When non-romance readers hear a romance requires a "happy ever after", the overwhelming response is, "nuh-uh!" Then the examples come in...making it clear they don't know the difference between a love story and a romance.

Today on The Romance Room, we'll talk about why not all love stories are romances, why the happily ever after or (happy for now) is integral to the romance genre and...

Well, there's the misogyny element too. Women can't have anything fun, right?

📜 Show Notes:

Grab your tix to The Sporting Life

The Definitive Definition of Romance

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Romance can enter a person's life at any age. So why are so many romances obsessed with 20-somethings?

Despite being on the forefront of many cultural movements, Romance doesn't go untouched by misogyny. Today, we're putting a microscope up to romance's most misogynistic sticking point: ageism.

If you’re a romance writer, reader, or dabbler (or want to be one/all of the above!), you won’t want to miss this.

📜 Show Notes:

Apologies for the sound quality, I accidentally recorded at the wrong gain level on my mic!

There are more women on TV but ageism persists, says new study

Ageism, Publishing, and the Notion of Reading Down

Seasoned Romance Empowers Us All

Ageism in Romance Novels

💌Let's Stay Connected:

• 📸 Instagram: @idesofmarge
• 🎵 TikTok: @idesofmarge
• 📰 Subscribe to The Romance Room

✍️ Want to Write Better Romance?
I’m a romance writing coach helping writers deepen their character arcs, strengthen their emotional beats, and fall in love with their stories again.

➡️ Work with me here

💖 Support the Podcast:
Love what you heard? Help keep the mic on by sponsoring the pod or buying me a coffee!
➡️ Sponsor the Podcast
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Romance is the most popular genre in publishing...so why is it still so often disrespected?

In the inaugural episode of The Romance Room, we’re diving into the myths about romance, why they persist, and why writing love stories is one of the most radical, hopeful things you can do as a storyteller.

If you’re a romance writer, reader, or dabbler (or want to be one/all of the above!), you won’t want to miss this.

📜 Show Notes:

The Billion Dollar Genre: Why Romance Writing Matters by Leslie J. Wyatt

The Nature of Romantic Love

Love and the Brain

Why Inspiring Stories Make Us React: The Neuroscience of Narrative

💌Let's Stay Connected:

• 📸 Instagram: @idesofmarge
• 🎵 TikTok: @idesofmarge
• 📰 Subscribe to The Romance Room

✍️ Want to Write Better Romance?
I’m a romance writing coach helping writers deepen their character arcs, strengthen their emotional beats, and fall in love with their stories again.

➡️ Work with me here

💖 Support the Podcast:
Love what you heard? Help keep the mic on by sponsoring the pod or buying me a coffee!
➡️ Sponsor the Podcast
➡️ Buy me a coffee