you, but if you can't, know that in a Woman's World story, it can still work.

Photo by Syuzo Tsushima via Flickr Creative Commons License 

Pick Three For Love by Vicki Cox

Tagline: When Andrea Jenkins went shopping for a dress to wear to a wedding, she never expected that while on her hunt, she'd also find true love.

Observations: First of all, I love the hero's logical plan for helping his sister shop for clothes. That's a smart man, indeed. 

I like how he offers to fasten the necklace around her neck. It's usually a pretty intimate thing for a stranger to do, but there's a spark here and she was having trouble. This was a clever way of advancing their relationship. 

I loved how he asked to accompany her to the wedding...

"If you arrived on the arm of a handsome man and danced with him throughout the evening, those questions should disappear. I have not one, but two arms and am a handsome man," he said, his grey eyes twinkling.

The ending, calling back to his shopping assistant methods, was adorable.

Photo by Artem Beliaikin via Flickr Creative Commons License

A Festive Feast

 by Veda Boyd Jones from the November 20, 2023 issue

Tagline: Mindy neer thought that her trip to the store to buy a frozen turkey dinner for one on Thanksgiving might lead to happily ever after for two.

Off the Cuff Observations: Even before I start the story, I'm feeling for Mindy, who seems to be alone on Thanksgiving.

Their banter, Sherlock Holmes-style is adorable.

Okay, she's alone by choice. I totally get that. We are always hosting Thanksgiving and my house is noisy and crowded and I'm usually so relieved when everyone goes home. I'm now actually envious of Mindy!

This was an adorable story of two people who were alone by choice on Thanksgiving and decided they're rather have company after all. Loved it.

Photo by Steve Johnson via Flickr Creative Commons License

A Sweet Deal

 by Marti Attoun from the, yes, September 18, 2023 issue

Tagline: When Caroline borrows her brother's dirty truck to haul furniture, she's in for a handsome surprise at the car wash.

Stream of Consciousness Observations: I found a Woman's World from September tucked in a pile of crap on my desk. UGH! Needless to say, I'm very behind in analyzing these two stories. Here are my off-the-cuff comments and observations on the first story by one of my favorite WW authors, Marti Attoun.

furry french fries - I've found petrified french fries in my car before. Usually they're rock hard. I think my dog ate one once before I could take it from him. LOL

fling the fossilized pizza - LOLOLOL I love the alliteration. I am delighting in the awkward moment of the heroine being caught with a very dirty car interior.

slapdash ponytail - I love her word choices.

There's a paragraph of telling-not-showing which I think is a useful tool with Woman's World stories. You want to show the couple connecting and at times, the easiest way is to summarize all the things they talked about.

She shivered at the sound of her name on his lips. - Love it. I love seeing fresh ways of showing the physical attraction between the characters. 

She'd forgotten this surprising, joyful feeling when you're standing on the brink of something wonderful about to happen. - Haven't we all felt this? This is a great moment when the reader can identify with the character in the story and live vicariously through them, which is kind of the whole point of these romantic tales.

And when they had their first date on that same restored bench weeks later... - Okay, the whole story was fantastic until I got to this part. I am assuming they reenacted her grandparents' cheese sandwich and gingersnap picnic on the bench, but that wasn't made clear. Did something get edited out? 

Photo by David via the Flickr Creative Commons License

A Thanksgiving Surprise

by Marcella Robinson from the November 13, 2023 issue

Tagline

When sparks started flying between two longtime friends, Moira and Seth soon came to realize they would always be thankful for each other.

Observations

This was charming. I loved Moira's confidence. Robinson clearly showed their relationship and how easy their interactions were. The horse joke in particular shows how they share laughter together and he's not above being teased.  I also think it's heartening to see two divorced people get a second chance. 

I've often wondered why there aren't more proposal stories in Woman's World. Maybe writers aren't submitting them. After all, you can't publish something that hasn't been submitted! 

Photo by Tomatoes and Friends via Flickr Creative Commons License

A Surprise Invitation

by Chris Maday Schmidt from the November 6, 2023 issue

Tagline: When her friends set her up, Maggie didn't expect to meet with the handsome clerk from the farmers market...or for it to become true love.

Stream of Consciousness Observations:

"I tuck a chin-length silver lock behind my ear..." -- She's an older heroine. :) She's also a female. It's nice to have the gender of the main character identified right off the bat.

And she's getting set up for a blind date. Fun! I haven't read one of these for a while.

"I step off the covered deck where I'm surrounded by juniper, pines and oak tress adorned in autumn yellow beneath an evening sky streaked with orange." -- Oh, what a lovely description of the setting.

"The twinkle in his gray eyes calms my racing heart, but my pulse skips a beat when his fingers clasp my upper arms." -- Here is the physical attraction, nicely done. 

"Surely he must think I'm experiencing a midlife moment in the center of of the cul-de-sac." -- LOLOLOLOL!

"He brushes that same silver lock from my cheek and my skin tingles at his touch." -- Schmidt is really pouring on the physical reactions. This is the sixth instance of some sort of reaction from Maggie and I seem to remember Woman's World liking a lot of that. which is why, for a while, every story had hearts leaping, soaring, dancing, twirling, etc. 

"So what's say we skip the whole awkward blind date thing and catch dinner at the lodge down the road?" -- Oh, golly, this seems rude to me. The neighbors have prepared a meal for them. I see later in the story that Schmidt shows Maggie growing as a character when she asks him to share her casserole at her own home, so I understand why she chose to have them decline dinner at the neighbor's. Okay, wait a second. I just thought of something. Maybe, once the neighbors see that their "evil plan" has worked, they might not mind.

Cute story! And a great example of an evergreen story too. Evergreen stories are stories that can be slotted in at anytime during the year. Sure, there is a mention of pumpkin bread and autumn yellow, but those tiny details could be easily changed. Keep in mind that evergreen stories are valuable to the editors because of their flexibility. 

Photo by Judy Dean via Flickr Creative Commons License

Vision of Love

by Anna Kittrell fromt he October 30, 2023 issue

Tagline: When Ally took on the job as a fortune teller at a local Halloween festival, the true love sh found was something she never could've predicted.

Observations: I wanted to touch on Ally's character arc. She is acting as a fortune teller at the Halloween festival to raise money for a recreational center for local youth. But in comes an old flame from high school, whom she dumped because an uperclassman asked her to prom. She's mortified when he asks for a palm reading. She offers a look into the crystal ball instead. He doesn't let her get away with that. He puts a fifty in her donation jar which pretty much forces her to do the palm reading. 

She's scared. She's embarrassed about what happened all those years ago. But she ends up apologizing for her actions. And then she gets the guy! It's never a bad idea to show one or both of your main characters growing and changing in some way. In fact, this could be a good way to spark a story idea. Think of a mistake the character has made and in the course of the story show him/her learning from it or finding redemption, like Ally did.

If you're interested in finding out more ways to get ideas for stories, check out my book on the subject, Story Sparking: How to Generate Ideas for Woman's World 5-Minute Romances. It's available as an ebook and in print.

Photo by PunkToad via Flickr Creative Commons License

Halloween Serendipity

by Ann Llewellyn King from the October 23, 2023 issue

Tagline: With the help of some very unique matchmakers, Neal and Savannah stumble upon a chance for romance...and an otherworldly connection.

Observations: I really should have caught on earlier that Martha and Howard were ghosts because of the tagline, but I didn't and was just hopelessly confused as I read this. I think this just isn't my type of story. Even after reading it a second time, knowing they were ghosts, it felt disjointed. Your mileage may vary.

Photo by dutchmasterdutchie via Flickr Creative Commons License

The Apple of Her Eye

by T.R. McClure from the October 9, 2023 issue

Tagline: Grandma Rose had a craving for apple butter, but Rosemary never imagined her hunt to please her grandmother could lead ot a meant-to-be love.

Stream of Consciousness Observations: 

I love how grandma makes the rounds, staying with different family members! What a great idea!

Oh, I love roadside fruit stands, especially the ones in Hawaii! I discovered apple bananas at one of them. If you've never had an apple banana, you must try them. The roadside ones are better than the ones in the grocery store.

The cute guy behind the counter smiled. -- Ah, I'm finally finding out the narrator is a woman. If you're writing in the first person point of view, it's a good idea to let your reader know as soon as you can if it's a man or a woman. In this story, it could have been back when Grandma Rose said "Thanks, honey." She could have said, "Thanks, Rosemary."

Windblown hair -- love that.

Flirtatious farmer -- love that alliteration!

"You don't know what you're missing." -- We have the second mention of this saying. There should be a third one at the end of the story to adhere to the loose rule of three.

I like that her name is a combo of both her grandmothers' names.

Well, we actually got two more mentions of "You don't know what you're missing," so a bonus!

He takes her hand. Hm. I know this is a common occurrence in Woman's World stories, but to me, this seems like too intimate a gesture for the situation. If a farmstand guy reached for my hand, even if he was cute, I'd think it was a little weird.

My grandfather raised dairy cows until we expanded the orchard. -- OH! This is the farm where Grandma Rose played with her friend! 

Oh, this is a tiny mistake...he said Gram had finished the batch of apple butter, but when they go into the house, it's bubbling on the stove.

It's the same picture! Oh, that's excellent. I didn't see that coming. I thought she'd find out through conversation or meeting the grandma whose name is Olivia.

Fantastic story!

Photo by Jennifer Boyer via Flickr Creative Commons License

A Latte of Possibilities

by Rochelle Banks from the October 2, 2023 issue

Tagline: As Ashley stepped into the coffee shop to meet an online date, she never could have imagined she'd find true love with a totally different man.

Observations: First of all, I loved the punny title! Being a barista myself, I could identify with the setting of this story, even if pumpkin spice lattes are not my go-to drink.

I haven't seen a blind date story in a while so this was refreshing. The bad date was kind of funny. The guy was painfully awkward. and although the single man being a mama's boy was meant to be a negative, I'm at the age where my mother really does need me sometimes and seeing a man being devoted to her isn't necessarily a negative. 

That being said, Ashley made the right choice. Brent was definitely more date worthy.

Photo by Lorraine C via the Flickr Creative Commons License

Love as Sweet as Honey

by Chris Maday Schmidt from the August 28, 2023 issue

Tagline: Honey Lambert's life is full of all work and no play...until a handsome stranger sits down next to her and fills her world with new possibilities

Observations: First of all, sorry about the late analysis of this story. I don't know where this issue was hiding, but I just now found it.

I usually love Schmidt's stories, but I feel she missed two opportunities to ground the reader in the setting.

Honey Lambert owns the Honey Stand. We don't get any description of the Honey Stand, so my brain provided me with an image of a side-of-the-road honey stand. Later, near the end of the story, we find out that the Honey Stand has a back room and a shop floor, which suggests it's in an actual building. This came as a bit of a surprise, causing me to revise what I'd been picturing in my head. Any time this happens to a reader, they're pulled out of the narrative which is something you want to avoid if possible. 

After getting ice cream from the ice cream truck, Honey sits at a table with a massive umbrella. Usually ice cream trucks are mobile, so it's a little coincidental that there happens to be a table there. Also, all the ice cream trucks I've ever encountered sell pre-packaged treats like Big Sticks and Push-Ups, not scoops of ice cream or sundaes.

Unless, and this is probably the case, in this story it's a food truck ice cream truck, the kind of food truck that is parked in a semi-permanent location. If this is the case, I want this to be clear so I can really picture the scene and so I can be jealous of the heroine because who wouldn't want to be in front of a food truck specializing in ice cream?

Your experience of the story might have differed, and obviously the things I mentioned didn't bother the editors, but regardless, clearly establishing your setting is always a good idea.

Photo by Ben Phillips via the Flickr Creative Commons License

Labor of the Heart

by Lisa Weaver from the September 4, 2023 issue

Tagline: After her dashing date abandons her on Labor Day, Cassie is heartbroken...until a familiar figure shows up on the beach.

Observations: I had mixed feelings about this story. It's definitely well-written, as Lisa Weaver's stories tend to be. I liked the sandcastle competition--that's an event that I would love to go to, in person, someday. I wrote one into one of my novels, too. 

However, at the end of the story when he proposes and she accepts, I didn't feel like it had been earned. I didn't quite believe that they'd made that strong of a connection. The reason why he disappeared was a solid one: his brother was in an accident and in his rush to get on a plane, he'd left his phone behind. These days, it's easy to believe that he did not have her phone number memorized so he could call from some other phone. 

However, we only got a couple of paragraphs about how they met and got to know each other, and that wasn't enough for me to believe they were ready to get engaged. I love an engagement as much as the next gal, but this one didn't feel justified.

Photo by Goncalo Cruz Matos via Flickr Creative Commons License

A Love So Sweet

by Marcie McEachern from the September 22, 2023 issue

Tagline: When Kate delivers a loaf of banana bread to one of Cottonwood's retirees, she receives more than a simple thank you!

Observations: Other than the slight cliche of a baker heroine, this story was great! McEachern used a plot device we see often in Woman's World stories--the mistaken identity. Here, Kate sees a man on a ladder and thinks it's Teddy Jacobs, friendly neighborhood senior citizen. Instead, it's his young, handsome (and single!) namesake. This plot device is tried and true and definitely one you should put in your toolbox.

I liked the humor, like when he says, "...whom do I have the pleasure of being bossed around by today?"

There's a solid black moment when the hero kind of slams the door in her face, which due to some good writing and timing wasn't as harsh as it sounds. The heroine thinks she'll probably never see this guy again.  But, surprise, he's actually not just visiting his grandfather, he's moving into town and starting his own business. 

Yes, Woman's World stories can be formulaic, but this is what the editors and readers want--the comfort of familiarity and McEachern did this very well here.

Photo by Beckmann's Bakery via Flickr Creative Commons License

Love on the Spot

by Vicki Cox from the August 21, 2023 issue

Tagline: When her lawn mower quits, Christy Mills needs help...but when Robert shows up to fix it, could he fix her broken heart too?

Observations: I really enjoyed the humor in this story. The running joke about the monkeys and the machete was cute. The hero was witty elsewhere too, like here:

"You know, your favorite ice cream can say a lot about you."

Christy grinned. "Really?"

"Sure. For example, mine is chocolate, which says that I'm trustworthy, hard-working, charming...oh, and humble."

I did find myself wondering what happened to her husband--did they divorce? Did he pass away?

I also wondered why, when she confessed that her favorite ice cream flavor was butter pecan, why he didn't tell her what that flavor said about her personality. 

Otherwise, cute tale!

Photo by Ivan Radic via Flickr Creative Commons License

Special Delivery

by Crystal Moore from the August 14, 2023 issue

Tagline: Back in the beach town of her childhood, Marina reconnects with an old crush from a pizzeria...and love is on the menu.

Observations: This was a darling story, despite the somewhat purple beginning. 

...a cry of agony pierced the night.

I haven't talked about a 3-act structure in a while and this story definitely has that. 

Act 1, we're introduced to Marina and her situation. She's coming off a break-up, she's at a beach rental she came to as a child, she had a crush on a pizza guy one summer and she's very sunburned.

Act 2 we meet the pizza boy, all grown up. We get information about how old they are--something I really appreciate when I'm reading Woman's World stories. Because they welcome adult protagonists of all ages, it's difficult to fully picture the characters if the author doesn't tell us how old they are. The same story can read very differently if it's about twenty-somethings vs seventy-somethings. 

Act 3, surprise! He returns with aloe gel, like the hero he is. And he asks her out. I liked his little jibe about red being her color. I always love humor in the story.

Photo by Ruth Hartnup via Flickr Creative Commons License

Good Old Summer Love

by Marcella Robinson from the July 31, 2023 issue

Tagline: When Gloria misses her exit during a storm, she stops at a local diner...and gets the surprise of a lifetime when her first crush steps out to greet her.

Observations: I thought this was a charming story. Robinson does a great job connecting the reader to the heroine, Gloria, by showing Gloria doing something we've all done--missing a freeway exit. We immediately identify with her. Then look at this next paragraph.

Lately, if she wasn't skipping by an exit, she was making a wrong turn. Yet she was filled with a sense of pride for venturing out on her own after her divorce.

Here, Robinson shows us that Gloria isn't a basket case. She's gotten past her divorce and is ready for the next phase in her life, which is perfect timing, right? Because Gloria is in the right frame of mind, we readers will be more willing to believe that a real relationship will grow between her and Ethan. Granted, this is a subtle detail, but if you lay the groundwork for the happily-ever-after properly, when the story is done, the reader will feel more confident that the couple will end up in love and they'll feel those feel good endorphins kick in, which is what we want!

Photo by waferboard via the Flickr Creative Commons License

The Art of New Love

by Wendel J. Potter from the July 24, 2023 issue

Tagline: All set up for her annual art festival, Delaney is excited for what's in store...but she never expects a handsome newcomer to steal her heart.

Stream of Consciousness Observations: I love art festivals so I'm drawn into the story. 

Delaney has clearly attended college in the past, but we're not told how long ago. I have little idea of how old our heroine is. The only clue is that she's finding this dark haired man attractive and thinks he's a possible love interest, so she could be mid-twenties to mid-thirties?

Oh, the money from the art sales goes to needy kids? That's admirable, but the sign she hangs should state that. Money going to worthy causes is a powerful promotional tool. Talk about that rather than the fact that it's a silent auction.

He's only submitting one drawing, so he doesn't need an entire table.

If she planned to hang it on a wall then she why did she say she'd prepare a table for him?  

I'm confused as to why the drawing had to be covered until noon. What reason would Eric have? Her surprise and delight would be just as vivid no matter when he showed her. And why would she allow him to keep it covered in the first place? The passers-by would be unable to bid on it which defeats the purpose of the show.

Oh, I love the black moment, where Eric thinks she has a problem with his drawing and then she quips his own comment from the beginning of the story of her flyer leaning to the left. Genius! That's a black moment and bookending put together. Great job.

Despite all my notes on this story, I still enjoyed it, probably because the ending was spot on. 

Photo by Communications Office via Flickr Creative Commons License