Home at Last

by Diane Crawford from the September 17, 2018 issue

Tagline: When Jenna moved back to her hometown, she wasn't looking for romance--but then...

Observations: I often talk about having a character learn a small lesson or overcome an obstacle, even in these short 800 word stories. However, this is not a mandatory thing and this week's story is a good example of a heroine who has no character arc. She's perfect the way she is. You may have heard the terms "character driven" or "plot driven." This story was definitely plot driven.

If you omit a character arc, you can concentrate solely on the romance--in this case, a second-chance romance. Also note the nostalgic feel of the story. Small towns are inherently nostalgic, recalling that Norman Rockwellian atmosphere. For instance, when she mentioned concerts in the park, I immediately pictured a park with a big white gazebo, like in the movie Groundhog Day. You picture a lifestyle that is relaxed and more focused on the Good Things in Life.

This is what Woman's World readers want to read about because that's the focus of the entire magazine. Everything in the publication is geared toward helping women focus on the simple things, relaxing, being healthy, being happy. All things positive. So keep that in mind when writing your stories.

Photo credit: MCTV Dave via Flickr creative commons license