I would like to write well and also have pew-pew lasers. Is that too much to ask?
@lorelaitarlow
Romcom author, reader, and #romancereads reviewer. More about me and what I’m reading and writing at lorelaitarlow.com. Subscribe at lorelaitarlow.substack.com and join the *free* Trope-of-the-Month Club: a romance short story delivered to your inbox.
I would like to write well and also have pew-pew lasers. Is that too much to ask?
I'm doing a writing seminar and autocorrect changed Setting in my notes to Getting. Half the time, I have to correct autocorrect. I appreciate spell check - I can no longer spell long words - but I'm considering turning it off to keep it from rewriting me as if it knows better. Yeesh!
AI is making all the little things I do online, like internet search, worse. Definitely enshittifying the internet. It’s also offering random and annoying spellchecks when I type. “Talk” becomes “Yellow” or whatever. Truly dystopian.
PS Literary is on the hunt for a literary agent to join us in championing great stories.
If you have one or more years of publishing experience, excellent soft skills, and business acumen, reach out!
https://www.psliterary.com/opportunities/
Just started reading it. Looking forward to watching the series!
ICYMI! These books are available for free or $0.99 this week, and everything in my shop is 25% off.
There MIGHT be something spicy dropping tomorrow, too... 👀
Only about a month after opening registration, we have almost 350 independent bookstores registered for this year's #BookstoreRomanceDay. If you're in a book buying mood, why not throw some support to one of them?
bookstoreromanceday.org/participatin...
Preparing to edit a novel? Unsure of how to get started? Intimidated by the size of the task?
Come to Writing Roundtables: Revising a Novel, a virtual deep dive into revision timelines, strategies, and more with @clpolk.com, @vriccithode.bsky.social, @clockhartwrite.bsky.social & Jade Benjamin ½
I've got my #authorgoals for the year and alread running behind. It feels like standing at the base of a mountain wondering how in hell I'll get to the top.
2/2 word count triples the time to write and edit. Sigh.
So I set myself a goal to write one trope-heavy #romcom short story a month in 2026, because I had so much fun with holiday tropes last December. Then I decided I'd write one novella a month, then expanded the concept even more and...I'm not done with my January story. It turns out that doubling the
30% off all books. 40% off when you buy 5 items or more.
Huge website sale ends tomorrow. Act now or live with regret! www.capitolhillbooks-dc.com
Tomorrow is the last day to download a free ebook of The 12 Tropes of Christmas. BookHip.com/SMBNFLR
But don't worry — the 12 tropes of 2026 is coming soon. My gift to #romancereaders for joining my mailing list is a new short story or novella every month this year.
Happy Monday! I'm really excited about the January story for my trope-of-the-month club peeps. Just subscribe to my newsletter to join. lorelaitarlow.substack.com/about
In the meantime, newsletter subscribers can download The 12 Tropes of Christmas collection until January 31. #romcom #holidayroman
If you didn't get your fill of #holidayromance, use the QR code to get my holiday #romcom collection, The 12 Tropes of Christmas, for free. Read the first story now at lorelaitarlow.com/6-stories-12...
If you care about indie bookshops and their fight to survive against the behemoths, please give this a read
This is a link to the Breaking Cover article feature written by indie bookshop owner Arthur Kay of The Gilded Acorn:
www.pressreader.com/uk/the-spect...
FREE BOOK ALERT from Kasey Stockton! #booksky
If you're a fan of single parent and/or small town romances, this one sounds good! Check out Recipe for Rivals by Kasey Stockton, which is FREE at time of posting. This is free for a limited time only --> amazon.com/dp/B0CPLKH4L7
If you missed The 12 Tropes of Christmas, all the stories are still available until January 17. Just subscribe to my newsletter (it's free!) to read them all.
There's nothing better than writing when it pops, and that's how I felt writing The 12 Tropes of Christmas stories. So I'm going to extend the challenge to myself: a new short story every month in 2026, each one centered on a different trope.
What's your favorite romance trope?
The last installment of my free #holidayromance short story collection has dropped! The #NYE story is a #sapphic #secondchance romance. Read it and all six stories in The 12 Tropes of Christmas for free at my Substack.
#booksky 💙📚🏳️🌈
Coming tomorrow: the final story in my free #holidayromance collection. Become a free subscriber at lorelaitarlow.substack.com to get the whole 12 Tropes of Christmas collection and more #romancereads in the new year.
Today: Grumpy/Sunshine trope. lorelaitarlow.substack.com/p/sunshine-h...
More stories dropping daily in The 12 Tropes of Christmas! #holidayromance #freeromancereads #sapphic #queer #fakemarriage #enemies2lovers
The first three stories in The 12 Tropes of Christmas are now live. Follow the links in this thread to read more about a Jewish Santa, rival bakers, and a secret billionaire.
lorelaitarlow.substack.com/p/the-8-date...
I’m so there!
Available now: the first free holiday romcom story in The 12 Tropes of Christmas: 8 Dates of Hanukkah is available at my Subtack lorelaitarlow.substack.com/p/the-8-date...
#holidayromance
#romcom
#hanukkahromance