Something Borrowed

 by G.G. Andrew from the February 22, 2021 issue

Tagline: Emma is a librarian who's unsure that her love story will ever be written, until a dreamy repeat visitor makes a fairy-tale introduction.

Observations: This story is a good example of showing a character arc. While character arcs are a must in longer fiction, in a Woman's World story, it's not absolutely necessary. However, I do think showing the growth of one of the main characters makes a WW story a little meatier.

In this story, Emma starts out a timid librarian who admires a man who comes to the library every week. Until now, she's been afraid to approach him, but circumstances force her to say something or perhaps never see him again. (She could actually just go to the library at Monday at 12:30, even though she's not working, but we'll pretend that's not an option. LOL) By the end of the story, Emma has conquered her fear and given the object of her affections her phone number. Hooray!

Deciding on a point of growth for a character can be a good jumping off point for a story. Brainstorm a few "weaknesses" or fears and build a story around someone overcoming the weakness or facing the fear. The fear does not have to be romantic in nature, as Emma's was. It can be someone being afraid of driving on the freeway and taking lessons and falling for her driving instructor. You could write about someone who doesn't exercise but who wants to be healthier or someone who spends too much money on books and who ventures to the library. The possibilities are endless. You could also think about an aspect about yourself (or even a friend or family member) that you'd like to improve on and write a story based on that. 

Photo by Lydia Liu via Flickr Creative Commons License

Falling for You

by Alison Richards from the February 8, 2021 issue

Tagline: When Julie's handsome archnemesis, Mike, arrives at their annual work Super Bowl party, it's game on...until he scores a touchdown in her heart.

Observations: Congratulations to one of my workshop students, Alison Richards, on the sale of her story! I'm so excited for her. My apologies about the white strips behind the text. I can't figure out how to get rid of it. LOL

This story was about a potluck duel of sorts. The heroine fancies herself a skilled cook because her football inspired deviled eggs look so cute. Then, her handsome co-worker shows up with a dip that looks like an entire football field. 

I wanted to point out this one paragraph in the last third of the story because it's doing an important job. I hope you have the whole story in front of you because the point I'm trying to make will only make sense if you can go back and read the whole story again.

They chatted in the kitchen as she helped him make goal posts out of pretzel sticks. She told him about her father's stunt work and how she now taught volunteer classes in balance and fall prevention at the senior center. He explained that he'd moved to town when his youngest child graduated from college. His wife had passed away a few years earlier, and it was time for a fresh start.

Please notice that there isn't that much connecting going on in this particular paragraph. Most of that happens real time--when he comes to her rescue after her fall and when they're bantering. What I wanted you to notice was how this paragraph acts as a transition from the middle of the story to the next.

Basically the story goes like this:

Beginning of the story - We meet Julie and get a feel for her character. Then she falls.

Middle of the story - We meet Mike as he comes to her rescue. We learn about their "rivalry." They connect, real time, joking around with each other.

End of the story - They make a truce and pave the way for more romance in the future.

So, think of this kind of transition paragraph as one of the tools you can use when crafting your stories. 

Photo by Dennis Yang via Flickr Creative Commons license

Love in Aisle #4

by Deborah Clack from the January 25, 2021 issue

Tagline: Cheryl is just picking up dessert at the grocery store...but when Kurt appears, it looks like love is on the menu...

Observations: I haven't done a stream-of-consciousness post in a while, so here goes! For those of you who haven't seen this, it's where I just type down what I'm thinking as I read the story. 

Nice description of the guy.

I love that line..."Are you having a salad crisis?" LOL

Aha! Clack clearly knows her greens. I don't like frisee or kale in salads. The texture of frisee is too fluffy and raw kale is too tough.

I'm always a little amused when characters' fingers touch when handing something over. Maybe I'm a germaphobe or something, but when I take or give things to and from strangers, I try really hard not to touch them. LOL But you know, it's a romance story device, so I'm fine with it.

Ha! I've never heard of break and bake. LOL

And once Cheryl mentions a dinner she's going to, I immediately suspect they're going to the same dinner.

I'm impressed by Kurt's ingenuity regarding the bundt cake.

I liked how Clack revealed that they were indeed going to the same dinner.

Really cute ending with the kale confession! But I did wonder about them faking eating dinner and "ditch[ing] them for dinner at Sal's Steak House." I kind of wish they'd just made a date to go out another night.

Photo by denabola 2025 via Flickr Creative Commons License