If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in conflicting advice about plotting, character development, or whether your story even counts as “real” romance, let me introduce you to someone who might just become your writing lifeline: Trisha Jenn Loehr.
Trisha isn’t just another book coach throwing around industry terminology—she’s a romance author herself who genuinely understands what it’s like to balance writing dreams with real life. She gets the beautiful chaos of trying to craft love stories while managing parenting, household responsibilities, and that persistent inner voice questioning whether you really have what it takes.
The “failed” copyeditor who found her true calling
Here’s what makes Trisha’s story so encouraging for writers who worry they’re not “qualified” enough: she started out thinking she should be a copyeditor because that seemed like the logical path for someone who loves books and language. She tackled a copyediting test, spent hours on just two pages, and still missed key grammar differences. When the instructor kindly offered to let her try again, Trisha had a moment of beautiful clarity—this wasn’t her strength, and that was perfectly okay.
Instead of forcing herself down a path that drained her energy, Trisha made a brave pivot. She donated her style guidebooks and looked honestly at what actually excited her about working with writers: digging into story arcs, exploring what makes characters tick, and helping writers untangle those messy plot knots that keep us awake at night.
What this tells you about working with Trisha: She understands that everyone has different strengths, and she won’t judge you for what you don’t know. Her focus is on big-picture storytelling—plot structure, character development, pacing, and meeting reader expectations—not nitpicking your grammar.
Book coaching became her natural calling because Trisha realized she could help writers before and during the writing process, not just after they’d already written themselves into a corner. She helps you map out pivotal story beats, catch plot holes early, and move forward with confidence—which means less time stuck and fewer massive rewrites later.
She’ll help you figure out if you’re actually writing romance
One of the most common anxieties new romance writers have is whether they’re actually writing capital-R Romance or just a story with romantic elements. Trisha sees this confusion constantly, and she breaks it down with refreshing clarity using just two simple rules for the official Romance genre:
Romance novels: The romantic relationship is the main plot, and it must end with Happily Ever After (HEA) or Happy For Now (HFN).
Love stories: Romance might be present but isn’t the central focus, and the ending can be bittersweet, involve separation, or focus on self-discovery.
This isn’t about gatekeeping—it’s about understanding reader expectations so you can find your right audience and market appropriately. If you discover your story belongs in another genre, that doesn’t make it less valuable. Trisha will help you understand where your story fits and how to position it for success.
She knows chemistry is more than “he’s hot, she’s hot”
Romance readers are sophisticated—they want genuine connection between characters, not just sexual tension. Trisha sees writers fall into this trap constantly: focusing solely on physical attraction while leaving out the emotional layers that keep readers truly invested.
According to Trisha, real chemistry comes from moments where characters open up to each other—sharing fears, small acts of kindness, creating shared memories. These build the intimacy and trust that make your “happily ever after” feel genuinely earned.
Trisha teaches about four types of intimacy that make relationships authentic:
- Physical: Touch, attraction, sexual expression
- Emotional: Sharing hopes, fears, showing vulnerability
- Mental: Engaging intellect, thoughtful conversations
- Spiritual: Aligning on values, deep connection beyond words
If your scenes feel flat or mechanical, Trisha can help you identify what’s missing and show you how to weave these elements together naturally.
She practices what she preaches (and admits when she doesn’t)
Here’s something refreshingly honest about Trisha: she’s currently working on two romance novels herself—a small-town enemies-to-lovers story and a reality TV “grumpy sunshine” romance. But like all of us juggling writing with coaching, parenting, and running a business, some days she doesn’t touch her manuscript at all.
“Do as I say, not as I do,” she laughs, giving both herself and her clients permission to be human. She uses the same tools she recommends—outlines, beat sheets, story mapping—but admits she sometimes resists plotting when she just wants to get the story down.
What this tells you about Trisha’s coaching style: She understands that writing takes time, that progress isn’t always about word count, and that solving a stubborn plot point or daydreaming about your characters absolutely counts as writing work. She won’t make you feel guilty about your process or your pace.
She believes your romance writing matters
For Trisha, romance isn’t “just” entertainment—it’s revolutionary. These books center women’s pleasure, autonomy, and agency in a culture that often dismisses women’s sexuality as frivolous. Romance novels celebrate female desire, normalize healthy consent, and give women’s stories space to shine.
She’s passionate about inclusive stories too—queer romances, polyamorous relationships, love at any age. As she puts it: “Women’s pleasure. Women’s consent. Women’s autonomy. That is how so many of these books are so revolutionary, because they put women as the main characters in their own lives. And when any minority group is lifted up, it helps lift everyone.”
If you’re writing romance, Trisha sees your work as meaningful and important—not guilty pleasure, but genuine contribution to literature that helps readers and fills gaps in education about healthy relationships.
Why she prefers coaching over critique groups
Critique groups can be helpful, but Trisha points out a crucial limitation: their feedback often reflects personal preferences rather than your story’s vision. That can lead you off track, make you doubt your instincts, or even cause you to stall out completely.
Here’s how Trisha’s book coaching is different:
- Ongoing relationship rather than one-time feedback
- Focused on your goals and story vision, not individual tastes
- Catches problems early so you avoid massive revisions later
- Encouraging and collaborative rather than just critical
- Trained expertise in story structure and romance genre expectations
Trisha’s goal is helping you get what’s in your head onto the page, staying accountable, and facing big challenges as they come up. It’s questions, encouragement, and sometimes just having someone to hash out ideas with when you’re stuck.
She’s committed to continuous learning
Trisha believes in continuous growth—she reads industry blogs like Jane Friedman’s, attends writing conferences, and participates in ongoing training with her Author Accelerator coach peers. Her local writing community is active and supportive, rooted in sharing knowledge rather than hoarding it.
This mindset shows up in how she works with clients. She learns from her writers just as much as she teaches them, and she’s quick to connect people with other resources if that’s what would serve them best. The romance writing community is especially welcoming to newcomers, and Trisha embodies that generous spirit.
How to connect with Trisha
Trisha offers free, no-pressure 20-minute calls to talk about your writing project—and she’ll happily let conversations run long if you’re both enjoying the discussion. She believes in finding the right fit rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
You can reach her:
- Website: trishajennreads.com (Jenn with two “n”s)
- Instagram: @trishajennreads
She welcomes questions about your project and will honestly tell you if she thinks someone else in her network might be a better match for your specific needs. That kind of integrity tells you everything about her character.
Is Trisha right for you?
Trisha might be perfect for you if:
- You want support during your writing process, not just after you’re done
- You’re writing romance and want someone who truly understands and respects the genre
- You value encouragement and collaboration over harsh criticism
- You want to understand story structure and character development at a deeper level
- You’re looking for someone who gets the challenges of balancing writing with real life
- You sometimes doubt whether your story “counts” as romance or worry about meeting genre expectations
She might not be the right fit if:
- You’re looking for someone to fix grammar and punctuation (that’s copyediting, not coaching)
- You prefer working completely independently without ongoing support
- You want someone to tell you exactly what to write rather than helping you discover your own story
- You’re not open to feedback about big-picture story elements
Your story deserves expert support
Every romance novel starts with a spark—sometimes a single idea, sometimes stubborn curiosity about two characters who won’t leave you alone. Trisha understands that writing without guilt or shame, with a supportive coach cheering you on, makes all the difference in actually finishing your book.
Whether you’re outlining your first love story or revising your tenth, the journey gets easier with guidance, clarity, and genuine kindness. In Trisha’s words, your stories, your joy, and your voice matter. In the world of romance writing, you’re never alone—and you’ve earned every word you’re writing.
If you’re ready to move from dreaming about your book to actually writing it with confidence, Trisha might just be the supportive guide you’ve been looking for.