Crafting Authentic Romance with Fiction Book Coach Trisha Jenn Loehr

The Write It Scared PodcastFictionRomance

Feb 9

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, of course, we’re going to chat about the romance genre, and I have a very special episode of the Write It Scared podcast for you. Plus, I’ve included some free resources to help you craft your next romance.

I’m thrilled to be joined by the amazing Trisha Jenn Loehr, a romance expert, and Author Accelerator Certified Fiction Book Coach.

Together, we’re diving headfirst into the art (and heart) of writing really good romance.

We’re unpacking everything from developing unforgettable characters to building emotional intimacy that makes readers swoon and how to get that across on the page.

Trisha shares how she learned to re-embrace writing and reading romance wholeheartedly (definitely a story about letting go of messages that don’t serve us) and why she is so passionate about these stories. She also drops some wisdom on the common struggles romance writer’s face, like how to keep the chemistry alive (and true) and making the relationship believable.

We dig deep into craft and highlight the difference between romance and love stories, talk romantasy (what it is and what it isn’t), discuss how to handle romance arcs over a series,and why happy endings or happy-for-now are non-negotiable but can look a lot different in today’s market. Marriage, 2.5 kids and picket fence are soooo not required.

Promo image for the Write It Scared Podcast episode: Crafting Authentic Romance with photos of host Stacy Frazer and Guest Trisha Jenn Loehr

So, whether you're dreaming up a standalone or crafting a sprawling fantasy romance series, this conversation will inspire you to create stories you love and know how to satisfy your readers!

Here are a few of my favorite highlights:
07:35 Crafting Relatable, Compelling Characters
15:45 Tackling Challenges in Romance Writing
23:19 Why Happy Endings Matter in Romance
24:12 Romance vs. Love Stories: What’s the Difference?
24:40 Writing Romantic Arcs Across a Series
26:03 The Unique Challenges of Romantasy
28:59 Fantasy Romance vs. Romantic Fantasy: A Breakdown
36:19 How to Create Chemistry That Feels Real
40:14 Keeping the Spark Alive for Your Characters
41:48 Transformations Through Love: Romance and Growth

Yeah. It’s one of our longer episodes. It’s a huge topic!

I’d love to know your thoughts, so send me an email, or please give it a rating and review if you enjoyed it. Reviews help other writers find the podcast and feel encouraged to keep writing!

And feel free to share it on your social media platforms!

Here’s Trisha’s bio and where you can connect with her.

Trisha Jenn Loehr is a romance writer and Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach. She helps busy women who want to write romance novels without guilt or shame prioritize their writing, develop their craft, and find joy in the journey toward their publishing dreams.

With a decade of experience as a communications and events professional, she understands writing, marketing, the importance of identifying your audience, and the necessity of continually learning. Her writing has been published on JaneFriedman.com, Business Insider, The Calgary Herald, Wicked Authors, and Birthing Magazine. She is also mom to an angel boy in heaven and a sweet rainbow of a little girl who got to stay earthside, and is an advocate for infertility and pregnancy loss awareness.

Connect with Trisha on Instagram @trishajennreads and at trishajennreads.com.