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Recipe for a Story
mostly Comedy & Romance
a blog
by Stephanie Bourbon @ 2025
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Stephanie Bourbon
Oct 31, 20212 min read
Writing Goals for NaNoWriMo
Good morning writers, I hope you are amazing! It's time for another National Novel Writing Month or NaNoWriMo as it's called! Use...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Oct 25, 20212 min read
I'm Doing Something Scary--OUTLINING!
Hello, Writers!! This week one of my goals was to get my new romantic comedy novel outlined in the 7 story arcs required in rom-coms. It...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Oct 18, 20216 min read
(Romantic) Comedy Character Archetypes & Who Needs To Be Included
Happy Monday!!! This week I'm talking about characters in comedy, and romantic comedies. What I am seeing in a lot of work that is coming...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Oct 11, 20217 min read
How To Go Deeper With Your Characters
Hey, Writers! Happy Monday! This week I'm talking about when you get that dreaded feedback that goes something like "I couldn't connect...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Oct 4, 20213 min read
Opening Pages Mistakes That All Writers Make
Hello Writers!! I've been coaching writers with their pitches, including their query letter & synopsis but the truth is if you don't have...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 30, 20213 min read
How to write a novel in a month and win nanowrimo
Hello, Writers!! This week, I'm coaching you on how to write a draft fast and complete NaNoWriMo, which is coming up in just a month....
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Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 27, 20213 min read
The Two Things on Social Media All Writers Need to Do
Hello, Dear Writers! This week I'm talking about what social media you MUST have if you are a writer. Okay, maybe not a must-have, or a...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 20, 20213 min read
The Importance of Writing Goals
Good Morning Writers! This week, I'm behind in everything but the one thing that has kept me on track is that I have a GOAL LIST and I...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 13, 20212 min read
Getting Behind in Your Publishing Goals? It's Okay!!
Hello, Writers!! Happy Monday! YOU ARE WHERE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE! So, you have a plan and it goes something like this. Write my novel....
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Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 6, 20213 min read
ACK I'm Still Getting Rejected!
Hello, Writers, happy Monday! Today, I'm talking about rejection. UGH, you have sent in your manuscript or query letter, and this time...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 30, 20213 min read
Always Do What You Love For A Living
Happy Monday! Here's a little reminder if you are stuck in a rut! DO WHAT YOU LOVE and accept nothing less for your life and career....
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Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 23, 20213 min read
It's All About Character & What That Really Means
Hello Dear Writers!! Today, I'm talking about CHARACTER. The concept is simple. You write a story and it's filled with characters. Maybe...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 14, 20212 min read
The Truth About Why You Are Getting Rejected
Happy Monday, Writers! Rejection sucks; doesn't it? And yet, we all go through it, but so many times I see writers posting on forums, in...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 11, 20215 min read
Do I need social media? YES...
Today, let's talk about social media because it's 2021 and that means that this is something you should do. Unless, of course, you...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 9, 20213 min read
Why Women Characters Need to Be Strong-Realistic
Happy Monday, today, I'm talking about writing strong, female characters who we love, and others will too! It's so important to represent...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 2, 20213 min read
How To Use A Beat Sheet For Your Novel
In film and especially television writing the "beat sheet" is something that is needed to show your showrunner or director the beats of...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 2, 20213 min read
Even Your Villains Need A Reason
It's Monday and today I'm talking about writing the perfect VILLAIN! Snidely Whiplash, an archetypical sinister cartoon villain I love me...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Jul 26, 20212 min read
WHAT YOUR CHARACTERS SAY MATTERS
This week, I'm talking about characters and dialogue~ How people speak is the one thing that I find writers struggle with the most. I’m...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Jul 19, 20216 min read
Show vs Tell
Happy Monday!! This week I want to talk to you about this concept of showing versus telling. It's important, and writers are still not...
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Stephanie Bourbon
Jul 12, 20214 min read
How To Crush Your Query Letter
This week I want to talk to you about your query letter. If you already have an agent then you may not need this, but you can always also...
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