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Sarah | In Love with Story

@inlovewithstory.bsky.social

14 followers 42 following 15 posts

Hi, my name's Sarah! I'm an editor that specializes in LGBTQIAP+ fiction. I believe that all love deserves a great story, and my goal is to help bring yours into the world with a standout edit. You can find me at inlovewithstory.com

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Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Jul 30

Looking for a character profile you can use while writing your novel? I just created a free printable PDF for you to use! Get it at inlovewithstory.com/ilws-library right now! #queerwriters #writingcommunity #authors #mmwritingcommunity #fictionnovel #fictioncharacter #characterprofile

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Reposted by Sarah | In Love with Story

Proud Geek LGBTQ+ Bookshop @proud-geek.co.uk · Sep 15

We’re halfway through #SapphicSeptember! Looking to add some sapphic romance to your TBR? Here’s a list of 20 queer romance books with sapphic main characters to add to your bookshelf:

(There's a list of book titles, authors in the alt text)

#booksky #sapphicbooks

Text reads: 20 sapphic romance novels to read during Sapphic September at Proud Geek

www.proud-geek.co.uk

20 book covers for queer romance books with sapphic main characters:

▪️ In At The Deep End by Kate Davies
▪️ Hani and Ishu’s Guide To Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar
▪️ Friday I’m In Love by Camryn Garrett
▪️ That’s What She Said by Eleanor Pilcher
▪️ The Dos And Donuts Of Love by Adiba Jaigirdar
▪️ Kiss Her Once For Me by Alison Cochrun
▪️ The Summer Love Strategy by Ray Stoeve
▪️ Big Date Energy by Bethany Rutter
▪️ Late Bloomer by Mazey Eddings
▪️ Make The Season Bright by Ashley Herring Blake
▪️ Where Shadows Bloom by Catherine Bakewell
▪️ Love Points To You by Alice Lin
▪️ Homegrown Magic by Jamie Pacton & Rebecca Podos
▪️ The Relationship Mechanic by Karmen Lee
▪️ Amelia, If Only by Becky Albertalli
▪️ Lady Eve’s Last Con by Rebecca Fraimow
▪️ Mistakes Were Made by Meryl Wilsner
▪️ Tart by Becki Jayne Crossley
▪️ I Kissed A Werewolf And I Liked It by Cat Hepburn
▪️ Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake

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Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Sep 12

Just some quick tips for writer's block #writesky #author #writingcommunity #lgbtqwriter #lgbtqauthor

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Sep 8

Especially on Mondays . . . #writesky #writingcommunity #writer #author

An illustration of pad of paper on a pink background. On the paper, "Even on word can be a win," is written. www.inlovewithstory.com

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Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Sep 3

I've never tried dictating a #novel but I am curious to try. Has anyone else used this technique? #writingcommunity #writesky #queerauthor #lgbtqauthor #mmwritingcommunity www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/how-to-start...

How to Start Dictating Fiction (Even If You’ve Tried and Failed Before)

Dictating fiction doesn’t require fancy software—just the right approach. Here’s how to start dictating fiction and overcome common hurdles.

www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Sep 2

If you're an #author in need of a reboot (or short on time), why not give this challenge a try? #writesky #queerauthor #mmfiction #sapphicfiction #lgbtqauthor #writingcommunity

Image with flowers at the top. Beneath, it says: Gentle Author Challenge. Read five pages of a writing craft book. Spend five minutes free writing. Take five minutes to brainstorm the next scene as you end your writing session. Read five lines of your work aloud. Spend five seconds congratulating yourself on a job well done (even if it was hard!).

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Aug 20

Just checked into the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat! Very excited (but tired . . . woke up at 4:00 am and I'm definitely not a morning person lol). #mmromance #writersky #queersky #queerromance #writingcommunity #queerbooks #lgbtqbooks

Image of the program for the Northern Rainbow Romance Retreat and a gold-foiled notebook. with rainbow pen.

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Aug 15

There are still tickets available to Northern Rainbow Readers & Writer's Conference starting Wed. 20 in Toronto. (Put on by ‪@northernrainbow.bsky.social‬) It was so much fun last year—I highly recommend adding this to your con calendar. #lgbtqwriters #lgbtqreaders #mmfiction #queerwriters #queersky

NRR 2025

Get tickets online for NRR 2025 here.

northernromanceretreat.ticketspice.com

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Aug 11

I <3 #mmromance but agree with Gortner's thoughts. I cried the 1st time I read DJ Jamison's Resting Beach Face because I finally felt seen as an #asexual (who's not demi). Representation is worth the effort to get right. cwgortner.medium.com/the-objectif...

The Objectification in MM Romance

As I venture into a new chapter in my career, the joys have been boundless. I’ve done my time in the traditional trenches and built a list…

cwgortner.medium.com

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Aug 5

If you're looking for #queerbooks to read, give The Queer Liberation Library a shot. You can access it through Libby or Overdrive. #lgbtq #queerreaders #lgbtqbooks #queerauthor www.queerliberationlibrary.org

Queer Liberation Library

Queer Liberation Library (QLL) is fighting to build a vibrant, flourishing queer future by connecting LGBTQ+ people with literature, information, and resources that celebrate the unique and empowering...

www.queerliberationlibrary.org

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Aug 4

I honestly can't wait for some cooler weather. #writingcommunity #writesky #writingprompt

An image of a fan on a brown paper background with the words: In Love with Story Writing Prompt. It's hot outside, and the air conditioner is broken. How does your character cool off?

Reposted by Sarah | In Love with Story

Charlotte Francis @cfranciswrites.bsky.social · Aug 1

Welcome to #SummerOfStory, a game all about the craft of writing. Can't wait to hear everyone's opinions.

NB: My goal is to prompt discussion, not tell anyone how to write. These aren't my ideas, just my interpretation of well-known tips & techniques

Day 1: Arrive Late, Leave Early

#WritingPrompt

Slide 1: Title, Date, & Prompt Introduction

This slide features a large torn piece of lined paper with the text "August 1st" at the top and the writing prompt "Arrive Late, Leave Early" in big script letters. There's a typewriter in the corner with a note saying "TOOLS not RULES". On the right, there's a speech bubble with prompt questions, a Bluesky butterfly, and it has a palm leaf background.

Transcription:
August 1st
Arrive Late, Leave Early

What's your take on this writing technique? Have you used it before — or do you avoid it?

Share your thoughts, drop a snippet, or tell us how you'd use it in a scene.

Slide 2: What and Why

This slide is a piece of lined paper with "What?" and "Why?" highlighted at the top and middle. It explains what "Arrive Late, Leave Early" means as a writing technique and why it's useful. There's a Bluesky butterfly and palm fronds in the backgrond.

Transcription:
What?
Originally a screenwriting technique, "Arrive Late, Leave Early" means starting a scene as close as possible to the moment of change, conflict, or plot development, then exiting as soon as it resolves—or during, if you're aiming for a cliffhanger.

Why?
Streamlines the storytelling, keeping the reader engaged and the narrative moving at a brisk pace.

Slide 3: In Practice

This slide looks like a piece of graph paper and features stick figure doodles telling a story about someone waking up, brushing teeth, encountering a bear in the kitchen (the bear!), and fighting it off. Key moments are labelled, and there are arrows suggesting where a scene could start or end.

Transcription:
Where should this scene start and end?

Asleep → Wake up → Brush teeth → Doom Scroll → Walk into kitchen (Start here?) → Find bear → Fight bear off with air freshener → Bear runs away → React (End here?) → Post about it → Haggle with locksmith → Wait for new locks

But what if it's a romance and the locksmith is the LI? Where is the latest point we can enter that gets straight to the meat of the conflict? (Yes, that was a bad pun)

Slide 4: What do you think?

This slide is a torn piece of paper with discussion questions for writers about using the "Arrive Late, Leave Early" technique. There's a speech bubble repeating "TOOLS not RULES," a blue butterfly, and palm fronds in the background.

Transcription:
What do you think?

So, what's your take on "Arrive Late, Leave Early?" Do you like to drop your readers into scenes close to the conflict/action, or do you prefer a slower start? Do you plan your scenes with this in mind?

Why not share your experience or a snippet with the community? Hot takes welcome—jst please don't set anyone on fire!

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Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Jul 31

I'm typically a private person, so this article is 100% vibes for me. www.writersdigest.com/5-reasons-wh... #writingcommunity #writesky

5 Reasons Why Writers Need Privacy

Author Tiffany Jenkins shares five essential reasons why writers need privacy to truly be successful with their writing goals.

www.writersdigest.com

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Jul 31

Love this series!

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Jul 30

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Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Jul 24

Something I have to remind myself of is this: if you think what you've written is "too unbelievable," it often isn't. Suspension of disbelief is still possible when the stakes are sky high. #writingcommunity #authors #fiction #writing

An illustration of pad of paper on a pink background. "Dream big, Write bigger," is written on the paper.

Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Jul 23

I like how H Noss includes a short list of stereotypes to avoid at the end of the blog.(Part of writing authentic characters not of your own identity is to be aware of these.) #nonbinarycharacters #queerfiction #writingcommunity
hnossproofreads.co.uk/what-you-nee...

What you need to know before writing a non-binary character | H Noss Proofreads

I’ve compiled some common questions to help as many writers as possible learn and feel more confident about including a non-binary character.

hnossproofreads.co.uk

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Sarah | In Love with Story @inlovewithstory.bsky.social · Jul 22

I just got back from a family camping trip, so this feels a bit too real for me right now, ha. #writingprompts #author #writing

A writing prompt from www.inlovewithstory.com that says "It's time to go camping! There will be s'mores, but first your character needs to set up the tent . . ."