The Emotional Mask Your Scene Is Wearing | 12

If you've got a scene that should feel gut-wrenching, but it reads more like a shrug, the problem probably isn't your writing. In episode 12, I'm walking you through what happens when a scene looks emotional on the surface but isn't connected to what your hero is really going through underneath.

You'll learn:

1. Why a scene can make you cry while you're writing it and still fall flat for readers
2. How to tell whether your hero's big moment is doing real character work or just wearing a plot disguise
3. What a bestselling romance novel reveals about the difference between caretaking as love language and caretaking as self-protection
4. The one question to ask any scene that keeps fighting you, before you touch a single word

This 20-minute episode is for romance writers who keep rewriting scenes that feel almost right but never quite resonate, no matter how many tweaks you make. By the end, you'll know how to spot when a scene is faking emotion so you can stop wrestling with the words and start asking what the scene actually needs to do.

Resources from this episode:

1. Live workshop: Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method (March 27, 2026) → hi.suebrownmoore.com/cake
2. Community: Join Enemies to Experts → suebrownmoore.com/enemies-to-experts
3. The Character Core Values: Read this free article on the must-have traits for your heroes → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/ccvs
4. Spotlight author: CP Rider, urban fantasy romance writer → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/cprider
5. Spotlight author: Lauren Blakely, contemporary romance writer → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/laurenblakely
6. More Resources: Learn from Sue at your own pace → podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn

• The Character Core Values (CCVs) - Free article: The Character Core Values that define who your hero is at their core, the good and the bad → https://podcast.suebrownmoore.com/ccvs
• Lauren Blakely (author website) - Learn more about Lauren Blakely, the writer I talked about in this episode, on her author website and check out her witty, heartwarming—and also beautifully narrated—stories about the power of love, friendship and sports.
• C.P. Rider (author website) - Learn more about C.P. Rider, the writer I talked about in this episode, on her author website and check out her addicting, immersive, wildly unpredictable urban fantasy series.
• Enemies To Experts™ - Learn more about the Enemies To Experts™ program with Sue Brown-Moore. Because falling in love with your manuscript starts with understanding it.
• Get your ticket - Join Sue for the live workshop, Cake, Not Chaos: The Moment To Moment Method on March 27, 2026
• More resources - Learn from Sue at your own pace at podcast.suebrownmoore.com/learn

Subscribe to the Story Sorcery® podcast with Sue Brown-Moore on your favorite podcast app to never miss an episode.