The First Draft Pro Blog

We freaking love stories

You do too? Well, well, well. That smells like BFF potential.

A mother and child (the product of a romance between the kiddo's parents!), two people talking with a large heart above them, a person dancing and another person playing a fiddle.
Outlining
1 min read

Conventions of the Romantasy genre

Romantasy is the child of two parent genres, and it inherits conventions from both.
Cupid shooting an arrow at the sun, for some reason. IDK.
Outlining
2 min read

How long should a Romantasy novel be?

How long your romantasy novel needs to be to balance the pacing romance needs with the room fantasy worldbuilding requires.
Scenes in an inn.
Outlining
5 min read

Romantasy tropes that keep readers turning pages

Romantasy tropes that keep readers turning pages: fated mates, bonded pairs, fae bargains, enemies to lovers, and more.
An abstract image with scribbles, coloured red and purple.
Outlining
3 min read

5 crucial aspects for outlining any story

Five crucial aspects to consider when outlining any story.
An abstract image with scribbles, coloured pink.
Outlining
3 min read

How to create an outline for your novel

How to create a compelling outline for your novel.
An illustration of a human-shaped person (I think that's what they were going for at least) scratching his head.
Outlining
5 min read

Establish your story basics

Story basics act as your homing signal when you get stuck in the twists and turns of your plot.