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Get your romance (writing) on!
Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies is the only reference aspiring writers need to get their careers off to the right start. Fully updated to reflect the industry's latest trends and secrets, this book helps you understand what makes a great novel, so you can hone your craft and write books people want to read. We break down the romance subgenres, give you expert tips on plotting and pacing, and walk you through the process of finding an agent and getting published in today's competitive market--or self-publishing like many six-figure authors are doing. For aspiring writers longing to find success in the industry, Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies is easy to read, highly informative, and a must-have!
* Refine your writing to craft engaging stories readers can't put down
* Find a route to publication that works for you--mainstream, or self-published
* Understand the ins and outs of the romance genre and its subgenres
* Learn how to get your work noticed in the popular world of romantic fiction
This Dummies guide is perfect for beginning writers who want advice on writing and publishing a successful romance novel. It's also a great reference for accomplished writers looking to level up their romance game.
List of contents
Introduction 1
About This Book 2
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 3
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Welcome to the World of Romance Writing 5
Chapter 1: Romance Writing at a Glance 7
Tuning in to the Market 8
Defining a romance 8
Subdividing romances into genres 9
Practicing Your Craft 10
Everything starts with characterization 11
It's all about emotional tension 11
Plotting, pacing, and point of view 12
Choosing Indie Publishing or Traditional Publishing 13
Exploring the pros and cons of each 13
Choosing your path 13
Best Practices of Indie Publishing 14
Working with editors and graphic designers 14
Marketing and selling your book 15
Submitting Your Manuscript 15
Choosing the right publisher 15
Putting together a selling submission 15
Chapter 2: Romancing the Marketplace: Identifying Your Options 17
Knowing Your Reader 18
Meeting the romance reader 18
Meeting the romance reader's expectations 19
Starting from Square One: Reading 20
Drawing up a reading list 20
Reading like a writer 21
Getting to Know Your Genre 22
Historical versus contemporary 22
Mainstream versus category 25
Subgenres and niche markets 28
Related women's fiction markets 35
Choosing Your Subgenre 37
What do you like to read? 38
How do you fit into the market? 39
Chapter 3: Setting Up for Writing Success 43
Finding the Perfect Time to Write 44
Making time to pursue your dream 44
Creating your writing routine 46
Building a Writer's Tool Kit 48
Sharpening up your office supplies: More than just pencils 49
Stocking the shelves: Your home library 49
Booking it: Accurate financial records 50
Accessing Resources for the Would-Be Writer 51
Joining writers' organizations -- romance-related and otherwise 51
Going where the writers are: Conferences and more 52
Taking advantage of courses and critique groups 52
Online resources 54
Part 2: Laying the Foundation: The Building Blocks of a Great Romance 57
Chapter 4: Creating Compelling Main Characters: Alpha Males and Fiery Females 59
Depending on Your Characters 60
The Key to Every Romance Is the Heroine 61
Drawing the reader into your story 61
Making your heroine feel real 61
Introducing imperfection 63
Naming your heroine 64
Creating Your Hero 66
Heroes are for loving 67
Holding out for a hero: Alphas and others 69
Looking for love in all the wrong places 74
Hello, my name is 74
Keepin' It Real: Secondary Characters 76
Remembering their roles 76
Avoiding stereotypes 77
Speaking up 77
Naming the baby (and everyone else) 78
Factoring in the future 78
Laying Concrete Strategies for Creating Characters 78
Chapter 5: Crucial Ingredients for Every Plot: Conflict, Climax, and Resolution 81
You Can't Have a Novel without a Plot 82
Where do ideas come from? 82
Letting your characters drive the plot 85
Suspense: Every Story Has It 86
Using romance to create suspense 87
Other ways of creating twists and turns 88
Making Sense Matters 89
Creating Emotional Conflict and Tension 91
About the author
Victorine Lieske is a
New York Times bestselling author of more than 25 romance novels, as well as several books on writing. She loves all things romance and watches
While You Were Sleeping about once every six months. When she's not writing, she's designing book covers or making something with her extensive yarn collection.
Summary
Get your romance (writing) on!
Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies is the only reference aspiring writers need to get their careers off to the right start. Fully updated to reflect the industry's latest trends and secrets, this book helps you understand what makes a great novel, so you can hone your craft and write books people want to read. We break down the romance subgenres, give you expert tips on plotting and pacing, and walk you through the process of finding an agent and getting published in today's competitive market--or self-publishing like many six-figure authors are doing. For aspiring writers longing to find success in the industry, Writing a Romance Novel For Dummies is easy to read, highly informative, and a must-have!
* Refine your writing to craft engaging stories readers can't put down
* Find a route to publication that works for you--mainstream, or self-published
* Understand the ins and outs of the romance genre and its subgenres
* Learn how to get your work noticed in the popular world of romantic fiction
This Dummies guide is perfect for beginning writers who want advice on writing and publishing a successful romance novel. It's also a great reference for accomplished writers looking to level up their romance game.
