Practical Advice for Writers
Writing is a craft that rewards patience, practice, and a willingness to learn. On this page, Yamina Collins shares hands-on tips drawn from her experience as a fantasy/romance writer — insights you can apply to your own work right away.
How to Write a Great Love Scene
One of the most requested topics from readers and fellow writers alike: what makes a love scene truly work? Yamina's approach focuses on emotional truth over spectacle. The best romantic moments in fiction are built on tension, vulnerability, and the small, specific details that make characters feel real. Rather than rushing toward a payoff, she advises writers to linger in the quiet beats — a glance held too long, a conversation that says one thing but means another.
From a fantasy/romance perspective, world-building also plays a role. The setting should shape how characters express affection, what rituals or constraints govern intimacy, and how stakes are raised when love collides with duty, magic, or danger.
Giving Yourself Permission to Be Imperfect
Many writers stall because they demand perfection from a first draft. Yamina encourages letting early drafts be messy. The goal is to get the story onto the page; refinement comes later. This mindset shift — from "getting it right" to "getting it written" — is one of the most liberating lessons a writer can learn.
Grabbing Readers From the Start
Whether you aim to delight, shock, or intrigue, your opening lines set the contract with your reader. Yamina's craft notes emphasize starting in the middle of something — a conflict, a question, an emotional state — rather than warming up with exposition. Readers decide quickly whether to keep going; give them a reason on page one.