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Recipe for a Story
mostly Comedy & Romance
a blog
by Stephanie Bourbon @ 2024
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Stephanie Bourbon
May 31, 20235 min read
Hallmark Holiday Movies Aren't Rom-Coms And Here Is Why
It's frustrating to see so many mislabeling Hallmark's (and other channels like it) as romantic comedies when they are straight-up...
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Stephanie Bourbon
May 17, 20235 min read
Review-Love Again, Rom-Com...Here's Why It Works
Critics slammed this film, so we skipped it the weekend it opened, even though the trailers looked amazing because we read all the bad...
308 views0 comments
Stephanie Bourbon
May 10, 20234 min read
How To Write Your 8 Story Beats & Then Add To Them
If you are writing or have written a romantic comedy you will want to know your main story beats. Here are some practical tips for...
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Stephanie Bourbon
May 3, 20234 min read
Romantic Comedies Are A Subgenre of COMEDY
You are writing a romantic comedy, but it's not working. Why? Maybe it's because you are following how to write a romance and not a...
132 views0 comments
Stephanie Bourbon
Apr 19, 20233 min read
Is Your Inciting Incident The Same As Your Meet-Cute In Your Romantic Comedy Screenplay or Novel?
The answer isn't yes or no. How annoying, right? Sorry, but that's just the way it is. In my professional opinion, it's better to...
331 views0 comments
Stephanie Bourbon
Nov 8, 20213 min read
Genre Clarity, what is it & why do I need it?
Happy Monday to all the writers out there!! I'm so grateful that you are here. Today I am talking about GENRE CLARITY and why it's so...
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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
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...
24 views0 comments
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...
15 views0 comments
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...
30 views0 comments
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 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...
76 views0 comments
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...
7 views0 comments
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...
11 views0 comments
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
Jun 7, 20217 min read
Disney's New Cruella & Why It Works So Well (SPOILERS)
CONTAINS SPOILERS! This week, I'm breaking down Disney's newest live-action flick based on an animated film from the past. CRUELLA. First...
305 views0 comments
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