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romancing the beats1 Romanceing the Beats Recap - July 27, 2019

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2 Romanceing the Beats Recap - July 27, 2019

LL Notes on Romancing the Beat | Gwen Hayes 2016

agendaWho is Gwen Hayes

• Romance Author + Former Freelance editor

What is Romancing the Beat • Gwen’s take on how to writer short romance

stories + short category romance books

Chapter Breakdowns • All beats get their own chapter • BUT there are no chapter #s • AND there is one chapter about phases

my reading notes

33 Secrete | 2013


who is gwen hayes4 Romanceing the Beats Recap - July 27, 2019

Gwen Hayes • YA Fantasy +

Contemporary Romance Author

• Dec 2017 - closed down her editing service: Fresh Eyes

• Last book: March 2017


romancing the beats6 Romanceing the Beats Recap - July 27, 2019


Romancing the Beat • Published April 2016 • Advertised her editing services

in the Welcome Le!er • Fresh Eyes - 2013 to 2017

• Based on Saving the Cat • Emotional Beats • Omits external plot • Omits storytelling • Omits story structure

• This book is best for • Shorter stories • Category Length: 20-55K • Writers who like beats • Pantsers • NOT for outliners

what is romancing the beat


Cra! Video | What is Category Romance + Is It For You| h"ps://youtu.be/4Zgi7ks_fS4


chapter breakdowns9 Romanceing the Beats Recap - July 27, 2019


pre-beat informationRomance Theme

• Love conquers all

External Plot • Is what sells your book • Is on the back cover copy • And not at all covered in this book

4 Phases • Set up • Falling in love • Retreating from love • Fighting for love

Beat Sheet • 5 beats/phase

0 | before breaking down the actual beats


beat sheet cheatsheetPhase 1 | Set Up

• Intro Protagonist 1 • Intro Protagonist 2 • Meet Cute • No Way 1 • Adhesion Plot Thrust

Phase 2 | Falling In Love • No Way 2 • Inkling this could work • Deepening desire • Maybe this time • Midpoint of LOVE Plot Thrust

Phase 3: Retreating From Love • Inkling of doubt • Deepening doubt • Retreat • Shields up • Break Up

Phase 4: Fighting For Love • Dark night of the Soul • Wake-up/Catharsis • Grand Gesture • What whole-hearted looks like • Epilogue


Phases + beats within each one



phase one: the setup Phase 1 | Set Up • Intro Protagonist 1 Show them in their

everyday life but add in a new conflict • Intro Protagonist 2 Same as above • Meet Cute When your love interests meet for

the 1st time - make it a cute story they can tell their grandkids

• No Way 1 Declaration of anti-love for love itself + especially for the love interest via internal dialogue or a conversation; but related to their own inner fears/issues/false beliefs

• Adhesion Plot Thrust Give a reason they need to stay together

My Thoughts • You can skip beat 2 if you’re writing only 1

POV - the second beat assumes dual POV • Adhesion is really your external plot, not an

emotional romance beat. This is a story element.


Cra! Video | 10 Elements of Every Romance Novel | h"ps://youtu.be/h16Osy5tkvM


Cra! Video | Creating a Memorable Meet Cute | h"ps://youtu.be/6yZatjUheVg



Phase 2 | Falling In Love • Blake Snyder’s Fun + Games section = false

high • No Way 2 Re-run of the same exact thing

from Phase 1 • Inkling this could work Sexual Acts [if it

works w/your heat level], shared emotional, physical or fun [fun + games] moment

• Deepening desire Falling in lust w/sweet moments - forward momentum; 2 steps FW beat

• Maybe this time Sex or repeat sex or intimate moment; question their inner fears about love/love interest

• Midpoint of LOVE Plot Thrust Tell someone or inner dialogue about how great this will be

phase two: falling in love

My Thoughts • This section can be tough to follow if you

have a low heat level book


Cra! Video | How To Choose A Heat Level for Your Romance Book | h"ps://youtu.be/X7nSXYOH1JQ



Phase 3: Retreating From Love • Inkling of doubt Re-run of the No Way beat

for a 3rd time • Deepening doubt Still having sex but

secretly still thinking about the No Way beat from Inkling of doubt

• Retreat Inner dialogue or conversation voicing that their love-related fears are coming true + they’re out; but not directly to their love interests

• Shields up Self-fulfilled fear prophecy comes true [at least in their mind]

• Break Up At least one person has to dump the other; tie this to your external plot black moment. i.e. If your hero is afraid he can’t protect his gf, then the hero has to be the one who sent her to the burning bldg to die

phase three: retreating from love

My Thoughts • Great point about emotional black moment

tying into the external black moment



Phase 4: Fighting For Love • Dark night of the Soul Rock bo!om - tub of

ice cream sadness; memory montage of Phase 2 - Falling in Love; Someone tells them they’re an idiot

• Wake-up/Catharsis Morning a"er ice cream tub has been eaten; They decide to choose love over fear

• Grand Gesture Race to the airport, public declaration of love/proposal, sacrificing their dream/goal so the other person’s can come true, overcoming a fear mentioned earlier in the book

• What whole-hearted looks like Mirror of the meet cute

• Epilogue Sappy recap of wedding, babies, white picket fence

phase four: fighting for love

My Thoughts • Perfect for anyone wanting to write a book similar to her “Don’t Stop

Believing” novel - Beat Sheet for gay romance with a high heat level



Who is this for • Pantsers helps give minimal guidance on

emotional beats to hit as you dra" • Save The Cat Fans if you love beats, then

you’ll love this book format

Who is this NOT for • Plo"ers purposely lacks structure +

storytelling guidance • Newbies need cohesion on how to fit

together the external plot, character gmc, se!ing, world-building, tropes and other plot devices

Overall Recommendation • Definite Yes It’s still a great breakdown of

the character love interests inner thoughts + actions

final thoughts



New Video Series • Series bible + 5 different types of series +

how to plot each of them • Author GirlBoss creating your Author

Business Plan • Passive Income

1.Courses 2.Affiliate Income 3.Printables 4.Etsy Shop 5.Zazzle Shop

• 1-1 Services 1.Coaching 2.Editing 3.Virtual Assistant 4.Cover Designer

New Courses • Plo!ing from Tropes • Writing Sex for Romance Writers

what’s coming this fall



No videos • August + September So I can write my own

books! • October I’ll be back • Make sure to subscribe to the channel so

you don’t miss anything

Let’s stay connected • I post new InstaStories EVERYDAY

youtube hiatus

@lisalondonbooks


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