posted on August 25, 2021 by Robin Bielman

Third Times A Charm or Three Rewrites Later…

Hello Writerspace readers! I’m so happy to be here today to share a few words about my new release from Entangled Publishing, WRITTEN FOR YOU. It’s a friends to lovers, forced proximity, small town romance that took a long time to get to The End.

You see, like my screenwriting hero, Cam, I suffered from some major writer’s block. Not in the traditional sense where I didn’t know what to write, but in that it took me three major revisions to get my heroine right. Writing a novel never gets easier, and I really struggled with Reese. I wanted her to be the perfect match for my Cam (who was fairly easy to write). I wanted her to be smart and funny and the perfect foil to his steadier and more reliable modus operandi.

They didn’t start out as close friends, but rather acquaintances. A third of the way through the first draft, I realized that wasn’t working – or more precisely that Reese wasn’t working. She needed a different occupation. I emailed my editor in panic mode. We talked on the phone and she helped me off the ledge of despair and we came up with a better occupation for her. Yay! I got back to writing feeling better about the story.

Then another problem arose: a little something called a pandemic and with that, personal hardship that made writing not so fun. I made it through. I turned the book in on time, but I knew it wasn’t my best work. I knew my mind had been elsewhere and that I hadn’t given Cam and Reese my whole heart.

My editors, being the brilliant women that they are, had great editorial feedback for me, but guess what? I still couldn’t let go that something was wrong with Reese. Once again, her occupation didn’t make her the person I wanted her to be – or authentically challenge Cam the way I wanted her to. I also realized it would be more problematic for Cam and Reese if they were best friends. <insert evil laugh> So, I emailed my editors and asked “Is it okay if I change Reese again and rewrite the book?” The answer: yes.

Now, I had best friends (whose moms are also best friends) and my hero and heroine working in the same field: Cam as a screenwriter, and Reese as an agent’s assistant and script reader for the same agency that represents Cam. Then I threw in a whopper of a secret for Reese to keep and finally I had my story. I loved what I was writing! It felt right. The push and pull between Cam and Reese was fun and lighthearted, but also emotional given their close relationship and shared background. Cam’s growing crush on his best friend made writing his action film impossible and instead he had romcom on the brain. I love a good romcom, don’t you?

It took me longer than I’d hoped to turn in my edits, but when I typed The End – actually it’s FADE OUT, and I hope you’ll read the book to see why – I was proud of myself for delivering a book I truly believed it, and so happy to be finished! I’m pretty sure my editors were immensely relieved, too. (Side note: their faith in me helped tremendously.)

They say the third times a charm, and in this case it definitely was. I think I still have a bit of an editing hangover, but it was worth it to make Cam and Reese two people I adore and whose story I hope captures your heart and leaves you with a smile on your face.

Thanks so much Writerspace for having me here today! Before I go, I’ve got a question: what is your favorite romcom (book or film)? Let me know in the comments for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card.

Happy reading!

xoxo

Robin

Robin Bielman

Robin Bielman

Robin Bielman is the USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen novels. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, frequent coffee shops (and by frequent she means daily but she's trying to break the habit), and spend time with her high school sweetheart husband and two sons. Her fondness for swoon-worthy heroes who flirt and stumble upon the girl they can't live without jumpstarts most of her story ideas. She writes with a steady stream of caffeine nearby (see above) and the best dog on the planet, Harry, by her side. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! xoxo

25 thoughts on “Third Times A Charm or Three Rewrites Later…”

  1. Pat Lieberman says:

    Not really sure what books qualify for romcom – but many years ago I read /Erin McCarthy – The Pregnancy Test; it was really funny – the hero was a hoot.

    1. Hi Pat! That sounds like a romcom to me. 🙂 I love when heroes are funny.

  2. Rachel Flesher (aka Raonaid Luckwell) says:

    Would Jill Shalvis’ WILDSTONE series be considered RomCom? I love those books!

    PAWS OFF THE BOSS by Casey Griffin (it’s a must if you like dachshunds). I know I laughed and giggled all through my re-read!

    Movies: Never Been Kissed; The Proposal; Leap Year; The Decoy Bride (David Tennant, yum!); The Wedding Date

    Anime – Love Com or Lovely Complex

    1. Hi Rachel! I’ll have to check out Paws off the Boss! I love all dogs. 🙂 And you’ve listed some of my favorite movies, too! Thanks so much for commenting!

  3. Nicole says:

    Thanks for sharing your process. It’s nice to know I’m not alone in my struggle with my characters. I’m glad you worked through it and love what you wrote. I can’t wait to read it.

    1. Hi Nicole, thanks so much for your kind words. You are not alone! If you ever feel that way, find me on social or send me an email – seriously. We can help each other. Happy writing!

  4. I love the Rom Rom Movie The Proposal with Sandra Bullock.
    Loved reading about you and your book. You are new to me. It’s always great to meet a new author.

    1. Hi Sherry, it’s nice to meet you! Thanks for commenting. The Proposal is one of my all-time favorites! I never get tired of watching it. 🙂

  5. Vicki says:

    I’m so glad you found the right combination to really gel for you, and that your editors were so nice about letting you change it. The pandemic made everything difficult, but as a reader I know books are always better when authors have the time and space to put their heart into the book.

    My favorite rom com book is The Hating Game by Sally Thorne. Movie is harder…. I loved watched rom coms as a teen – something my mom and I enjoyed doing together and I love those memories. The ones the last decade or so have not ever captured that same magic when I watched them though. I did love Crazy Rich Asians.

    1. Hi Vicki, thank you! You summed it up beautifully.

      I’m glad you have special memories of you and your mom watching romcoms. I loved The Hating Game, too. And Crazy Rich Asians. I hope a movie captures that magic for you again sometime soon!

  6. Colleen C. says:

    The Proposal… I have watched that movie soooo many times!

    1. Hi Colleen, me too!! 🙂

  7. JanD says:

    My favorite romcom movie is Serendipity.

    1. Hi Jan! Another movie I love! 🙂

    1. That’s a good one, too!!

  8. Amber says:

    I watch and read a lot of Hallmark stuff, does that qualify? Can’t say I have a favorite, just that I enjoy romcoms!
    Happy day 🦄

    1. Hi Amber! I’m a Hallmark Channel person, too! I haven’t read their books yet, but I have some friends published with them and their books are on my TBR list! Happy Thursday!

  9. GB says:

    The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

    1. I really need to read this book! It’s also on my TBR list! 🙂

  10. Jennifer R says:

    Three major rewrites…while the choices you made were not the right fit for this character/book – has it given you an idea for another character for your next book?

    1. Jennifer R says:

      I am still looking for a favorite…..

    2. Hi Jennifer, great question! And yes! Not for my next book, but I do keep all my notes so that I can maybe use them for a character in another story. So, while painful during the writing of this book, it could come in handy later. 🙂

  11. Carol Cox says:

    I’d have to say it’s a three way tie for me. I’d say pretty woman, virgin river (jack and Mel are awesome), and finally the film Greenland, nothing like the end of the world to bring a couple with problems together. I know virgin river and Greenland aren’t romcons but they are romance. Given the fact that I’ve watched Greenland at least 10 times in the past month that’s a truly well made film. Seeing a couple face adversity and then come out on top together is important to me. The only true romcom I’ve listed here is pretty woman… Who doesn’t love Richard Gere and Julia Roberts?

    1. Hi Carol! I’ll have to check out Greenland! As for Pretty Woman and Virgin River – I love them both, too!

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