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Recipe for a Story
mostly Comedy & Romance
a blog
by Stephanie Bourbon @ 2025
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How Watching Cooking Shows Helps Writers and How We Deal with Rejection
Do you watch cooking shows? I do! I'm obsessed with them and have learned how to become a better chef in my spare time--yup, it's one of my most loved things in the world--I could have been a chef-maybe in another life. :) I love cooking, but I am also realizing what it's teaching me about being a creative in the film industry.

Stephanie Bourbon
1 day ago4 min read
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Mastering the Meet Cute In Your Rom-Com
In the world of romantic comedies, the "meet cute " is a pivotal scene where your protagonist means her/his love interest in a charming,...

Stephanie Bourbon
Mar 315 min read
36 views
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Hallmark Holiday Movies Aren't Rom-Coms And Here Is Why
It's frustrating to see so many mislabeling Hallmark's (and other channels like it) as romantic comedies when they are straight-up...

Stephanie Bourbon
May 31, 20235 min read
646 views
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Review-Love Again, Rom-Com...Here's Why It Works
Critics slammed this film, so we skipped it the weekend it opened, even though the trailers looked amazing because we read all the bad...

Stephanie Bourbon
May 17, 20235 min read
471 views
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How To Write Your 8 Story Beats & Then Add To Them
If you are writing or have written a romantic comedy you will want to know your main story beats. Here are some practical tips for...

Stephanie Bourbon
May 10, 20234 min read
541 views
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Romantic Comedies Are A Subgenre of COMEDY
You are writing a romantic comedy, but it's not working. Why? Maybe it's because you are following how to write a romance and not a...

Stephanie Bourbon
May 3, 20234 min read
177 views
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Is Your Inciting Incident The Same As Your Meet-Cute In Your Romantic Comedy Screenplay or Novel?
The answer isn't yes or no. How annoying, right? Sorry, but that's just the way it is. In my professional opinion, it's better to...

Stephanie Bourbon
Apr 19, 20233 min read
403 views
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Genre Clarity, what is it & why do I need it?
Happy Monday to all the writers out there!! I'm so grateful that you are here. Today I am talking about GENRE CLARITY and why it's so...

Stephanie Bourbon
Nov 8, 20213 min read
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(Romantic) Comedy Character Archetypes & Who Needs To Be Included
Happy Monday!!! This week I'm talking about characters in comedy, and romantic comedies. What I am seeing in a lot of work that is coming...

Stephanie Bourbon
Oct 18, 20216 min read
152 views
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How To Go Deeper With Your Characters
Hey, Writers! Happy Monday! This week I'm talking about when you get that dreaded feedback that goes something like "I couldn't connect...

Stephanie Bourbon
Oct 11, 20217 min read
45 views
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How to write a novel in a month and win nanowrimo
Hello, Writers!! This week, I'm coaching you on how to write a draft fast and complete NaNoWriMo, which is coming up in just a month....

Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 30, 20213 min read
12 views
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The Two Things on Social Media All Writers Need to Do
Hello, Dear Writers! This week I'm talking about what social media you MUST have if you are a writer. Okay, maybe not a must-have, or a...

Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 27, 20213 min read
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The Importance of Writing Goals
Good Morning Writers! This week, I'm behind in everything but the one thing that has kept me on track is that I have a GOAL LIST and I...

Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 20, 20213 min read
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ACK I'm Still Getting Rejected!
Hello, Writers, happy Monday! Today, I'm talking about rejection. UGH, you have sent in your manuscript or query letter, and this time...

Stephanie Bourbon
Sep 6, 20213 min read
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The Truth About Why You Are Getting Rejected
Happy Monday, Writers! Rejection sucks; doesn't it? And yet, we all go through it, but so many times I see writers posting on forums, in...

Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 14, 20212 min read
88 views
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Do I need social media? YES...
Today, let's talk about social media because it's 2021 and that means that this is something you should do. Unless, of course, you...

Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 11, 20215 min read
49 views
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How To Use A Beat Sheet For Your Novel
In film and especially television writing the "beat sheet" is something that is needed to show your showrunner or director the beats of...

Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 2, 20213 min read
90 views
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Even Your Villains Need A Reason
It's Monday and today I'm talking about writing the perfect VILLAIN! Snidely Whiplash, an archetypical sinister cartoon villain I love me...

Stephanie Bourbon
Aug 2, 20213 min read
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WHAT YOUR CHARACTERS SAY MATTERS
This week, I'm talking about characters and dialogue~ How people speak is the one thing that I find writers struggle with the most. I’m...

Stephanie Bourbon
Jul 26, 20212 min read
11 views
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Show vs Tell
Happy Monday!! This week I want to talk to you about this concept of showing versus telling. It's important, and writers are still not...

Stephanie Bourbon
Jul 19, 20216 min read
13 views
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