Genevive Chamblee's Blog, page 12

Bloggers Writer’s Block

Today’s topic is a little bit of a cheat but not really. In celebration of the upcoming release of my newest novel, Future Goals, on February 2, 2022, I am posting daily to my blog. I had said that each post would be related to something that happened in or related to the story. Well, today’s topic is vaguely related in that I’m writing daily posts.

When creating content regularly, a blogger may stall for ideas. I know bloggers who post daily, and wow, do I admire them. I understand how much effort must go into being that prolific. I post weekly, and that can be a challenge, let alone making daily posts. And since I have challenged myself to make daily post until my release date, I am really feeling that pressure in developing content. As I made my list of topics, I began asking myself why was it such a struggle for me to think of appropriate topics. Turn out, there are several reasons that bloggers (not just myself) may struggle for content.

One common issue bloggers face is that they’ve s already written about the topic. However, there are a couple of solutions to this dilemma.

If a subject is quite large, instead of tackling it all in one post, divide it into several posts. One could even make a series out of it.Update the existing post with new information. I call this my Big Chill Updates. This is not an official name but one I invented because I’m a fan of the 1983 movie The Big Chill. Not only did this movie have an incredible plot, but it also had terrific actors (e.g., Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Kline, Glenn Close, JoBeth Williams, William Hurt, and Tom Berenger to name a few). To me, this movie hits all the right beats of comedy, drama, and angst. Watching it is a very satisfying emotional experience. However, due to today’s advanced technology, the movie is extremely dated and difficult to relate to on some levels. For example, the stigmas on single motherhood and seeking professional counseling have decreased since the movie’s release. If the movie was released today in its current form and said to be set in 2022, I do not believe it would fair very well. Today’s audience would find simple solutions to many of the character’s dilemmas. This doesn’t lessen the value of the movie. People still face those same issues. What it means is that the way those issues are addressed and the potential solutions would need to reflect what is happening in the world currently. And this would be the same with a blog. The material becomes dated. A blogger may want to revisit a post to update it with more current information.Expand on previous topics. Sometimes a subject doesn’t need to be updated, but rather, needs to be expanded. I’ve written posts that have received many questions or been requested for more information. This lets me know that I should do a more in-depth post to provide clarity.Listen to feedback. Along the same lines as the previous point, bloggers should pay close attention to the feedback that they receive from readers. Often, this feedback can spark new writing ideas or convey to the blogger the types of posts the readers are interested in reading. Sometimes, this may mean expanding an existing topic while other times it may lead to developing a new but related topic. Or it even may lead to an unrelated topic being discussed.Branch out. Now, this may be tricky as most marketing experts will encourage their clients to remain on brand. After all, that is why an audience returns. I believe it is fair to say that Jim Carrey is known for his comedic chops. However, the first movie I saw Jim Carrey in when he was towards the beginning of his acting career, and it was a dramatic role. He did an amazing job which shows that he has versatility. Since then, he has taken on other dramatic roles. However, when he does take on dramatic roles it’s not uncommon to hear people comment that he’s “breaking away from his usual.” Doing something different isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, in some instances, it could be good. How many actors have been type-cast and had their careers end as soon as the role ended? A blogger, every now and then, may wish to step away from his/her “normal” to show his/her audience what else he/she is capable of.Too many self-imposed rules. I have fallen victim to this in the past. It began when I read an article that gave tips for writing a successful blog. I felt compelled to follow each suggestion to the letter, and that created an issue. For example, one suggestion indicated that posts needed to be of a certain length to be recognized by the Google algorithm. What wasn’t mentioned is that this algorithm changes, and not everyone knows exactly what the algorithm is. It is kept secret to prevent people from manipulating it. So, my trying to meet that standard may or may not have been in vain. Second, and more importantly, word counts in my opinion are garbage most times. A story or blog is finished when it’s finished. If I have a completed story at 30,000 but someone says it needs to be 50,000 in length, unless I can add 20,000 words of quality, any additional words would just be fluff and not improve my story. In fact, it could possibly weaken it. Well, no one instructed that I had to do this. I read the article and took it upon myself to self-impose the tips as rules. It’s fine for bloggers (and other writers) to have rules. But it’s equally as important to ensure that these rules are functional, durable, and improve one craft. If not, dump them. And having too many may remove the focus from the writing to being sure to follow rules.Take a break. Sometimes it is necessary to step away from writing to allow the creative juices to regenerate. When authors finish a manuscript draft, they are often encouraged to put it away for several days (weeks or months) before beginning the editing process. This is because when a writer reads what he/she has written, they know what it is supposed to say or convey. Therefore, they may read things that aren’t really there or not errors that are. The braining is automatically editing. By taking a break, the writer can better see mistakes or flaws once he/she returns to the script. Bloggers may need to take a break to discover what topics are missing from his/her blog.

So, that wraps up this post. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

Future Goals Behind the Scenes (Saint Anne)

Welcome back to the bayou, or if it’s your first time here. Hello. I’m so glad that you found this place. As by the title of this post, I’m writing about the world—or rather, city—building of Saint Anne in my Locker Room Love series. For those who are not familiar, Locker Room Love is a contemporary sports romance series. However, each book can be read as a stand-alone. Future Goals which releases on 02/02/23. Future Goals is the fifth book in the series, and it is a hockey romance. To celebrate its release, I’m posting daily on a topic that in some manner relates to the story.

Books one through three (Out of the Penalty Box, Defending the Net, and Ice Gladiators) are all set in the fictional city of Saint Anne, Louisiana. While the fourth book, Penalty Kill, mostly takes place in Northcove, Mississippi, a portion of it also occurs in Saint Anne.

Saint Anne is a culturally rich and diverse city in South Louisiana, located in western Jefferson Parish and close to New Orleans. Many of the residents are bilingual in English and French—both Creole French and Cajun French—but certainly not all. It is home to professional athletic teams, the Saint Anne Civets (hockey) and Saint Anne Hounds (football).

The city was founded in 1726 by Roche d’Iberville who was the great step-nephew of Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville. However, the story of Saint Anne began several years prior in 1722 when a hurricane destroyed most of New Orleans. Before founding Saint Anne, Roche resided in New Orleans. However, Roche had two serious issues. One, he was a heavy drinker, and two, he was a ferocious gambler. Even in the eighteenth century, booze and gambling weren’t a good combination. He found himself in serious debt. On the brink of starvation due to the hurricane and being hunted by his debt collectors, Roche set out on a fishing expedition in desperation. He was moderately successful in this endeavor, however, on his return trip, his ship ran aground in Talwalka, a derelict subsect of the Coushatta Indians, territory.

Initially, the Talwalka were curious about the fishermen. However, upon a search of the ship, they discovered Roche and his men had caught a pocket shark which presented a significant problem for Roche. Pocket sharks were held in veneration by the Talwalka because they were believed to be sacred to Nerrivik, the god of the ocean. Catching one was thought to anger the gods and required a blood sacrifice for the offender. For this reason, Roche was taken to the tribal site on orders of Pelahat, the chief of the Talwalka, and sentenced to death. However, Hurit who was the daughter of Pelahat intervened.

Having been a liaison between the Indigenous People of Louisiana and the Caucasian settlers along the Mississippi River, Hurit pleaded with her father to spare Roche’s life. Her father granted her request but banished her from the tribe. Grateful and indebted for the gesture, Roche saw this as an opportunity to begin a new life. He quit gambling and drinking (for the most part), took Hurit as his bride, and moved to an unpopulated area that he claimed as Saint Anne.

Like many cities in South Louisiana, Saint Anne is a city that was heavily influenced by Catholicism during its development. It is named after the Catholic saint Saint Anne who was the mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus. The city is filled with beautiful cathedrals and statues. With its unique, copious, and distinctive architectural, and cultural heritage; beauty, eclectic art scene, and cosmopolitan feel, Saint Anne is a favorite destination for athletic events, conferences, cuisine, live music, Mardi Gras carnivals and festivities, sightseeing, and tropical climate. A fusion of African, French, and Spanish influences are present throughout the city.

Saint Anne shares many similarities with the Big Easy, such as using a working streetcar transit system, having a geographical layout based upon social economic status with the most prominent neighborhoods being located closer to the city’s center, and sitting below sea level. The population of the city is just shy of 97,000 but is growing daily.

Saint Anne also is the location of the University of Louisiana at Saint Anne (ULSA), an elite a leading research-extensive university that was established in 1844. ULSA has a student population of close to 31,000 (which isn’t counted in the 97,000-city population). The University has a business administration school, dental school, engineering school, law school, medical school, pharmacy school, and veterinary school. It also boasts Division I athletics—the Minotaurs. The school colors are indigo and maroon.

So, that wraps up this post. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

Not the Next Book: A Pantser’s Life

To plot or not to plot? To write a standalone or create a series? Those were the questions. Perhaps my sharing this behind-the-scenes view into my writing process, will help others to develop, recognize, or find their process, as writing is as unique to writers as are fingerprints. In fact, an author’s style is that author’s literary fingerprint sort of speak.

Writing a series can be tricky. When I began writing Out of the Penalty Box, it was not with the intention to write a series. It wasn’t until people who read it began asking me what happened next that I realize the overall story wasn’t complete and that I indeed had more to say. So, I thought about it for a while and wrote the second Defending the Net. Still, at this point, I was not thinking series. I thought sequel. But again, I received the question of what happened next. The odd part was that I knew the answer to this question. I knew about these characters and how I saw their ending. In my head, I knew their stories. Transcribing what was in my head onto paper was another story. However, series aren’t always straightforward.

See, I had a lot of ideas churning, and multiple characters waiting to take their turn center stage. As pantser, I do not outline—at least, not on paper. I may not know every detail or even the exact order of events. Yet, it is not a purely random process. If I were to compare my writing process to the Big Bang Theory (the actual theory and not a television sitcom), the free-floating gases would be my thoughts. They aren’t connected to anything and are without form. When I sit to type, some of the gases connect and/or bind together and begin to take shape. The more words (i.e., gases) on a page, the more compressed the story becomes, and matter (i.e., plot) forms. After some time, it explodes into a first draft.

For me, being a pantser is like thinking aloud on except on paper. I’m not inherently against plotting, but trying forcefully to organize the “gases” doesn’t work for me. Their binding is more organic in nature. I see a scene in my mind. I know it needs to happen. I may not know where in the story it will land, but I know it must be there, and I write it at that moment while it is fresh and coming to me. I don’t use notes; although, I may later use notes to edit or revise. If I don’t write the scene when I first feel it, I will lose my mojo for it and fall out of the zone. I write around that scene as well as in it because it’s still not “solid” at that point. It’s evolving. So, in a way, my first draft is my detailed outline. I’m not trying to get it perfect at that point. And writing in this manner often means not seeing the wide scope.

After Defending the Net, I had a better view of the overall big picture of where this story with these characters was headed. Ice Gladiators came next… well, sorta. See, this is where I began a story and abandoned it, or rather, set it aside. The story I began writing, I quickly realized wasn’t the “next” story. It was a story alright, but it definitely wasn’t my book three. And this is what happens when a pantser attempts to outline. With the best intentions, I tried to draft an outline. However, I spent most of my days, staring at the page and struggling with how to fill in rising actions, redemption arc, and plot points. I think this method works better for authors who write in chronological chapter order or close to it. My process allows me to move from scene to scene without knowing scene placement and build from there

The argument is that writing this way is wasteful or leaves (and sometimes creates) plot holes. Very rarely do I have to trash an entire scene, and when I do, it’s not due to content but due to the writing itself not being where I want it to be. In fact, writing this way allows me to seal any developing plot holes before they become too big…as in, what was going on with book three. What I was attempting to outline wasn’t my book three, and in fact, were two books that I had muddled into one. I also realized there was something missing between the previous book and the book I was trying to write. How I came to this realization was through my big mouth.

One afternoon, I wanted to share with a coworker an experience I’d had earlier in the week. As I began relaying my tale, it occurred to me that I needed to give her background information so that my story with make sense. Otherwise, without the proper context, she wouldn’t fully understand. Thus, I began to convey the relevant background information but quickly realized that I need to depart from sharing the background to explain the background of the background. Yeah, I know that sounded a mess, but anyone who is familiar with Southern storytelling already knows how this goes. Southern storytelling doesn’t progress in a straight light from A to Z. It zigzags to grab a whole bunch of small parts that upon first glance may seem inconsequential but later in the story will provide much clarity. Growing up in the South, that is how my brain has been programmed to operate. It is how I write. Outlining is difficult for me because outlining assumes a direct route.

Now, this isn’t to say all writers from the South are going to write in this manner. I simply bring it up because when I say I’m a pantser, many plotters automatically assume that there is no method to the madness. I don’t get writer’s block/story block due to not having an outline. I get them when I force myself into trying to create one. When I abandoned trying to devise an outline, Ice Gladiators immediately came to me. Not only that, before I completed the manuscript, the foundation for Penalty Kill had already begun forming. After I completed Penalty Kill, I revisited the unnamed story I had begun. As I began to write, I again had a realization. This still wasn’t the “next” story. I had skipped to the end, and I didn’t think readers would be happy with the holes that would leave. Therefore, I closed the file and began writing Future Goals.

When I started Future Goals, it wasn’t the story I thought I would write. Being a pantser means the story sometimes shifts itself. The main reason for this shift is that I always strive to keep my stories and characters fresh. While my writing style remains the same, it is my desire to avoid duplicating tropes and creating characters that are too similar to each other. I push myself to go beyond what I’ve done previously. The more I wrote, the more the characters changed. However, those changes were in line with the trajectory of the series. Therefore, I continued. Future Goals definitely have characters and a plot that is different than previous books in this series. I think readers will appreciate the switch up.

The curious thing is that although I know the ending (it’s written in my head), it keeps tweaking itself after each book. It’s like each book closes the gap. That is how I will know when it’s time to complete the book in the file—when the gap is full.

That’s it for this post. Do you agree or disagree? What is your take on the subject? Did you find these tips helpful or informative? Let me know your thoughts and opinions in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming 02/02/23.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (Book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

The Definition of Romance

Every day in January (with the exception of New Year’s Day), I have been posting to Creole Bayou blog on different topics that occur in or are related to subjects in my newest sports romance (soon to be released), Future Goals in celebration of the novel going live on 02/02/23. Future Goals is the fifth book in my sports romance series, Locker Room Love. Although this is a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone. As one may imagine, coming up with a new topic each day can be a challenge for a content creator. I was struggling with a topic idea as I sat down to write this when I realized that I’d neglected to discuss the obvious. With Valentine’s Day fast approaching next month, it seems fitting to go all in and discuss what is the focal point of Future Goals: romance.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, romance is a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines romance as a love affair. Now, for romance authors, there is a distinction between a love story and a romance. There are people who will disagree with the following statements, but the majority of romance authors will agree as these are guidelines that have been cosigned by the Romance Writers of America (RWA). To be considered a romance, a novel must include three main ingredients.

There must be at least two characters that fall in love with each other. It’s a simple statement and guideline but one that can be misinterpreted. So, let’s dissect it. There needs to be at least two. If one person falls in love, and that love isn’t reciprocated, it isn’t a romance. One-sided relationships are typically dramas. Two, there is no rule that demands romance be limited to two characters. Some romances contain polygamous relationships, and that is acceptable in this genre. Three, there is no ban on same-sex relationships. For a long time, many believed romance novels could only include relationships between a cis-gender male and cis-gender females. Four, the characters involved in the romantic relationship must be the main characters. If the only characters falling for each other are two side or minor characters, that will not meet the criteria for being labeled as a romance, and the next point denotes why this is the case.The romance must be the focal point of the story. The rule of thumb in a romance novel is if the romantic element can be removed from the story and the story is unaffected by this removal, then this isn’t a romance. Chances are what has been written is some other genre with a romantic subplot.And here’s the biggie that set some people on edge. Romances must have a happy ending where the couple ends up together. Most of the time the argument against this uses the example of Romeo & Juliet. However, this is actually listed as a tragedy or drama. This is also where the difference between a love story and a romance can be seen. Now, in my personal opinion which doesn’t count a squat of beans, I view the relationship between Romeo and Juliet as more of an infatuation or addiction rather than true love. Again, that is just me. I mean they were barely teenagers rebelling against their parents who end up causing a lot of chaos by sneaking around and committing suicide. That doesn’t sound like love to me. But again, that is my opinion. What’s not my opinion is one is to conduct an internet search for a list of William Shakespeare tragedies, Romeo & Juliet would be on that list.

Some people will argue that a romance book must have a “satisfactory” ending. Eh!  The problem with using the word “satisfactory” is that an ending may be satisfying without the couple ending up together which defeats the purpose of a romance novel. I hate to be “punny,” but many erotic novels have satisfactory endings that have absolutely nothing to do with love or romance, which is why it is a genre in and of itself. This is not to say that romances cannot have erotic scenes. However, the focus of erotica is to turn the reader on, and the focus is on sexual acts. Steamy romances or erotic romances, on the other hand, have romance as the center and graphic sexual scenes as secondary. Sex is not the same as romance. But aside from erotica, other books may have satisfactory endings that have nothing to do with sex, love, or romance. All a satisfactory ending means is that the reader is content with the book the ending of the book.

In a romance, a happy ending consists of the two main characters becoming a couple or solidifying their relationship at the resolve. This means that readers will have a reasonable expectation that the two couples will remain a couple for an extended period of time—usually, it’s forever but not always. There’s happily ever after (HEA), which like in the fairytales, is until the end of the characters’ days, and there’s happily for now.

Many times, a happily for now (HFN) ending indicates that the reader isn’t quite sold that the characters will remain together forever. This sometimes occurs in short stories when the romance happens quickly and there’s not a lot of time for readers to get to know the characters or when the characters have an attraction, romance, but again not a lot of time together due to the brevity of the story. For example, a short story may occur over the span of a day. The characters clearly are attracted to each other and will begin a relationship. However, the reader may be able to envision how the relationship will develop beyond the day described, and therefore, may question if the relationship will endure when tested. There’s much logic behind this because how many readers would accept two characters professing their undying love for each other a few hours after meeting.

Frequently, a romance novel involves characters who meet and fall in love. Second-chance romances break that mold. They focus on rekindling love and romance. Often, friends to lovers, enemies to lovers, and office romances also have main characters who know each other from the start of the story. Thus, romance is not restricted to “new love.”

So, what is the difference between a romance and a love story? Actually, not much. Many people use the terms interchangeably, and many literary experts debate what the differences are. However, I believe that most would agree that when a story is heavily centered on a romantic relationship but ends with a bittersweet (not tragic) ending, it likely can be categorized as a love story. Gone With the Wind is a good example of a love story. The romance between Scarlett and Rhett is the undeniable heart of the story, but they do not end up together at the end—or at least, it’s not clear if they do. It ends on an ambiguous note that Scarlett thinks there may be a chance to win Rhett back.

So, that wraps up this post. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

How to Create a Writing Playlist (Music)

I know what a lot of people will say. There’s no need for a post like this because every writer knows how to create a music playlist. To that, I reply: yes and no. Hello again, and welcome to another Creole Bayou post that I have written in celebration of my new sports romance, Future Goals which releases on 02/02/23. Future Goals is the fifth book in my Locker Room Love hockey romance series. Although this is a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone. To celebrate the release, I’m posting daily on a topic that in some manner relates to the story. The way today’s post is related is because I used a music playlist while writing the story. In fact, the music helped me write and shape the story.

Many authors share their music playlists, however, not many discuss their process of making one. Sure, making a playlist is simple enough as going to Spotify and downloading songs. However, which songs to download. For writers, there may need to be more thought into it than just downloading music. Here are some things to consider when creating a playlist.

Favorites. Adding your favorite songs to your writing playlist is likely the most obvious. Clearly, these are songs the writer will connect with on some level. Listening to one’s favorite songs usually causes a person to relax and may put the writer in a mood to write. The pitfall to adding favorites is that they could be distracting. A writer may become so wrapped in the lyrics or beats that he/she forgets to write. These songs may also connect to other events or feelings of nostalgia that pull his/her attention away from the story.Popular/Current. Listening to current or popular music may be good to keep characters contemporary and fresh. This may be especially useful if writing a character much younger than the person penning the story. Recently, I watched a documentary regarding an event that occurred in the 1980s. The interviewees frequently kept referring to “at that time,” indicating how much things had progressed since then. The music in the documentary truly reflexed a lot of the attitudes and movements of the time in lieu of clips of the events. Music does affect mood and attitude. This caused me to pause. It made me wonder if listening to music that predates a character would somehow be reflected in the character and cause that character to not be accurate.

I know this may sound a bit strange, but hear me out on this one. Some time ago, I read a book that I would have enjoyed more if some of the characters, in my opinion, had not been mishandled. Now, I never bash other writers, but sometimes constructive criticism is warranted. I don’t feel that I’m far off-base with this, as when I read the reviews, the issue I had was mentioned multiple times. The character in question was young, and it was apparent that the author wasn’t familiar with children of that age. The character’s behavior resembled that of a child of a much younger age. For example, an eight-year-old may not know how to tie a tie, but he/she should know how to tie his/her shoes, unless, of course, there is some type of physical or intellectual disability. A lot of the music in the 1980s was angry and focused on rebellion. Current music focuses more on social justice and individuality. This isn’t to say that children/teens today can’t or wouldn’t have a rebellious attitude. However, it likely would manifest itself differently and in a manner that would be more in line with the contemporary zeitgeist of music. In other words, listening to contemporary music may aid in writing contemporary characters. That also works the other way.

Classic/Vintage Music. I had older parents and I grew up listening to the music of their generation and not mine. Add to that, for the first years of my life, I wasn’t raised around other children and I lived in the middle of absolutely nowhere. My parents limited my television time and monitored what I watched. By the time I began kindergarten, I didn’t relate to many of my peers. Teachers thought I was shy, but actually, I had acquired an older mentality at a young age. By the time I reached college, I noticed that my closest friends also had older parents. Why did I notice it then? Because it was brought to my attention by a creative writing professor who stated my characters—my contemporary young adult characters—did not seem authentic. I received feedback from my classmates that my characters seemed too mature for their stated ages. I didn’t think about it at the time, but I listened to music that probably my peers’ grandparents would have enjoyed. Now when I write and need an older character, to help me tap into that mindset, I pull out my parents’ music collection.Culture. This blog is named Creole Bayou for a reason. When I want to embody the feeling of Louisiana, you better believe I’m digging into my jazz, blues, and zydeco collections. Some people may argue that this is stereotyping because not every Louisianian listens to that type of music. But the argument isn’t that all people from Louisiana would listen to the same type of music or that all native Louisianians would enjoy jazz, blues, and/or zydeco. They don’t. However, it’s not stereotyping to respect that some music (and things) holds certain associations. Consider the soundtrack to a movie series franchise such as The Fast & The Furious, which is all about street racing culture. The music is fast, upbeat, edgy, and sexy. How appropriate would the soundtrack be if it were filled with musical theatre, folk, opera, or children’s music? Likely, it would be said that someone missed the mark. Although a writing playlist won’t be heard by readers, it definitely can be felt in the writer’s projection.Random selection. Some writers elect to download a mess load of music before beginning a writing project and sorting through the songs as they write for what fits. Others just go with the flow and write scenes that fit with whatever is playing.Pre-selection. This is the opposite of the previous point. Instead of downloading a bunch of music and letting it play, some writers already know what types of movies they want to hear when writing certain scenes. For example, if writing a Christmas romance, a writer may have a playlist of Christmas music. Likewise, if writing a fighting scene, the writer may pre-select the music that will inspire writing that type of scene.Eliminating Background. Sometimes playlists serve as white noise or to block background noise. When writing in a public place, this is often the purpose music serves me. I derive my energy from others, and sometimes, the presence of others helps me to focus. However, I don’t necessarily want interaction. It’s, in a way, comparable to a movie theatre. I would feel a bit off or uncomfortable if I were the only person in a movie theatre, which actually happened once when a family member and myself were the only people. It was especially nerve-racking when we exited into the dark (nearly pitch-black) parking lot with no security and a history of muggings and car break-ins at night. However, if other people have been present, I wouldn’t have wanted to hold conversations with them during the movie.

There is no rule that states that a writer cannot use a combination of these methods to create an effective music playlist. Nor is this list of ideas exhaustive. It truly depends on the writer and what works best for him/her.

And that will conclude this post. Now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that make one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

Louisiana Creole Flag

Today, I will revisit a topic that I discussed many years ago. I have some new information to add, and since I was just getting on my blogging feet, many people probably did not see the post. In celebration of the release, I am posting daily to my blog about a subject that somehow relates to the story. The reason I selected today’s post is because in my upcoming sports romance, Future Goals, which will go live on 02/02/22, I have characters in the story who are Creole. (I also have characters who are Cajun in the story. For those who are interested, I have written a post about the differences between Creole and Cajun cultures, as they are not the same.) Thus, I thought discussing the Louisiana Creole flag would be an appropriate topic.

DISCLAIMER: Before writing posts, I do my best to conduct research from credible sources. Sometimes, information changes between the time of posting and the time that I write the article. In other instances, some topics have controversial elements in that not all “experts” agree on a singular answer. In today’s post, I’m specifically talking about the “Louisiana Creole flag.” It is important to make this distinction because there also exists a National Creole flag and a Creole National Heritage flag. The three are not the same. The National Creole flag was designed by Lisa LaCour Bellow and has a white background with a teal print. The Creole National Heritage flag was created by frenchcreoles.com. Since this is a more intricate design, I’ll discuss it later in the article. I will do my best to give credit where credit is due when it comes to flag designs. If by some chance proper credit is not given, it is in error and not intentional.

This post will discuss what each symbol on the Louisiana Creole flag means and the significance of each of the included elements.

To begin, it is important to discuss how the Louisiana Creole flag came into creation. Joseph Hilton Bergeron, better known as Pete Bergeron, is the designer of this flag. Mr. Bergeron has worn many hats including serving in the U.S. Navy, working as a salesperson, and holding the position of bilingual director of French Programs at KRVS Radio. Additionally, he hosted the radio show Bonjour Louisiane and is the founder of Le Cajun Music Awards and Festival. He designed the Louisiana Creole flag in 1987. The first flag was handstitched by his sister, Delores Kay Conque.

In 1995, this flag was adopted as the official Louisiana Creole flag by C.R.E.O.L.E. Inc. C.R.E.O.L.E. Inc. is a nonprofit Creole heritage preservation organization that seeks to identify, preserve, and promote various aspects of Creole culture (e.g., art, architecture, customs, dance, food, language, literature, and music). It was founded by John Broussard, Marlene Broussard, W. Paul Cluse, Mary Alice Drake, Geneva Phillips, and Herbert Wiltz and is based in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The Louisiana Creole flag is composed of four sections; however, when one looks closely, he/she will realize there are actually five sections. I’ll discuss the sections from left to right, starting with the upper left quadrant.

The upper left section of the flag is a white fleur de lis on a blue background. It represents French heritage. I need to note here that the fleur de lis has an extensive history and one that is too lengthy to discuss here with any type of adequate justice. For that reason, I will provide a brief summary of some of the most important information about the fleur de lis as it relates to the Creole flag. For anyone interested in knowing more, I have written a previous in-depth post dedicated to the fleur de lis entitled Flower Power, but there also are many other sources that provide tons of information about this flower. But here are some facts that I think are noteworthy as to its inclusion of the Creole flag.

While the origins of the fleur de lis are unknown, it can be traced back to the ancient Persians, Greeks, and Egyptians to symbolize warriors. Over the centuries, it has appeared on various European flags and coat of arms and has been used as a symbol of monarchy and French royalty. During the French Revolution, it was used as a symbol of supremacy. It also has many religious associations, including being carried into battle by Jeanne d’Arc (Joan of Arc), a devote Catholic and “defender of the faith” and a leader of a French army. [As a side note, she won the battle of Orléans (a city southwest of Paris, France) when she was only seventeen years old. The city of New Orleans in Louisiana which is named after Orléans, France, named Joan as the city’s patron saint.]

In the upper right quadrant is the Senegal Republic National (Le Drapeau Sénégal) flag. This flag is composed of the colors green, yellow, and red in three equal-sized vertical stripes. The green band represents progress, hope, and Islam. The yellow stripe represents natural wealth and has a five-pointed green star located in the center. The star represents hope and unity. Finally, the red stripe symbolizes determination and sacrifice.

Moving to the lower left quadrant is the Mali Republic National (Le Drapeau du Mali). This flag is also tricolor and has three vertical stripes of equal size. The first color, green, represents the fertility of the land. The gold stripe symbolizes mineral wealth and purity. The final stripe of red represents the bloodshed in obtaining independence from France. When the colors of the flag are viewed as a unit, they represent pan-African (relating to all people of African birth or descent).

The final quadrant in the lower right depicts Spanish Colonial heritage. It is a red background with the Tower of Castile (gold) located in the center. The Tower of Castile symbolizes the Kingdom Castile (Reino de Castilla) which was a large and powerful state on the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages.

I began by saying there were five sections. This final section is easily seen but often dismissed as not being an element. It is similar to photographs taped in a photo album. People tend to focus on the photos but not the page where it is taped. The four quadrants are separated by white space. However, this white space isn’t unintentional. It actually is a white cross that represents the Christian faith.

When one views the Louisiana Creole flag in its entirety, it is very apparent how it embraces all the cultures that have blended together to form what is now known as Creole culture. And this is why arguments about who is considered Creole and who isn’t (based on a narrow definition of what Creole culture is) fall apart. Creole culture is very inclusive.

Now, let’s discuss the Creole National Heritage which was designed by frenchcreoles.com. I must make a disclaimer. There are several versions of this flag. I’m uncertain where the different variations originate or which one is “official.” Some of the versions may have been proposed designs that have been circulated and remain in the public. Since there are a few variations, I first will give an overview of the elements included and then discuss the variations in layouts.

To begin, it is a multicolor background with an oak tree in the center. The upper left corner is a beige/light brown while the lower left corner is dark brown. These colors represent racial colors. Three diagonal stripes divide the beige/light brown from the dark brown. The first diagonal stripe (from left to right) is red. The red stripe represents Native American/Indian heritage. The next stripe is white. This represents European Heritage. The final stripe is black, and it represents African heritage. The oak tree intersects the three stripes. The tree symbolizes integrity and strength.

Some variations of this flag include the following:

A fleur de lis in the upper left on the light brown/beige background and a white star in the lower right on the dark brown background.There also is an inverted version of this flag with the fleur de lis on the dark brown and the white star on the beige/light brown.Of the previous two versions, one or both of these symbols (the fleur de lis and white stars) may be depicted.Two white stars with one white star located on the beige/light brown and the other white star located on the dark brown.

In all of these variations, the fleur de lis represents French heritage, and the white star represents American heritage.

It should be noted that other Creole flags not discussed in this post may also exist.

With that said, that’s all that I have for today. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

How to Write Sports Romance 3.0

Writing sports romance is a topic that I have covered several times in the past. It is one of my favorite subjects to cover, and that’s only natural since I’m a sports romance novelist. However, I’ve also written about it multiple times because it’s not a subject that I see many articles about. And when someone asks what I do and I tell them, they always seem to have questions about it. Sports romance, by far, is nothing new; yet, it seems to cause confusion.

The way I view sports romance writing is that it is a niche; although, some would classify it as a category. I don’t think it matters much either way as to what one calls it. It is the function that is important. The main point of discrepancy that I find regarding sports romance is the definition. For some, the inclusion of a main character who is an athlete is enough to classify a story as romance. However, if sports does not play an important role in the story, then, in my opinion, it does not meet the criteria of a sports romance. Let’s look at it another way.

For a book to be considered a romance, it must have two elements. First, the love story/romance must be the most vital element to the story. If the romance can be removed and the story functions as well, then, it’s not a romance. It would be considered some other kind of story with a romantic component.

Second, it must have a happily ever after (HEA) or a happily for now (HFN) ending. There are people who will argue that these types of endings aren’t necessary for a story to be considered a romance, but this is a traditional definition and one that the Romance Writers of America (RWA) uses. Romeo & Juliet is frequently used as a rebuttal to this point, but Romeo & Juliet is not considered a romance. It is considered a drama or tragedy. Did it have a love component that played a significant role? Yes. Did it have a HEA? No. And it was the lack of the HEA/HFN that negates it from being a romance. But don’t take it from me. I’m not the only person who is saying this. There are plenty of people with far more knowledge and expertise in writing and literature that have this opinion.

Jane Austen’s 1813 novel, Pride and Prejudice, is a classic romance. There are many plots and subplots in this story, but the main plot is how the relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy develops. Without this romance, the story collapses. It ends with the couple tying the knot; a.k.a., a HEA.

A sports romance is, first and foremost, a romance. It needs a Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. The romance is center staged and ends in a HEA or HFN. But if it stopped there, it would only be a romance and not a sports romance. In chapter 43 of Pride and Prejudice, there is a passage about fish. Mr. Darcy is noted to be a hunter and a fisherman, both of which can be considered sports. So, with this inclusion, does this classify Pride and Prejudice as a sports romance? Most would argue that it does not because it adds nothing to the story.

The Natural by Bernard Malamud is one of the greatest novels about baseball ever written. It is a story about baseball player Roy Hobbs who is naturally gifted in playing America’s favorite pastime. In the story, there is a romantic relationship (of sorts) between Roy and Harriet Bird and later with Roy and Memo Paris and Roy and Iris Lemon. Because there is romance in the story, does this make it a sports romance? Again, most would argue that it does not because romance is not the center focus. Baseball is at the core.

Thus, a sports romance is a blend. It is a story where romance comes first and sports play a significant role. Removing either the romance component or the sports component would change or damage the story. Therefore, a sports romance contains a romantic relationship that is the center of the story, a HEA or HFN ending, and a sport that notably impacts the plot. Simple, right? Yet, so often a book labeled as a sports romance will be missing one of these key ingredients, and usually, it’s the sports element.

Here’s another angle. Consider the movie Rocky—the original. Hands down, this was a boxing movie. Without the boxing scenes, audiences wouldn’t have shown up. People purchased tickets to see Rocky Balboa, the Italian Stallion, kick some butt. It didn’t matter whose butt as long as it was thoroughly kicked. But in the first Rocky, the audience sees the titular character fall in love with Adrian Pennino. This is a wonderful subplot. However, if the writers and producers had cut that part from the movie, would audiences still have shown up? Sure. How can I say that with a degree of certainty? Well, just look at the subsequent Rocky movies and how successful they have been. While the romantic relationship between Rocky and Adrian was present in the sequels, it was scaled back from the first.

Another element that is critical for a sports romance—and this should go without saying—is knowing the sport you’re writing about. The majority of readers who read sports romance know and understand sports. They will know when a writer doesn’t know what he/she is talking about. During the beta phase of writing one of my novels, a beta called me out for goofing on a rule. At first, I was wondering what she meant, but upon closer inspection, I realized the error. I accidently had mixed up character details in my head when writing the scene and that hiccup caused me to write a rule violation. My character’s age was off by a year. Neither my editor of me had caught it, but the beta—an avid sports fan—did. And I’m grateful that she did because if she hadn’t other readers would have. The way I look at it, readers invest in a book. They read the story for the experience, and authors should do their best to ensure that experience is authentic. That being said doesn’t mean that an author doesn’t have the creative freedom to shake things up a bit.

In my Locker Room Love series, I invented teams for the NHL, NFL, and SEC. So, if I proclaim one as a Stanley Cup champion, well, everyone will get this is a bit of fiction. And if I wanted to invent a new NHL rule, I could as long as I sold it to the readers that this is what I was doing. It’s all about the setup. Readers understand when a writer is using artistic license, and they know when an author has just plain goofed up.

Another important step in writing sports romance is balancing the jargon. I don’t mind admitting that I frequently struggle with this. Growing up around sports and having the majority of my friends into sports, I often do not notice when I throw out a sports term that non-sports fans won’t understand. And with my characters being athletes, they would not have a need to explain these terms to each other. Doing so would seem out of place. Additionally, sports fan readers familiar may become bored if they are bogged down with reading definitions of terms they already know.

That does it. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box(book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

How to Make Friends

One of the subjects tackled in Future Goals, the fifth book in my Locker Room sports romance series, is friendship. Since I’m celebrating its upcoming release by posting on topics either discussed in or related to the story, I thought friendship fit the bill.

Friendship is something that people sometimes take for granted. However, it shouldn’t be. Like many other things, if neglected, friendships can diminish, fade away, and/or die. What many people tend to forget or overlook is the role that friendship plays in a person’s life. Friendships are important. Research empirical data indicates that having friends can help reduce stress, reduce some risks of cardiovascular disease, and increase longevity of life.

Since the invention of social media, the term friend has often been used loosely to describe, basically, a name. A coworker delivered this food for thought. “It was the oddest thing. When I first joined social media, I began receiving friend requests from people I hadn’t seen or spoken with in more than ten years. If I had passed them on the street, I don’t know if I would have recognized them. While we were once friends, some of us very close, I don’t know if that continued to be accurate. Once I began accepting them, more requests—dozens—came from people who I’d attended high school with. I had attended a small 1-A school in a fairly small town. We all knew each other by name, but some of those people I’d never had a conversation with a day in my life. Now, we’re friends on social media, but we don’t chat or hang out. We see each other statuses and photos but rarely comment because we’re not invested that way. It’s like walking down the school hallway on the way to class and seeing the faces. There are no relationships.”

This brings up an interesting point. At the core, friendship is a meaningful social relationship with the feeling of being connected to another person. By nature, most people are social beings and crave interactions with others. I say most because there are people who do not form nor do they want to form friendships with others (e.g., a person diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder). Since it is a relationship, it takes time to be developed and must be nurtured to maintain. What my coworker described doesn’t meet this criterion for friendship. Does that mean the definition of friendship has changed? Are there different types of friendships? Or is the word friendship being used to describe relationships that more accurately fit the category of associate or acquaintance?

I continued this conversation with my coworker and inquired why he had accepted these social media requests. He admitted that he wasn’t sure why but that he believed a person could never have too many friends. “Even if they’re not true friends, it made me feel less lonely to see them in my social media feed when I’m at home alone with nothing to do and no one to call. It’s like I’m kind of invited to the wedding or barbecue or boat ride when I’m really not.”

If that sounded weird, it turns out it’s not. In researching this topic, I discovered many similar statements. People may consider people they are only linked to through social media as friends even if there is no or minimal interaction between them. Another coworker who is a gamer brought up another point. He stated that he first joined social media for the games. “In many of these games, you had to have help from others to advance. But in order for others to help, they had to be in your friend list. It’s been so long ago that I can’t remember now how it worked, but there were lists of gamers requesting friends. Literally, you added strangers to your friend list for the sake of gaming. The irony was, according to the social media community standards, you were not supposed to friend request people you didn’t know. One game, in particular, required the player to build an army. The strength of one’s army was determined by how many friends one had actively playing the game, the level they were on, and the number of people they had in their army. I think this was the downfall of the game. New players would immediately be decimated by players who had been around a while—that and the fact that you could be attacked even if you weren’t online. You needed large numbers of friends to protect you in your absence. When I quit playing, the number of gamers I had added to my friend list was too extensive for me to bother trying to delete all of them. I did that in the mid-2000s. They remain there to date as friends.”

This article is focused on the traditional definition of friendship, and many obstacles can stand in the way of forming one, especially as one ages. The following are some ways how to make (and maintaining) friendships.

Decide that you want to make friends. The first step to anything is admitting the issue. Commit to the idea.Be open to the idea of making friends. It’s not enough to say one wants to make friends if that person finds the idea of actually attempting to do so too anxiety-provoking to try. This means intentionally taking steps and putting yourself out there to make a new friend.Be willing to reach out to others. Sometimes, you will have to make the first step for a connection to happen. You may need to be the person to initiate conversation.Understand that others may want to be your friend as well. Approaching a group of people laughing and having a good time may be daunting. However, those people may be willing to invite you into their circle.Live an authentic life. If people see you being you, they will be drawn to you and come to you. Not many people appreciate a fake.Vulnerability. Along the same lines, making new friends will require you to be open and vulnerable to others. Friendships are reciprocal relationships. Others will want you to share with them as they share with you.Be positive. Just like no one wants to be around a person who is not genuine, he/she also doesn’t want to be around a Debbie Downer. Positive energy is attractive.Involvement. One of the easiest ways to find people to be friends with is by being involved in clubs, organizations, or charities. There is a plethora of reasons this works well. First, it removes some of the randomnesses from meeting. Just being around a person repeatedly can make them feel less like a stranger. For example, several years ago, the local library began hosting a family game night on Fridays. Each week the same families would attend and eventually, friendships began to form. Second, it provides common ground for talking points. Third, it gives you something to do which may alleviate the pressure of making friends. For example, I used to enjoy walking my dog in the park. It was a way for both myself and my pup to get exercise and out of the house. Frequently, other dog lovers would join me, and we’d do several laps together. Although my goal was to walk the dog, I walked away with some amazing friendships. Developing a new hobby or interest (e.g., joining a club, gym, church, volunteering) is a way to connect with others who have similar interests.Develop a mental list of topics to talk about. Now, this may sound a little farfetched, but hear me out. Consider the first day of school or a workshop. Often, the teacher or speaker will begin with an icebreaker activity. This is because students and attendees may be apprehensive about being there. When meeting or encountering someone for the first time, starting a conversation may be intimidating. You may not know how to begin. Having a prepared mental list of topics can ease that stress. For example, when I was walking my dog, I would ask if the person knew other good areas to walk or tell them a humorous story about my pooch.Follow up. To piggy tail off the last point, if a person you are interested in making friends with makes a recommendation (e.g., a book to read, movie to watch, or restaurant to try) follow the recommendation. This will give the two of you something to talk about as well as demonstrating that you value that person’s opinion.Be present in the conversation. This is so easy to do; yet, so many people don’t. It’s a real turn-off if people think you’re not paying attention in a conversation. A woman I’ve known for most of my life had a horrible habit of not appearing to pay attention when I talked to her. She would be staring at the television or writing on a form. It was as if she was too busy to be bothered. Finally, I stopped attempting to engage in her conversation. Then, one day, she commented how I never talked to her anymore. Well, no duh! If you want to make a friend, you must make the other person feel that what they are saying to you is important. This means making eye contact and paying attention. It is noticing their mood and what is going on with them. An excellent way to foster a friendship is to ask questions about the person and remember key points (e.g., names of people who are close to them).Make time and be dependable. Earlier I discussed that friendships need nurturing. This means taking friendships seriously and being there for the person when you’re needed. About five years ago, a friend went through a divorce. He became very depressed. During that time, I lived in a different town, and my work hours were insane. By the time I was available to talk, it was too late to call. I decided to shoot him a text just to tell him I was thinking about him and explain why I’d gone M.I.A. Years later, he expressed to me how cherished that text was to him. He explained that during that time, most of the people he had considered friends had abandoned him because they hadn’t wanted to seem like they were taking sides. Now, many of those friends he is no longer in contact with.Network your existing friends. The best way example I have of this was when I was in college and knew very few people. My roommate introduced me to the students in the room next to us. She introduced me to her boyfriend who introduced me to several of his friends from their hometown. Pretty soon, I had a gaggle of friends by befriending people who were already associated with friends in my social network.Understand and accept that friendships can change over time. Sometimes this is hard to swallow. People sometimes grow apart. Much of the time this happens because the friendship hasn’t been nurtured by one or both parties. After high school, I attended college hundreds of miles from home. My best friend at the time opted not to go to college. During my freshman year, we remained closed but had begun to drift. We had different schedules and were developing new interests. I was still in the days of homework and experiencing college life while she was working and hanging out with old friends. I quickly became the odd person out. On occasions that I was home for the weekend, it was a struggle to find common ground to discuss. Then, she had a baby, and she had no time for letters or phone conversations with her old high school buddy. By the middle of my sophomore year, the friendship had disintegrated into nothing. For a while, I attempted to revive it, but she wasn’t interested. Eleven years of friendship were gone. In these instances, don’t continue hanging on if the other person doesn’t want to. Fill that space with someone who wants you as a friend.

And that wraps up all I have to say. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (Book #4) takes the ice again. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search for me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.

Challenges of Writing Sports Romance

As a writer of sports romance, I have encountered many challenges. Sports romance isn’t a new subgenre by any means. Yet, interestingly, there do not appear to be many articles written about how to write. Here at Creole Bayou, I’ve always strived to provide accurate information about hard-to-find or obscure content all under one roof. In celebration of my new sports romance, Future Goals which releases on 02/02/23, I am writing a daily post on a topic that somehow relates to the story. Future Goals is the fifth book in my Locker Room Love hockey romance series. Although this is a series, each book can be read as a stand-alone.

Before jumping straight into writing sports romance, let’s discuss some of the challenges of being a writer. One of the hardest parts of being a writer is the assumption that it is simple. However, writing professionally is a vocation just like other jobs. It is a craft that takes time and patience to learn. Sure, anyone can sit at a computer or take a pen to paper and write words. That’s the easy part. Yet, writing is more than that. It is a combination of steps that when put together becomes complex—complex but not impossible.

The first step in writing is deciding what to write. This can be broken into two parts: genre and topic. Does the person wish to write fiction or nonfiction? What topic does the person wish to write about? For many writers, this, too, is a simple decision. However, in writing groups, sometimes this question is posted, and frequently, it is met with a mixed response which quickly can turn ugly. This is because writing is a creative process. By process, I mean the writer derives an idea and runs with it. Now, people will argue that there are no longer any original ideas. That, in my opinion, is a topic up for debate. I believe there are no new ideas until someone comes up with one. The ideas of vampires aren’t new. The take and spin on the idea are what make vampire stories fresh and unique. However, someone had to write the first vampire story. It didn’t always exist. Someone had to establish the concept of what a vampire was. There is a beginning. If there were no original ideas, we wouldn’t have airplanes, electricity, or even Post-It notes. These things all have origins. To argue that there are no longer any original ideas means that all human brains are at an end for development, that what exists currently is all there ever will be.

I think it’s more appropriate to say that many people build on what already exists. Stephenie Meyers’ vampires are different from Anne Rice’s and Bram Stoker’s vampires. The contemporary authors took the concept of vampires and made it their own. But was Bram Stoker the person who invented vampires? Well, according to research, John Polidori wrote a book about vampires before long Bram Stoker. And it is believed that Polidori may have conceived the idea from George Harley, a physician, who described porphyria, a medical condition (blood disorder) that caused facial disfigurement, hair growth, receding gumlines, red urine, sensitivity to sunlight, and aversion to sulfur. These symptoms line up with the characteristics of a vampire. The facial disfigurement may have caused sufferers to avoid looking at their reflection in mirrors. Sensitivity to sunlight may have initiated persons afflicted with this condition to stay in during the day and only venture out at night. Due to urine being the color of blood, physicians of the time when the disorder was first diagnosed—or rather, the symptoms identified—believed blood was being lost and encouraged the suffer to drink animal blood. The consumption of sulfur increased symptoms and pain. Naturally, suffers would want to avoid it. Sulfur is a chemical element in garlic, hence, the avoidance of garlic. The receding gumlines sometimes gave the appearance of fangs. And the fear of crucifixes…?

It’s common knowledge that people fear what they don’t understand. Disorders such as epilepsy were labeled as demon possession, a disease inflicted by the gods, and/or witchcraft in ancient times. And what happened to people with epilepsy? Many were bled, had skull trephinations, were exorcised, or were killed. Persons with porphyria sometimes suffered similar fates. During the Spanish Inquisition, many persons with the disorder were burned at the stake by Christians. This generated a fear of Christianity, hence, a fear of crucifixes, a symbol of Christianity. But this isn’t a post about vampires or ancient medical treatments. The point is to illustrate that most ideas are sparked from previous ideas, but at what point is an idea derived from another concept considered original?

Second, writing is a discipline. It does require skills. In the past, I’ve stirred up a lot of fuss by stating the world of publication shouldn’t be a training ground for writers. Yes, writers will undoubtedly make mistakes and learn from them when publishing, but it should not be at the expense of readers. For example, one person published a “novel” on Amazon and sold it for $2.99. In the scheme of things, that doesn’t sound like much and is a reasonable price. However, what was published wasn’t a novel. It wasn’t even a short story. It was a poorly written chapter. There had been no edits, and it was littered with typos and grammatical errors. The writer asked for feedback, and when honest feedback was given (which largely was negative but constructive), people got their feelings hurt and argued that the poor writing should be overlooked because it was the writer’s first publication. Well, no! If this was an unpaid draft, then yes. However, readers were being charged for this.

On the surface, maybe this does not seem like an important issue. But it is. Actions like this hurt all writers, especially those attempting to legitimately carve themselves a place in the literary world. How? Back in the day when traditional publishing was the only viable route to being an author, many talented writers were overlooked. It was like a crazy circular circus. To be seen by a traditional publisher, writers mostly needed an agent. To obtain an agent, many required the writer to have writing credits. Well, how does one gain experience without being given the chance to gain experience? “Unsolicited manuscripts” were tossed in a “slush pile” where many went unread. For the lucky, they received a formed rejection letter. Others received no response. Plus, it was expensive. Many agents and publishers at the time didn’t accept electronic submissions. Writers had to fork out money for paper, ink, and postage only to be ignored. Listen to the stories of Stephen King and J.K. Rowling being rejected.

And then, writers began jumping off the merry-go-round. The marketing for self-publishing began to open. But this avenue wasn’t easy. The argument was that self-published books (especially since some were vanity presses) weren’t quality books, and there was a pushback against self-published books from publishers, agents, and even national writing organizations. What was used to support this argument was the lack of editing and poor cover designs. When these books were mixed on the online market with traditionally published books, most readers couldn’t distinguish between the two just by browsing online sites. Readers were upset when they spent their money on what really were first drafts instead of finished novels. And that damaged the reputation of self-publishing, making it even more difficult for new authors to get readers—not to mention that number of books published each month increased dramatically.

But that isn’t all self-published authors. In fact, I would gamble that it isn’t a majority. Furthermore, it’s not impossible for a traditionally published book to receive a bad edit. Those are writing hurdles. Now, add to the mix writing sports romance.

Sports romance is a niche. Niche writing isn’t a negative, but it does require writers to be on the topic of their game because they are competing in a completive market that is much smaller.Sports must be included but they can’t overshadow the romance. Sports romance is a subgenre of romance. For a book to be considered a romance, the romance must be the central element in the story. Rocky wouldn’t be considered a sports romance. Rather, it is a sports movie with a romantic subplot. This can be challenging because it’s a balancing act that leads to the next point.Having a character who is an athlete is not enough to check the box as a sports romance. Sports must play a role in the story.The writer intimately has to understand the sports he/she is writing about. It’s not something that can be fake. Readers know the sports. That is one reason they are drawn to the genre. And because they know the sport, they will know when the writer doesn’t. They will catch it, and they will call out a writer on it. Sports romance is one of the genres that requires a lot of authenticity. Once, I accidentally confused a minor detail about a character with another character in my head. This slight mix-up would have gone unnoticed except it caused me to make a tiny error with a sports rule. However, my tiny writing world error would have been a huge real-world NCAA violation. A beta reader caught it. I hadn’t seen it because I was thinking of the wrong character who wrote it. But sure enough, the beta was correct. I was fortunate that it was caught in that stage of editing because just as the beta caught it, other readers would have caught it, too.Language is important. As with most professions, sports has its own jargon. However, not everyone who reads sports romance is familiar with that jargon. Now, I know I just said that sports romance readers know sports, but that does not apply to every reader. I love sports, but I don’t know that much about the rules of rugby. Not knowing much about rugby wouldn’t prevent me from reading a story about it. However, I would struggle if I were bombarded with terms like grubber kick, scrum, and fly-half without some explanation. However, advert readers of rugby romances would probably get annoyed if every sports term were explained. I call it The Little House on the Prairie schoolhouse dilemma. All the students, regardless of age, were all in one room. Obviously, a kindergartener and a tenth grader would not be learning the same material. So, it would be the job of the teacher to present and split assignments to make them appropriate for all students. And this can be a problem because the writer may not realize there’s an issue. I recently experienced this when my editor pointed out that I had used a term that some readers may not understand. Because I’m a sports junkie and hear the term on a regular, I didn’t think twice about it. When this was pointed out to me, I was a deer in headlights and completely baffled. So, I modified it, but apparently not good enough. Later, a beta made a similar comment. Then, I knew I had a real issue to address. But simplifying the term proved difficult. For example, in football, an illegal snap is a penalty. However, there are several ways that this infraction can occur. To understand the penalty, two parts of the rule must be understood. First, the ball center moves the ball before the snap but after the offensive linemen have set up. Second, the center either pushes forward, rotates, or picks up the ball. That’s a mouthful to explain and may completely take readers out of the action in order to provide exposition.Team sports involve teams, and this may mean a large list of characters. Depending on the story, a writer may find himself/herself in the position of needing to introduce many characters early in a story. Most writing advice will warn against doing this and especially warn not to name them. In Out of the Penalty Box, the first book in the Locker Room Love series, the opening scene begins in the middle of a hockey game. The main character is introduced, but he isn’t playing by himself. He’s surrounded by teammates and the opposing team, and each of these characters is doing things that affect the main character. When he yells to a teammate that is a minor character, he isn’t going to say “Hey, player number one” or “Yo, offensive lineman.” Giving these characters names made sense. Yet, I had to do so in a way not to confuse readers. But it also meant I as a writer had to come up with multiple names, ensure they didn’t sound similar, and remember them.Finally, it’s important to remember the details of your creation. This piggybacks off point number six. I created a hockey team—actually, several hockey teams—in my novels. And by creating a hockey team, I had to create everything about them including their facilities, uniforms, etc. Instead of world-building as often done in fantasy and science fiction, I was challenged with creating a sports world and getting readers to accept it as part of an existing sports world. I wouldn’t say the process is as complicated as creating a post-apocalyptic dystopia, but it isn’t always a walk in the park. It can get tricky.

This is where I end this. I do have other additional challenges if you’re interested in more posts on this topic. But for now, it’s your turn to sound off. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming soon.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Preorder your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting lost anywhere beyond her front yard (the back is pushing it as she’s very geographically challenged), falling in love with shelter animals (and she adopts them), asking off-the-beaten-path questions that makes one go “hmm”, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well.

Writing Advice: Accuracy in Fiction

Accuracy in Fiction

As a writer striving to produce the best stories I can, I frequently ask myself questions that I believe challenge me. Not only do I question myself, but I also query writer friends and colleagues. Usually, I get interesting responses. However, sometimes, a question stumps everyone I ask. When today’s question sprung to mind and I began inquiring, I was met with many wide eyes and much silence. Let’s talk about it.

There are a couple of definitions of fiction—all similar but slightly different. The first states that fiction is a statement of belief that is false. However, this false belief is held as being true because it is pragmatic and convenient although possibly immoral or improper to do so. A second definition is that fiction is a fabrication or invention as opposed to fact. So, what does this mean in terms of writing? In literature, fiction is shorts, novels, or prose that depicts imaginary events and people. This definition clearly indicates that fiction is not real. This begs to question: How important is it to be accurate when writing a piece of fiction? Does creative freedom or artistic freedom still exist?

Let’s examine a few more definitions. Artistic freedom frequently is defined as the right or power to think, speak, or act as one desires without restraint, censorship, or hindrance in creating and/or expressing diverse ideas. Similarly, creative freedom denotes that a person who is creative has the ability to develop and/or invent original ideas.

In movies, such as Mission Impossible, the hero can fly from Hong Kong to Florida to Paris to Budapest (not saying this actually happened in this series) and perform amazing feats in each city all in twenty-four hours and not be criticized for impossibility/impracticability of something like that occurring. This is fiction. This also is an example of creative freedom. Most viewers accept this unrealistic travel within the story without question. Could it be that in this fictitious example, the name of the movie negates the audience’s expectation of realism? Why wouldn’t all fiction be given this latitude?

In fantasy and science fiction, a new world is often built by the author/writer. This new world may propose that customary societal norms may not exist. This created world can be a world of make-believe where logic doesn’t apply. However, the created world still has to make sense to itself and the reader. In this world, fish may live on clouds in the sky. As long as the author explains this is a fact in this world, readers who are into the story will accept it as fact. However, in other genres based in reality, readers may be reluctant to allow the author such autonomy and leeway.

In George Orwell’s Animal Farm and E.B. White’s Charlotte’s Web, animals talked. But what if the dogs talked in Old Yeller or Where the Red Fern Grows? Would readers not question this? The truth is if Fred Gipson or Wilson Rawls wanted their canines to speak, they had the liberty to write it. As authors, they created their stories as they saw fit. However, in contemporary fiction, especially for new authors, it seems creative freedom is on a leash. How many book critiques point out something that is not factually accurate or precisely portrayed? One of the biggest criticisms of Fifty Shades of Grey is that the author did not accurately present the true world of S&M. Obviously, in her fantasy world, this is how it was. Perhaps a better criticism would have been that the book does not represent the real-world S&M community. Who knows? Maybe the author had no intention of her book representing an entire community. After all, it’s fiction.

In my opinion, criticism should come when an author contradicts his/her own writing. For example, if an author writes that milk only comes from chicken and five chapters later has a character getting milk from a skunk, this writer has violated his/her own created rule. That is an inconsistency.

And that wraps up all I have to say. What did you think? What is your take on the subject? Do you agree or disagree? Did you find this information helpful or informative? Did you learn anything new, or did it change your opinion? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section. Also, let me know if you would like me to cover more of these types of topics or dive deeper into this one. If you like this post, please click the like button and share it. Your feedback allows me to know the content that you want to read. If you’re not following me on Creole Bayou blog, what are you waiting for? There’s always room at the bayou.

Get ready. It’s almost time to hit the ice again. Future Goals Coming 02/02/23.

When a college hockey player needs the help of an attractive older attorney, he gets more than he bargained for when trying to sort out the troubles in his career. Falling in love was never part of either man’s plan, especially as Corrigan’s and Sacha’s lives should never have collided. Now they’re left questioning if they’re standing in the way of the other’s future goals, or if there’s room for redirection.

Order your copy at:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3RjPYb9

Other booksellers: https://bit.ly/3CI8d5W

Missed the first four books in my hockey romance series? No frets.

Out of the Penalty Box (book #1), where it is one minute in the box or a lifetime out, is available at http://amzn.to/2Bhnngw. It also can be ordered on iTunes, Nook, or Kobo. For more links on where to purchase or to read the blurb, please visit http://bit.ly/2i9SqpH.

Defending the Net (book #2) can be ordered at https://amzn.to/2N7fj8q or www.books2read.com/defending. Crossing the line could cost the game.

Ice Gladiators (book #3) is the third book in my Locker Room Love series. When the gloves come off, the games begin. Available at https://amzn.to/2TGFsyD or www.books2read.com/icegladiators.

Penalty Kill (Book #4) retakes the ice. Get a copy at https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p or https://amzn.to/3ex0N9p and let the pucker begin.

For more of my stories, shenanigans, giveaways, and more, check out my blog, Creole Bayou, www.genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com. New posts are made on Wednesdays, and everything is raw and unscathed. Climb on in a pirogue and join me on the bayou.

If you have any questions or suggestions about this post or any others, feel free to comment below or tweet me at @dolynesaidso. You also can follow me on Instagram at genevivechambleeauthor or search me on Goodreads or Amazon Authors or BookBub or TikTok.

NEWSLETTER! Want to get the latest information and updates about my writing projects, giveaways, contests, and reveals first? Click https://genevivechambleeconnect.wordpress.com/newsletter/ and signup today.

Until next time, happy reading and much romance. Laissez le bon temps rouler.

Author Bio

Genevive Chamblee resides in the bayou country where sweet tea and SEC football reign supreme. She is known for being witty (or so she thinks), getting mushy watching pet adoption commercials, and preparing home-cooked Creole meals that are as spicy as her writing. Genevive specializes in spinning steamy, romantic tales with humorous flair, diverse characters, and quirky views of love and human behavior. She also is not afraid to delve into darker romances as well. Genevive believes in variety, equality, and representation of all and is willing to tackle difficult subjects that may be shunned in many romance novels.