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Hope Engel 📚

@hopeengel.com

170 followers 140 following 1K posts

https://hopeengel.com Reader, writer, cat mom, based in NY. Querying my debut romance, “At Your Pace” Looking for romance novel critique partners - DM me! 46 books in 2025!

hopeengel.com

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 1h

Emerson has an older brother, Rob, who is 4 years older and as spoiler free as possible, his actions in the past set the stage for the development of Emerson and his mom and the whole family dynamic - and Rob plays a role in Emerson’s growth during the story!

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

Be my critique partner if you want mildly unhinged comments like this oscillating on the same page lol

Screenshot of comments in a Google doc saying “I don’t get the joke” and “say it louder for people on the back” both left by a commenter named Hope (the originator of this post)

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

Mostly

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

So this chapter needs to be combined with another, and I need to like make it more than just the dialogue beats, but this little segment shows that Iris holds the crew accountable (and the boys humor her).

“I can’t believe it’s senior year!” Valeria says.
“Okay everyone, what are our last goals?” Iris asks.
“You’re still going to ask for New Years resolutions in January,” Asher says.
“And I will do that every January for the rest of my life, and you’re welcome for having an accountabili-buddy,” Iris says.

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

🥹

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

If there’s no gravity than it’s more like… slow playing catch??

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

Best wishes!

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

My characters (a couple) give each other Christmas gives because it’s set in contemporary USA

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

In the sequel WIP which explores the deepening of a college relationship, Emerson’s growth and change comes from his deciding his career path after graduation - and his growth could be hindered if he just moves back home like he thinks his mom wants.

Ange @gunsmile.bsky.social · 16h

#PlotTober Day 11: MC growth & change

Answer the prompt on the card by quoting this post. Remember, answering a prompt is always optional. Even if you don't share it publicly, I hope the prompt encourages you to think about it privately.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompt #WriteSky

#PlotTober - a WIP plotting game by @gunsmile.bsky.social

11. What are some possible ways your main character(s) could grow and change over the course of the story? On the other hand, what are some ways their growth could be hindered?

Remember: Use the #PlotTober hashtag, engage with others, and have fun!

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 6h

My story takes place on a college campus with an athlete MMC so the NCAA rules are the most applicable here!

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 22h

We all have stuff to do. Sometimes you just gotta dig

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 23h

From a scene I wrote today! Subbing “win” for prize. In the sequel, the love interest applies for PhD programs. #romance

After she’s had some time to process, I ask, “How are you feeling?”
She lets out a huge exhale. “I’m just… bummed. I mean, I certainly didn’t expect to get into every program I applied to and I know I still have six more applications out, but I would’ve felt a lot better about this process if I had one acceptance in the bag.”
“Right, that makes sense.” I know I’m not going to win every baseball game, but it certainly feels better to start the season or even a multi game series on a win than a loss.

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 23h

The way this would work on me (but also I loved a virtual scavenger hunt as a corporate team building thing during lockdown)

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 1d

Yall I just noticed the last one is MY name which is my real first name

I’m so excited

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 1d

Ok but can relate because Life Stuff and I’m like ooo what if I do shiny new spinoff idea but NO must do sequel

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 1d

You can still capitalize on it! 😅

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 1d

I love this series!

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 1d

Another walk and voice dictation scene first draft done! I didn’t have a plan for this scene, just knew it was a plot point that needed to happen, and had some fun ideas come to me along the way. It’s been busy at work and in my personal life so I’m glad to have made some progress!

#amwriting

Screenshot of a Google document mobile view with the word count view showing 676 words.

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 1d

Love a new used bookstore!!

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 2d

Same. I love the tweaking stage. Getting it down at first is tough. I’ve had good luck voice dictating first drafts just letting my mind wander and play out a scene, then I can have fun tweaking and editing after.

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 2d

the MMC is overall still a good dude but no one is perfect, we all stumble, and how we recover when we slip up speaks loads about our character. I hope readers can be patient enough to see that .

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 2d

Right! @aiko-aslanian.bsky.social alpha read the first few chapters of my WIP and her feedback was my MC was “too good” which I definitely agree with! but wrote because the market wants book boyfriends. But I’m committed to writing realistic age appropriate characters so I am making a change

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 2d

Right like I want a hero who isn’t perfect. Someone who is going to do what it takes to stop the big baddie probably has some grit to them and what’s the trade off for them to have the capacity to do that?

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Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 2d

Next spooky season read: the Hockey Halloween anthology by @authorkimfindlay.bsky.social 🎃👻

Get it here: books2read.com/u/boxj7p

Hope Engel 📚 @hopeengel.com · 2d

100% - as a reader I love seeing to what degree these characters grow on these different traits and the dynamics caused as a result. If everyone’s too perfect there’s no tension.

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