What happens when your characters know the story before you do?

This week, we sit down with romance author Lauren Okie to talk about discovery writing, outlining, second drafts, and learning to trust your creative instincts. From writing Tropesick while querying her debut novel to protecting the creative spark in a publishing industry full of distractions, Lauren shares an honest look at the realities of writing books that surprise both the author and the reader.

Lauren Okie didn't set out to write a book about tropes.

She set out to write characters compelling enough to tell her where the story wanted to go.

In this episode, Lauren joins Jenna and Cait to discuss the writing process behind Tropesick, her approach to discovery writing, and why she believes character should always come before plot. The conversation explores outlining versus improvisation, second drafts, deleting scenes you love, and the challenge of protecting creativity in an industry that often prioritizes metrics over art.

For writers, this episode is packed with practical advice on trusting your instincts, identifying what belongs in your story, and finding your way through the messy middle of drafting a novel.

For readers, it's a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the mind of an author whose stories blend romance, humor, grief, and literary ambition.

In This Episode

•  How Lauren Okie developed the concept for Tropesick
•  Writing a second novel while querying a debut 
•  Discovery writing versus outlining 
•  Why character should drive story 
•  Learning to trust your creative process 
•  The role of second and third drafts 
•  Identifying duplicate scenes and unnecessary subplots 
•  Craft books that changed Lauren's approach to writing 
•  Romance as a vehicle for complex, meaningful storytelling 
•  Protecting the creative spark in publishing 

Books & Authors Mentioned

• Tropesick — Lauren Okie 
• The Best Worst Thing — Lauren Okie 
• You Between the Lines — Katie Naymon 
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow — Gabrielle Zevin
• Refuse to Be Done —  Matt Bell

Memorable Quotes

"Every book I start is a partial lobotomy."

"You can't understand the story until you've written the whole book."

"At the end of the day, it's you and the blank page."

"You need to romanticize the hell out of writing this book."

About Lauren Okie

Lauren Okie is the author of The Best Worst Thing and Tropesick. Known for emotionally layered romance, sharp humor, and character-driven storytelling, Lauren's work explores grief, love, creativity, and the stories we tell ourselves about happily ever after.