Product Description
In On Writing Romance, award-winning romance novelist Leigh Michaels talks you through each stage of the writing and publishing process. From the origins and evolution of the romance novel to establishing a vital story framework to writing that last line to seeking out appropriate publishers, everything you ever wanted to know about writing a romance novel is here.

In addition to a comprehensive breakdown of more than thirty romance subgenres, including such categories as historical, inspirational, Regency, and sweet traditional, you'll discover how to:

· Steer clear of clichés and stereotypes by studying the genre

· Craft engaging and realistic heroes and heroines readers will adore

· Convincingly develop the central couple's blossoming relationship

· Add conflict by utilizing essential secondary characters like the "other woman"

· Use tension and timing to make your love scenes sizzle with sensuality

· Get your characters to happily-ever-after with an ending readers will always remember

Plus, read a sample query letter, cover letter, and synopsis, and learn how to properly prepare your romance novel for submission to agents and editors. On Writing Romance has everything you need to leave readers swooning! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Very useful book
I am selective about the writing books I put on my shelf above my computer. This is a book I keep on that shelf and I refer to various sections of it over and over when writing scenes involving romance. I originally read writing articles by Leigh Michael on various web writing sites and found them incredibly helpful. Her book is a keeper.

Generous, passionate and entertaining.
I am trained in script and story editing, have produced literally hundreds of books to unabridged audio and am a bit of a writing book junkie - by no means am I a beginner in storycraft. I bought this book because I wanted something tailored to the romance genre and that is exactly what this book gives you. Yes, you could spend hours on the internet finding similar information and, yes, if you've done your research you'll have heard a lot of it before but this book not only collects it for you in one place but is also utterly entertaining. The book arrived late this afternoon and I have just finished it. It's 3a.m. - I couldn't put it down.
Michaels' passion for the subject is in every word. This is not a book written by someone jaded who wants to be able to point at her book when the 4,999,999th person asks her what the formula for romance writing is! She is also generous with her knowledge. So often one gets the feeling that the author of a writing book is holding something back for themselves - not quite fully explaining a point here or there, alluding to something you sense is more important than they are admitting. Not so here. In fact Michaels is so generous that at one point she even uses a sentence from her own (I assume earlier) work as an example of what not to do!
Highly recommended.

Great for beginners.
I'm a 'newbie' and reference this book a lot when I have a question about craft or the industry.

One of my best purchases this year!
I'm a recent college graduate with a degree in English Literature who, very recently, came to the conclusion that if I could spend the rest of my life writing romance novels, I'd be a happy camper.

Without the time (or money) to enroll in a creative writing MFA program, or even an in-person writing workshop, I've had to "educate" myself with books on writing style.

I've read and skimmed several over the past several months--books on dialogue, scene/plot development, characterization, etc--but Leigh Michaels' "On Writing" is the ONLY style book I've been literally compelled to read cover-to-cover. Usually, I start these types of books with the best laid plans, then end up skimming or skipping to the pertinent parts (i.e., what I need help with at that moment), but THIS book is so well-structured, it pulls you along.

Aimed at the beginning romance writer (like me!), Michaels' clearly outlines common pitfalls and cliches to avoid, gives extremely helpful tips on how to write "from a male POV" or "a female POV", and goes so far as to explain the structure, layout and general guidelines for several types of romance fiction (inspiration, sweet, short contemporary, long contemporary, chick-lit AND erotica). Basically, no matter why type of romance you're trying to write, there are helpful tips for you!

It's also chock-full of excerpts from published romance novels, which helps Michaels illustrate the topics she's discussing (there's one section where she points out how silly the overusage of dialogue tags can be that made me laugh out loud).

I just bought this book yesterday and, despite the fact that it's really just a style book, I've read almost the entire 250-some pages. I'm about halfway through my first novel attempt and I can already see where the tips in this book will help me improve when it's time to go back and revise.

As some have said, this definitely isn't a book for the more experienced/advanced writer (even as a beginner, there were some things discussed that just seemed overly obvious), but it's definitely going to be a valuable resource on my bookshelf as I advance my writing skills.

Romance Novel Writing is Easy with this Book!
There are many books about how to write romances, but this one seemed more modern and in style with the times. It stood out from the shelves at the bookstore and it was well worth the money to buy it.It makes you feel enthusiastic about writing that romance novel, standing apart from the other reference books. ... Read more

Product Description
In love with romance novels? You’re not alone! Romance is today’s most popular fiction genre, accounting for more than half of all mass market fiction sold. If you’re looking to make a serious effort at writing a romance and getting it published in today’s multifaceted markets, you need to learn as much as you can about this highly successful field--especially how to create the perfect heroes and heroines. Now, in this easy, step-by-step guide, a top romance editor gives you the know-how you need to succeed as a romance novelist!

Writing A Romance Novel For Dummies is perfect for both beginning and more accomplished writers who are looking to get the leading edge on writing a romance novel and get it published. Leslie Wainger, Executive Editor at Harlequin Books, explains what it takes to become the next Nora Roberts, providing the techniques you need to:

• Select a pseudonym
• Write a compelling, heartfelt story
• Find the right agent and publisher
• Submit a manuscript
• Market your novel
• Join clubs and associations

Packed with insider advice, this plain-English guide helps you grasp the building blocks of a great romance, providing practical tips on the craft of writing as well as savvy pointers on how to hook your reader from page one, write with passion, and shape a proposal that will wow agents and editors. You get lots of expert tips on analyzing the marketplace, creating compelling characters, and finding your own voice. Wainger also:

• Demystifies the sub-genres of the romance world, from historical, contemporary, and multicultural to paranormal, romantic suspense, and Christian/inspirational
• Explains plotting, pacing, and writing those crucial love scenes
• Discusses how to conduct research, assign credits, and get permissions
• Helps you decide whether it’s best to write alone or with a partner

Complete with a manuscript preparation checklist, tips for revising your work smoothly and successfully, guidance in understanding and negotiating a contract, and a list of romance writing resources, Writing A Romance Novel For Dummies is your one-stop guide to becoming a published novelist! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Great book, but some people can't read...
First off, to those of you who rated down because it doesn't have in-depth information on publishing -- LEARN TO READ!!!This book is NOT titled "How to Publish Your Manuscript" or "Making Connections in the Publishing Business"!It it's titled "Writing a Romance Novel".If you want more information about publishing, select a book that is clearly for publishing.Do not rate a "how to write" book down because it doesn't delve into the "how to publish" topic to your satisfaction.

My thoughts about the book -- short and sweet, because there are already plenty of reviews that cover most aspects of this book.This book takes on a simplistic style, targeting those who are fresh into wanting to write a romance novel.This book succeeds in it's mission -- to inform beginner writers and introduce them into the genre of writing a romance novel, with some introductory information on publishing to get you started into researching the market for your book once it's finished.

Expert Advice
I have spent the week-end studying this book and can honestly shout EUREKA. I have found a book that gives me the editor's take on the publishing business. As a frustrated writer who has sent out so many manuscripts over a period of years this book was an eye opener. It explained matters to me in a way that was totally readable and enjoyable. I am going to employ all of the information found in this book to my manuscript under consideration and let you know how I got on.

A master class in a subject matter dear to my heart from a master.

great for beginners
This book was very helpful for me as an aspiring author.The information on pacing and creating compelling characters would be beneficial to any manuscript, not just a romance.I also appreciated the coverage of the many aspects of marketing and publishing.
I've spent more time on my writing since reading this book than I have in the last five years.

Good information
Writing a romance novelis something you can do in your spare time to keep your creativity alive. This book is a fun companion to that effort, covering most of the bases in an entertaining way. It never hurts to get lots of opinions, though. [...]

Good Source for Romance Writing!
This book is extremely easy to follow, as the sections are broken down pretty well, hence the title. There is a bit of "fluff" - in other words, there are quite a few things that are common sense that I did not need to read in a book to know about. But the other stuff makes up for it. The sections are broken down into things like Characterization, Developing the Plot, Outlining the Story, etc.
I would recommend this book for an aspiring author (or authoress!) ... Read more

Product Description
Every year, thousands of romance manuscripts are submitted to publishers, but only the best are eventually published. This simple guide?written by two awardwinning romance novelists?will show readers what it takes to break into this highly competitive market and will provide them the information they need to get their manuscript out of the slush pile and onto the bookshelf. Readers will learn how to do the following techniques: build a story from premise to plot; add a fresh twist to a classic storyline; create compelling characters; write sizzling sex scenes that carry an emotional punch; research agents and markets; write a story that an editor can?t reject; and promote themselves and their work. New writers, and even experienced writers, will find the solid howto information here invaluable. This is a musthave for aspiring writers who want to write the perfect love story. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Grammatically Incorrect
For an "Everything Guide" this book seems awfully light on information. Much of what is here is covered in more depth (and covered better) in other romance writing guides. And the authors commit some pretty glaring errors. For instance, on page 116 they claim that the sentence "Jane was listening at the door" is passive voice. That's just plain wrong. No wonder so many writers are confused about verb choice with "expert" advice like this floating around.

Must have
This is a must have if you want to write not only romance, but any genre.I have a whole shelf of books about the craft of writing, but this is the one I turn to for everything. It is for the beginner and for those of us who have been writing for years.
If you can buy just one book this year, this is the one.

If you want to write romance novels, this is a must read!
How does an author get from the bottom to the top of the agent/publisher slush pile? There are many answers and most of them are included in The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel.

Some multi-published authors may find that this guide includes information that they already know. But I'd bet that there are nuggets that they will find new and interesting. The novice author (and that is who this book is directed toward) will find it a comprehensive book filled with useful information.

Authors Craig and Hughes start with the history of the romance novel and then head straight into an in-depth discussion of the genre and the various subgenres. I found this section fascinating and clarified many of my thoughts on the subject.

The meat of the writing of a Romance novel is in the Basic Structure chapter and includes story arcs, plot points, hooks, setting, etc. The important question answered in this chapter is calculating word count. There isn't an author living (I suspect) who didn't start their career wondering how to do the word count.

The information is vast and the authors discuss most things in a concise but in-depth manner. They will help the reader through the subjects of critique groups, brainstorming ideas, targeting markets, grammar, sentence structure, openings, dialogue and narrative, character sketches, pacing, writing drafts and so much more.

This 305-page book, including appendix and index, is a reference book the Romance writer MUST have in their library. It will save you time. And time saved is time spent writing that Romance novel.

Armchair Interviews says: A must-read, must-have reference book. ... Read more

Product Description
Writing the Christian Romance provides readers with detailed instruction for creating a storyline that is reflective of Christian values with authentic well constructed principled characters. This comprehensive book shows writers how to develop an engaging, passionate, conflict-driven romantic storyline without the use profanity, gratuitous violence, or sexually explicit content. Writers will learn to construct stories using the three threads around which Christian romance is centered: the characters' personal growth, the growth of the romance, and the characters' spiritual growth, which is as irrevocably tied to the storyline as the first two threads. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Review of informative book
Writing the Christian Romance by Gail Gaymer Martin has been a god-send to me. The book is thorough and comprehensive. As a beginning writer, I have found the book to contain just the right information at the right time.

Beyond greatful
I have been wanting to write a Christian romance for at least 2 years. And this book was just want I need to get my foot in the door. It says all the no no's in this writing and offers great examples. The only draw back is that it only takes of being published and not self publish which is what I plan on doing. Even without that tiny section the book is filled with great information and comes at a really great price. Buy it.. you won't be sorry. If God blessed you to write then write you should.

Really helpful, but would have like to see more of a variety of authors discussed in text
I found this book to be really well written and helpful. The book is practical and straight to the point. I also enjoyed the helpful writing excercises that are offered as well. The only thing I would have changed about this book is that I would have included more authors to draw from. Otherwise, this book is an excellent resource.

My opinion on ' Writing the Christian Romance'
This book is absolutely fantastic. My first Christian Novel is currently in the hands of an editor in N.Y. Just before I sent it over, I thought it was ready to approach the people concerned. However, after reading this book, I learnt SO MUCH! Even little things like'said tags,' explaining how to bring in the feelings of each character, making sure it was 'feelings' not sight by the main character, which is impossible. It has enabled me to produce a far better Manuscript. I have been able to bring so much more emphasis on the emotions and senses of both my Hero and Heroine after reading Gail's explanations. By the time I sent my M.S. over, it was a much better novel.I thoroughly encourage any aspiring writer of this genre to grab this book!Many many thanks, Gail.

A Writer's Bible
This was on my wish list for a long time and I'm so impressed with it, I think I might need an extra copy.I keep referring to the book and the great chapter ending exercises that the book looks used and beaten.

Ms. Martin gives a comprehensive look at writing the Christian Romance, using examples from her own work, as well as other respected authors.From plot to character to the spiritual emphasis of the book, no stone is left unturned.

What makes me love this book even more is that in the Christian romance genre, perhaps several names could have written it.But Gail Martin did, giving up secrets and tips in order to help others.It'sgenerous gift, this book, and I feel blessed to have it in my hands. ... Read more

Product Description
The basic rules for turning basic instincts into blockbuster success.

Erotic romance reigns supreme as a big category of women’s fiction—a billion dollar business serviced by a new breed of uninhibited writer. This book is the necessary how-to for first timers and a terrific guide for seasoned professionals as well, who are putting their racy—and lucrative—fantasies to paper. Now, for the first time, a veteran erotic romance author shows exactly what to do—and how.

• The first book to guide writers to succeed in this multi-million dollar genre
• Explores how to set up a plot and write good, steamy sex scenes
• From a best-selling experienced author
• Includes resource section for research tools and further reading
• Interviews with top editors in the field
• Foreword by Kate Duffy, editorial director at Kensington Publishing and founding editor of the genre ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Only for really REAL idiots
If you are truly an idiot about writing in general and romance in particular, this book is for you. In it, you will find lots and lots of generalized statements about writing, all of which are true, but none of which are specific, detail-driven, or anything you can't find for free on the internet. More than half of the book is about either basic fiction writing skills or basic romance writing skills. Very little is specific to erotic romance, and what little there is, is frustratingly vague.

You can get everything you need to know about what Kent is saying from the headings, because though she blathers on in prose for a paragraph or two beneath each, she always concludes with, "Well, you could do this or you could do that, whatever works for you!" In a guide to writing, I expect specific examples and steps to complete a task. I have the option, as a reader, not to follow the writer's advice, but I paid to get advice, and I'd like some, please.

Overall, Kent is really just writing "about" erotic romance, not telling one "how to write" erotic romance. She makes generalizations and goes into various descriptions, but doesn't break down anything step by step. If you'd like good, solid, specific advice on that, I'd recommend Morgan Hawke's website or Emma Holly's. (That was galling too. She kept pointing you to other books and resources to check out, but never telling you ANYTHING specific about what to do.)

In the end, not worth the $14, but I can't say it was money wasted if it helps to support Kent's writing career. I hope she's getting some good royalty payments for this. Anything an author can do to keep herself making a living is something I'm all for! (But, Ms. Kent, may I recommend you stick to writing fiction, as teaching is not your forte.)

Pretty good
This book could have been better but it was good. I read it in one night and then looked over it a few times. It never talks about e publishing nor self publishing. And sometimes the chapters seem in the wrong order. It has good information. Sometimes it seems like she is saying the same thing over and over again.. It talk also about how to handle people who dislike erotic. Good book.. all together

Check out this book even if you have read similar ones
This manual is great and likely different from some of the other how-to manuals on the subject of romance fiction that you might have already read.

Kent spends a great deal of time dissecting what makes erotic romance fiction different from romance fiction. Detailing the distinction between genres/subgenres is what makes this guide different. I also really appreciate the insightful guidance about how to write in Deep Third Person Point of View. Also, Kent solicits and includes relevant and helpful feedback and advice from many prominent authors in the erotic romance genre.

This is a great book for beginning writers but I have read a great many published books whose authors should pick up a copy too.

A "How To Write Dirty" that's a lot more than that.
Solid, clear discussion of what it takes to get readers involved in your story, chopped up in easy-to-digest bites ofwriting wisdom.Dozens of clear ideas on how to make your story characters jump off the page and into the mind along with a plot that keepsyou tagging along way past your bedtime.. A good deal more than merely "Hot tips for writing in this sexy new subgenre!" But on-the-money with that, too.

Questions on Erotic Romance & An Aspiring New Author Also
If you are a new writer; never published and find that you are somewhat lacking in the area of Erotic Romance, I do not recommend this book as a guide that will enable you to write your erotic love scenes effectively, thus pulling your readers in; as well as heighten the excitement and anticipation of your lovers in print; in other words "brain sex," whether explicit or done in a way so as not to be crude as your story unfolds.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Erotic Romance is full of opinions that lack depth, as well as workable simple formulas by both the author and other published authors whose comments appear in the back of the book (some who are best selling authors). I found the publication to be of no help at all.Good examples and a guide for structure and/or tension building is what I expected to get from reading the reviews that sold me on the book. In regard to drafting your erotic love scenes, acquiring a method of tension building among the lovers that is required to gain and maintain your readers interest how-to was severely lacking.

In closing....if you need serious help in this area....please look elsewhere for information that will help you to enhance your characters in the bedroom, as well as outside of it as they travel along the lovers erotic adventure you have chosen to write.

NH
New Author ... Read more

Product Description
The complete guide to turning romances into cash

* Romance accounts for $1.2 billion in sales and 55 percent of the paperback market
* Takes writers beyond writing to selling and promotion

Romance novels are the top-selling genre in fiction. How can aspiring writers break into this lucrative field? With Writing the Great American Romance Novel, the most complete guide to writing that novel, getting it published, working with editors, agents, and publicists, and promoting it once it’s out! Step-by-step instruction shows how to create romantic heroes and heroines, structure a story, and write love scenes, as well as how to plan outlines, use timelines and grids, conduct personal interviews, and do historical research. With extras such as a list of publishers, a sample press release, a sample synopsis, and much more, this book is must-have for any aspiring romance writer passionate about writing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Replete with concrete advice, humor and spirit
"Writing the Great American Romance Novel" is persuasive because it is practical and beautifully written; one does not expect to shed a tear at the end of a reference guide like I did at the end of this book. Ms. Lanigan generously shares her significant experience in the field and leads her readers toward rewarding relationships with the novel itself and with publishers and agents.The Artist's Way

I like to think that I am a pretty good judge of reference materials having spent many years in academia, although I only have one other novel-writing manual. Having serendipitously stumbled upon this wonderful resource I am sure I will be satisfied with my writing-reference library for some time to come.

Ms. Lanigan refers to another one of my favorite authors, Julia Cameron; I think that if you like Ms. Cameron's work you will find Writing the Great American Romance Novel is "right up your alley".

Good book
I'm not a writer, but I do think it's fun to write and this book has helped me see how a romance novel would be pieced together, and what readers would look for.If you're interested in how to make a good romance novel, you should read this. :]

Writing the Great American Romance Novel
If you've ever thought of becoming a romance novelist, Writing The Great American Romance Novel is for you. This book states that romance novels are still the best selling books in the world. Romance junkies are constantly looking for new material to feed their insatiable appetite.

Unlike other fictional works, romance novels follow a strict formula. Over time, through trial and error, writers have learned what works and what doesn't. Although I had always joked with my colleagues that romance novels had such a formula, I was really surprised at the depth of this reality. For instance, have you ever read a good romance novel where the hero and heroine didn't grow as individuals or get through some sort of crisis? How about a story about a balding heroine (cancer doesn't count) or a rude abusive hero? I'm sure we've all read bad romance novels where the characters have no likeability or the dialogue is bad.

Writing The Great American Romance Novel tells all the secrets of the best romance novelists on today's market. Moreover, the book serves as a step by step guide to creating and publishing your own stories. A must have for anyone considering any of the romance genres.

One of the BEST Romance Writing Books Out There!
If you saw my bookshelf you would be blown away at how many books I have on the topic of writing.Then, you would be even more flabberghasted at how many romance writing books I have.I don't know why I have so many.I think I got stuck in a mode of collecting them or something.

Most of the romance writing books aren't worth the paper they are printed on.They are usually lacking in some very important topics.Maybe they'll cover a romance novel's structure but leave out what you're supposed to do with the manuscript when you're finished.Many are outdated because the market does change rather rapidly.

When looking for a romance writing "how-to" book, consider the date it's been published.The newer the book, the better.Again, the romance writing market changes so fast that you need the most up-to-date information.

This book, next to the Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing Romance, is one of the best books on the topic out there.Catherine thoroughly discusses the topic without bogging down the reader with too-technical writing advice.(After all, there has to be a "creative" element.)

Most importantly, however, she goes into the aftermath of the novel.What to do with the manuscript once it's finished.No other book that I've read on this topic covers EXACTLY how to write a synopsis.Some books will cover how to write a query letter.Again, because you need to be up with the current times, most publishers like Silhouette and Harlequin are asking for a synopsis and three sample chapters.I've scoured books high and low to figure out how to write a GOOD synopsis and this is the ONLY book that covers it in detail.

If you can only afford one book on writing romance, GET THIS BOOK and forget about the rest.This book will give you all you need to get started as a successful romance writer.

Good luck!

Writing the Great American Romance Novel
This book was amazing. Catherine Lanigan has written some of the most beautiful Romances books. Becoming, and Romancing the Stone just a few examples.
Now she tells you how you can do the same. I first bought this book for help with a romanceI am trying to write and her advice on Query letters and inspiring In Sprirituchapter at the end of the book gave me the confidence to keep forging ahead in my career. ... Read more

Product Description
If you want to write romance and be a professional writer then this book is a must for you. Following on from the success of the first edition of this book, which won a major award, this guide explains what is meant by romance and takes you through the process of writing emotion and conflict. The author explains how dialogue should be natural between your heroine and her hero and she explains the difference between sensuality and passion. With an expanded text and more true insider-secrets this is a must for all writers of romance, whether professional or amateur.In this book you will learn: how to write emotion and create PTQ (page turning quality); why dialogue is the lifeblood of your novel; and, the importance of 'after' and why the intense black moment in romance is so important. The book will appeal to: all students taking courses to improve their creative writing skills; post 16-Level students and first-year undergraduates on creative writing and creative studies degrees; adult education centres including WEA; teachers, tutors and lecturers; school libraries, reference and public libraries; and, University and college central libraries. It is ideal for undergraduates. The related titles in the series include: "Writing TV Scripts"; "Writing Historical Fiction"; "Starting to Write" and "Writing Crime". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Truly MAGNIFICENT!!!
This book is a MUST HAVE if you are writing a Romance novel.It is one of the few books on writing that ACTUALLY HELPS.If you are having plotting problems, trouble developing your characters, or you find yourself dreading time in front of the computer screen because it just isn't happening--there is hope!There is Kate Walker's book.Buy it.Read it.Rejoice!This book is truly all you need.

Perfection
I have bought this book from the point of view of a frustrated writer. Ms. Walker takes so much time explaining matters that have defeated me in the past. Its been a wonderful experience, I learned so much that I can use in my day to day writing. Ms. Walker has given me hope for the future.

One of the best how to books I have ever read. I am going to polish up my manuscript using the knowledge gained from this book.

A must read for anyone who wants to write fiction!
This is a wonderfully written book.I've been writing for some time but it wasn't until I read this book that I realized why my writing wasn't working.This is a MUST read for anyone who wants to write fiction.Easy to read, to understand, and right to the point.

Read it...you won't be disappointed...in fact you'll wish you'd read it sooner.

I was told she's coming out with an updated edition, so watch for that.

Where's the second edition?
This is a fabulous book! But the 1st edition is out of stock....! Amazon, why aren't you carring the newly-released second edition?

A great guide
Kate Walker is a seasoned professional writer. Her first novel was published way back in 1984. She has written over fifty books and currently has two Harlequin Presents books out this year.

This book explains: how to write emotion and create page turning quality. How to create conflict amidst your characters and why it is a major essential component of your novel. Why dialogue is the lifeblood of your knowledge. How to make dialogue sound realistic. How to make your characters real. How to create the required sharp focus on your hero and heroine. How to develop supporting characters that work. Why flashbacks are important in some stories and how to create them in your novel. Why sensuality is imporant and how to develop sensuality between your hero and heroine. How to pace the development of the romance that is occurring between your hero and heroine. How to write the love scene between your hero and heroine and the importance of 'after'. The importance of the hero and his essential 'vital' vulnerability'. The filter role of the heroine for the reader. The heroine's 21st century response to conflict. How to answer the question 'why?'. How to write the intense black moment and why it is so important. She also has a chapter devoted to the practicalities - agents, market study, rejection, revisions, synopsis', queries etc.

In short the book covers everything that romance writer needs to develop their craft.I found this book to be pretty comprehensive and clearly laid out. If you are serious about writing then this book should be on your shelf. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

A Great Resource!
I found Ms Parv's book at the library. And I am pleased to say I read the whole book. Most 'how to write' books are...well, dry and tedious to read. So I skip through the pages selecting this and that. Not so with 'The Art of Romance Writing'.

Valerie draws you into her manual and pretty soon you are learning while you thought you were 'just reading'.

I have purchased this book now. Yes, it will sit on my bookshelf for future reference and I am sure it will help make my writing better. ... Read more

Product Description

• Create a romance bestseller
• Write romantic scenes from start to finish
• Get in on the big business of writing romance!
• Realize your creative dream and make money, too!

Romance novels represent one of the most lucrative genres in book publishing--making up over half of all mass market fiction sold in North America and generating more than $1.2 billion a year. This book will show you everything you need to know to successfully break into the romance writing market, from planning and plotting your story to editing and selling your manuscript. Whether you're excited by classic love stories or steamy erotic romances, there's a market for your love story. Let Vanessa Grant coach you in the process of getting from idea to finished novel.

Learn how to:

• Develop characters your readers will care about
• Write sensual and romantic scenes
• Set up a suspenseful story
• Research your plot details
• Use your computer to write efficiently
• Work with an agent
• Find a publisher
• Sell your book

Writing Romance includes contributions from popular romance authors Jo Beverley, Mary Jo Putney, Gail Crease, E. C. Sheedy, and others writing about subgenres of the romance field: historical romances, paranormal romances, romantic suspense, erotic romances, and more.

A CD-ROM jam-packed with helpful templates, audio files, and two e-books is also included.

Highlights of the CD:

• Excel template for tracking character history and timelines
• Trial version of MuseNames character-naming software
• Bonus MP3s from Vanessa Grant's seminars on writing great romance novels
• Two complete e-books

Customer Reviews (11)

From J. Kaye's Book Blog
My belief system is there is no such thing as a bad how-to write book. Anything that will get an aspiring moving in a positive direction is good. To back this belief system up, I have a shelf full of them. I even had Vanessa Grant's previous addition to this book on my shelf until a year or so ago. Remember the red one? I was curious to see how much had been added and the answer is quite a lot.

If you've read books by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Ph. D., Jordan E. Rosenfeld, and Karen S. Wiesner, this one might not impress you. The character worksheet and other templates are lacking compared to the books mentioned by two of the authors above. What it will do is give a beginner a place to start, and that is very important. Many of the how-to books out now are for intermediates. This one puts you at the starting gate. The book will assist in setting up your story, show you how to build dimensional characters, and explain the subgenres.

If you are starting out and writing romance is what you'd like to do, this would make a great first book. There's plenty of meat and very little fact, but don't stop with just this one book. Build a library of how-tos and learn from others.

Learning to Write Romance
The cover of the book says it all:
Create a romance bestseller, write romantic scenes from start to finish, and get in on the big business of writing romance!

Writing Romance gives you all the ingredients for a successful romance novel, from writing powerful characters to opening the story with a question that stirs the reader's mind.

The book is divided into several different sections:
--Planning and plotting your book
--Researching
--Setting goals
--Selling your book

The author also gives details on the many different subgenres of romance: historical, paranormal, contemporary, fantasy, gothic and romantic suspence, just to name a few.

The sections of the book that helped me the most were examples of previously published works and query letters. After working hard to complete your manuscript, the query letter and getting published can be the hardest tasks to accomplish.

I also enjoyed the small essays that were included by some successful romance authors: Carole Dean, Kate Frieman, Daphne Clair, Robyn Donald, Kathi Webb, and Jo Beverly.

If you are interested in writing a romance novel, then Writing Romance is a good reference book to help get you started. It also includes a CD-ROM full of useful information.

Writing Romance worked for me!
When I first received this book as a gift, I sat down immediately and read it cover to cover. Being an avid writer of romance fiction, it was the book I had been looking for. Writing Romance is a great source for writers just venturing out into the world of romance fiction, but offers all writers great tips and techniques. Not only does Vanessa explain her techniques in this book, but she also offers examples of how she used the techniques within excerpts of her own published novels, giving the reader a better understanding of how and when to use the technique. When I wrote my first romance novel, I used her book as my 'bible'. In the end, it proved to be an extremely helpful companion to me, and I completed a novel of 75,000 words. In this book, Vanessa provides her reader with a wealth of information as well as samples of query letters, manuscript formats, synopsis, character sketches, data sheets, as well as internet information for romance writers, publishers, agents, and more! If you're a struggling romance writer hoping to see your book hit the shelves, this is the book for you.

but Vanessa Grant can't write!
This book was entertaining, but pretty useless. Most of the "advice" consists of personal accounts of Ms. Grant's own writing experiences, with very specific details as to how she came up with all her plots (and very minor attempts to translate this into beneficial knowledge for the reader). It could serve as a decent catalog if you were shopping for her books. She manages to make some useful points about designing characters to produce conflict, but she misuses vocabulary words on more than one occasion, lacks focus and flow, and really doesn't include any other valuable content. I finally had to quit reading when she started explaining how to use the "omnipotent" viewpoint (which is presumably one where the narrator can do anything?). "How To Write Romances" by Phyllis Taylor Pianka is the way to go for books of this sort, despite it not having quite as cheezy a cover as this one.

A good solid read.
I had ordered the book with some misgivings.When it arrived, I expected to work through it laboriously chapter by chapter.To my surprise and delight it was a very enjoyable, easy read.

I found the informationhelpful and instructive.I really like the fact that Ms. Grant gavedescriptions of how she came up with some of her characters and scenarios. It was also interesting to read how some of her characters and plotsprogressed, changed, then took further twists and turns!

Most valuablefor me, however, was the validation that I am not going about this all thewrong way!It is nice to hear from someone who has done it, how they didit.You may not do the same, but it gives you a point of reference--thatalone makes it worth the money. ... Read more

Product Description
Written by authors Virna DePaul (www.virnadepaul.com), and Tawny Weber (www.tawnyweber.com), “Love Writing” is a comprehensive new resource intended to benefit both new and experienced writers.Although geared toward romance writers, the book can help writers of genre fiction in general.
With a blend of humor, optimism, and realism, the book discusses ten critical writing concepts, as well as a step-by-step method for writing one’s story.

It also provides an unflinching look at the perils of pursuing publication and deconstructs a published romantic suspense book, “You Only Love Twice,” by Lori Wilde (focusing on theme, synopsis, turning points, scene and sequel, etc).

Finally, the book defines terms and answers frequently asked questions, provides tips and worksheets to make the writing process easier, and focuses on the details of the authors’ writing journeys and what they learned over several years.

Both practical and inspiring, the book encourages writers to pursue their passion without attempting to diminish the challenges they will face. ... Read more

Product Description
From Janet Dailey, Jude Deveraux, and 23 other romance authors whose works consistently hit the bestseller lists comes a book filled with the instruction and advice that writers need to create their own bestsellers in the genre.Amazon.com Review
For the aspiring romance writer who needs a little direction, Writing Romances: A Handbook by the Romance Writers of America is an excellent starting point. Divided into four sections, the business of romance is discussed in the first section, including thorough treatments of subjects such as agents, handling publicity, networking, and "the life and times of a manuscript." The following two sections closely examine the processes of researching and writing a novel--from writing with passion to point of view and writing with a partner--while the final section focuses on writing specific types of romances, including the regency, the short contemporary, and the historical romance. All 25 topics are handled by experts in the field: the business side of romance is presented by successful agents, publicists, and editors, while romance writing is handled bybestselling authors such as Jude Deveraux, Diana Gabaldon, and Janet Dailey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A good starting point.
This book is a good starting point for anyone interested in writing romance, romantica and erotica. It gives good advice and examples on how to create believable characters/relationships and how to incorporate them into an interesting story that someone will want to read to the very end. However, since the book deals strictly with writing romance, this book serves the romantica/erotica author more as a basic outline for the more earthy story they want to tell. It IS worth reading since it can help establish a solid set of writing tools to "build" your stories with.

Misleading title
I bought this because I want to be a romance writer, and I was looking for information that would help me in this market as well as give me writing tips. It does a good job on the first count, but it was not very useful for me, a beginner, who did not know anything about writing romances. So the title is misleading.

Useful and Enjoyable
I was honestly surprised by how much I liked this book.Of all the different "how to" books I've read about writing genre fiction, this one was the most helpful and informative on issues of marketing, publicity, and self presentation as an author.

No, this book does not take you by the hand and explain how to plot a story, how to develop a character, or how to format your manuscript.There are, however, many others that do, as a quick search for "writing reference" will show you.This book credits the reader with a certain amount of experience and know how.You do not need to be a succesful writer to enjoy this, simply an observant reader.

Not to give anyone the wrong idea, the book also contains a lovely chapter by Jude Deveraux about the common mistakes new writers make - complete with advice on how to avoid them.There are chapters that discuss the structure of a romance, what the audience expects from heroine and hero, how to do (and then incorporate) research for historical romances, writing the regency romance, long vs. short form, including the paranormal (time travel, magic, etc), and the evolution romance writing has gone through over the years.

I highly recommend this book, not only to romance writers, but to all aspiring writers.After all, many mysteries, westerns, and science fiction stories do have a touch of romance in them, and vice versa.

More for the published author than a beginner.
Unfortunately, this book deals mainly with the business-end of romance writing.While that's fine, it shouldn't be marketed as a writing book.It does have some tips for a beginner, but mostly you'll find advice formarketing, promotion, and other non-writing topics.

Wise, well written, thorough.Well worth buying!
This book is a wonderful collection of works by experts in the Romance genre.As a first-time published Romance author, I can hardly claim to be an expert in the field...I have a long way to go before I becomeproficient.This book is ideal for me.It provides me with support fromwomen who have fought battles long before I dreamed of writing.I amgrateful for their wisdom.

It also assumes a certain amount of writingability and knowledge of the genre; again, ideal for me in that it is notso much a beginner's how-to as it is a forum for romance lovers to sharetheir opinions and pointers about the wonderful genre.

It's a delight toread.A great source of encouragement! ... Read more

Product Description
The forecast is in: the future of romance is hot and steamy. But riding the wave to success takes more than stringing together a couple of sex scenes or opening the bedroom door on your traditional romance. In her brand-new "how-to", USA Today bestselling author Angela Knight shares the down and dirty details on writing erotic romances that will keep your readers coming back for more. Passionate Ink (un)covers the erotic novel from conception to completion. Straight talk, no purple prose. First, Angela will show you her useful writing techniques that have made her a successful author. Then, she'll teach you what's hard (besides that!) about making your erotic romance erotic: action, both in and out of bed, the anatomy of a sex scene, eroticism and 'kink', and good dialogue, or talking dirty without sounding dumb.If you want to enjoy the heat, then strip off your inhibitions and take a dip.into Passionate Ink. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Insightful look into the publishing world...
I have never published any kind of romance, but am a major fan of the erotic romance genre and have considered writing my own book. Angela Knight's "Passionate Ink" is an insightful and thorough look at exactly how to write and market an erotic romance. The plotting guide is especially helpful to aspiring authors, as well as the clear examples and explanations of different aspects of erotic romance writing. Another really helpful aspect of "Passionate Ink" is detailed discussions about both electronic and print publishers. This book is highly recommended for anyone who might want to write their own erotic romance novel for publication.

Diaappointing
I only purchase this book because of all the positive reviews. I realize now, they must all have been written by Knight's friends and relatives. It was supposed to be a book about writing sex scenes and erotica, (A guide to writing erotic romance!) and there was very little of that in the book! Instead Knight wrote a general book on all aspects of writing and writing a romance in particular! There are tons of general books out there - I have several and didn't need another one! I feel cheated.

Additionally, Ms. Knight uses ONLY examples from her "EroRom" books. Talk about inflated ego! After trying to read a few snipits I gave up. HELLO! She writes SciFi! And bad Sci-Fi from her examples.

This book was NOT what it was proported to be - I'm very disappointed and am returning it for a refund.

This book WORKS!
All I can say is that this is the best book I've found so far on writing of any kind, not just romance. The techniques here would work for many different types of stories. As a published author who is always trying to publish more, as well as a college-level writing teacher for 15 years, I have purchased a lot of "how to write" books. Most of them are useless--either too obvious or geared toward pretentious literary fiction, something that, let's face it, most people won't succeed at and even fewer will make any money with. This one is geared toward actually scoring sales in a field some might call formulaic, but is undoubtedly economically viable (e-books are the hot new thing and are discussed at length here). The proof is in the pudding: I've been struggling with the first draft of a paranormal novel, not necessarily X-rated, and some plot elements just weren't working. Within hours of reading this book (most of it in one fascinated sitting), I had the answers I needed to shape up my story and move on. What I was missing, it turns out, were the layers of conflict, external and internal, that she explains so very well. In case it isn't obvious, I loved this book and HIGHLY recommend it (you have to be a bit open-minded to read it, but again, these techniques would work for any romance of any rating). Recently I'd been using FIRST DRAFT IN 30 DAYS as a sort of experiment, but this book has just two or three simplified charts that work much better. Who wants to sit there deciphering hours of spreadsheets when you could be writing the story? I think this book will get you writing. It might even get you published.

UPDATE: Fall '09
The book I mentioned writing after being inspired by this one has now been accepted for publication. There's the proof--the book works! Thank you, Angela.

***An informative, information packed quick read***
This book is excellent!It's a fast, interesting read, and filled with useful information.
This author writes science fiction erotic romance.It's not anything that I am interested in so I didn't relate well to the examples she gave from her previous books. I prefer classic well written romance infused with graphic sex scenes. But I found this book very informative, and think a romance writer of any genre would find this book useful.
The areas in this book I found the most useful were the sections on formatting and submitting your manuscript(spacing, text, word count, how to figure out the word count, what information needs to be on you query letter, etc.).
Which publishers she started with, information on e-books vs. print.
What romance writing groups to become a member of, how to find an agent.
Mistakes she had made along the way to becoming a popular and successful erotic romance writer.
A ton of comments and examples from her readers.
There was a great bibliography of reference books that are a must read for any aspiring author.All in all, this book is definitely worth purchasing.It makes the writing process and getting published seem attainable.I highly recommend it.

Well worth the price!
This is an educational and entertaining guide to writing erotic romance by one of the most successful authors in the field.In fact, it's so good that it prompted my first ever Amazon review!Here's why:There are a lot of great books out there on writing, writing romance, even writing erotic romance (Alison Kent's book, which is excellent, comes to mind.)However, for me, this book was worth the purchase price for Ms. Knight's explanation of manuscript formatting and word count alone.Extremely helpful! ... Read more

Product Description
Hey! Just because you are trying to write to the market doesn’t mean you are selling out! It means you are being smart about what and how you write before you try to sell.

Here is some advice from a fellow romance writer and a list of markets you can submit your next manuscript to. Updated to reflect new markets for 2010. ... Read more

Product Description
In bookselling today, romance is the bestselling genre in the market. This book offers writers expert guidance for creating stories that will captivate readers and get the attention of publishers.' ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Excellent general writing tips - keep the highlighter handy
I'm not a romance writer, but decided, on the recommendation of a friend, to read this book. Before I knew it I had my highlighter out and was highlighting key things that I knew I wanted to refer back to.

This book is not just a book about how to write romances. It is far more than that. It also gives key information on writing romance vs mainstream fiction, tremendously useful key information, and a lot of encouragement (enough that I actually outlined the plot of my next novel).

I have read a lot of books regarding writing. This is one of the most useful ones I've read to date. I believe any beginning writer could benefit from much of the information held in this particular book.It now stands as a keeper on my shelf - one I'm sure I'll refer back to as my writing progresses.

Excellent How-To for Romance Genre
In American fiction, 40% of the marketplace is in the romance category. Novelist Phyllis Pianka takes writers through the paces to learn about the genre and discover their niche in the marketplace. In particular I love the realism built into the section called Fifty-Three Reasons Why a Book May Be Rejected.

Because I am an acquisitions editor and I've rejected more than 200 fiction submissions since January, I can quickly agree with these various reasons and the validity of them in many writer's submissions.

If you are interested in learning how to write romance novels, I recommend you consider this book.

Great Source of Information
This book is a great investment for anyone who wants to pursue writing romance stories.I found it worth every penny and then some.

Not enough!
This is a good book, but if you have never published a book before, you will need something more to go with it.I do like the part where she tells you exactly how to write each scene though.It tells quite a bit of information, but to me it's not enough!

Encouraging and Great for Aspiring Novelists
This book has really calmed a lot of fears that I had when I began writing.Pianka is very thorough but not overbearing in her explanations on how to create compelling romance.She includes great advice from well known romance writers such as Nora Roberts and Jo Beverley.I have the highest regards for many of the people who she interviewed.

She makes learning fun and enjoyable.There are many humorous antecedotes that made me laugh.And I enjoyed reading some of the things editors had to say as well.She also kept me grounded with her advice that the process can be hard and there is a lot of competition.But she's very encouraging and uplifting with her advice that there's lots of unexplored plots, characters and ground to be discovered in romance fiction.

Fast Flowing... this book really helps to get you focused and serious about writing. ... Read more

Product Description
Stacia Kane writes novels filled with “...flaming hot sex...” (Romantic Times), “...sizzling romance that heats up every page ...” (Darque Reviews), and “...spicy sex scenes beautiful enough to make you cry and hot enough to steam windows at the same time...” (Michele Lee). She has published more than a dozen romances and urban fantasies, with publishers like Ellora’s Cave, Pocket, Del Rey, and HarperVoyager. Now she opens her bag of tricks to show you how you too can write the scenes that readers crave.
From setting the scene to consummating the union, Stacia takes you all the way. She reveals the tricks of the professional author, step by step (with examples taken from her own and others’ writing), giving practical advice you can use in your own books. Be a Sex-Writing Strumpet is like a master class in erotic fiction.(Jim Macdonald) ... Read more

Product Description
Genre fiction is finally given its due, with 3 to 5 essays for each genre style, filled with exercises and student samples. This fun loving T&W classic was designed to help teachers expand their writing curricula with popular fiction genres. A fascinating guide, Teaching and Writing Popular Fiction provides ways to help students write, using the literature they already know and love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Major disappointment!
If I could give this book a negative rating, I would.After buying it, I feel scammed.The teaching suggestions are vapid, overly simplistic, and geared more for the elementary classroom than the secondary English classroom.DO NOT waste your time nor money on this book. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Writing Romance—The Ultimate Guide on Craft, Creation and Industry Connections* 50 Inspiring ArticlesThe process, craft and business of writing by some of your favorite published romance authors, as well as a few of the industry's leading editors and agents.* A Complete Resource ListRWA chapters, SFA-RWA member authors, and RWA-approved publishers and literary agents.* Success SecretsHow to craft a compelling story, find a great agent, and more! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

short tips and inspiration
This smallish book is a collection of short essays by a lot of romance writers, some of them pretty famous (Allison Brennan, Barbara Freethy, among others), and some not published at all. The essays are all well-written, with useful advice for active writers or inspirational topics for the stuck, the uninspired, or the unpublished. Not for anyone looking for something in depth, but many topics are covered with wit, wisdom, and enthusiasm. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

One of the better romance fiction books
There are thousands of how-to romance fiction writing books on the market.This book was one of the best that had unique techniques and not just a repeat of other books.

The author goes into great detail about sexual chemistry, the natural steps leading up to an steamy sex scene and the levels of physical contact between the characters.Every sex scene will be different, to match the two characters personality and their backstory.

The Best Selling Theme of All Time
A fantastic help and very thorough!

Invaluable information on getting that first sale, and what to do from there.

This book helped me to focus in my writing, and to be a bit more disciplined and organized as well.It also presents the "big picture" of romance writing in a way you'll hardly find anywhere else or in any writing course.

Chapters include:Setting the Mood, Where Lovers Meet, The Harsh and Tender Words of Love, Your Passport to Publication, The Glorious Glow of Success, Reading to Put You in a Romantic Mood, Authors to Study, Research Sources, Romance Publishers, and others.

A very practical and useful book. ... Read more