Romance Writer

Before picking up a pen or booting up your computer to start your Great American Romance Novel, there’s a bit of basic research that should be performed. Don’t underestimate the value of this tip; it’s one of the first suggestions published authors, editors and agents make to aspiring writers.

Research the genre you want to write, and, perhaps even more importantly, research the publisher you want to write for. The best way to do this is to READ what’s on the shelves right now.

If you like a combination of mystery and romance, I’d suggest reading the Silhouette Romantic Suspense line or authors like Catherine Coulter and Sandra Brown. If you’re into erotic romance, check out the offerings from e-publishers like Ellora’s Cave or Liquid Silver. Harlequin puts out several imprints with varying degrees of sensuality: Spice, Blaze, Desire, Romance.

While most publishers provide submission guidelines, the best way to target your manuscript for a certain publisher is to read what they print. This will give you a feel not only for the genre, but pacing, characterization, tone and theme.

A personal example I’ll share is a WIP (writer’s lingo for “work in progress”) I’m targeting for Kensington Brava. Kensington has published several Bad Boy anthologies, a threesome of interconnected stories with Bad Boys being the common denominator. To show Kate Duffy, the editor for Brava, I know her line, I’m working on a trilogy of novellas called “Bad Boys Ride Again.” I’m trying to cultivate an idea that will appeal to Ms. Duffy, and from the many Bad Boy series she’s put out, I’d say my hog-riding heroes are right up her alley.

Here are a few tips to help your reading research:

* Visit publishers’ Web sites. Many offer guidelines and some have resources — such as craft “how tos” — for writers.

* Pick up books at thrift stores or secondhand shops to minimize cost.

* While reading, take note of how the writing is structured: point of view, character interaction, scene building, sensuality level, dialogue, secondary characters and story lines, plot turns, etc.

* Use different colored highlighter pens to mark hero and heroine point of view, scenes that create romantic tension, turning points in the relationship. This will help you understand how the author combined all of the details.

* If you are not engaged by the genre you are reading, pitch it and find something else. Vampires and urban fantasy are hot right now, but if the characters and plot don’t appeal to you, you won’t have much fun writing that book. The philosophy of many successful writers it to write what you love to read.

It’s important to know what the trends are in the industry so you know what publishers are looking for. I promise that burying your nose in a book does count as research. So, get to reading!

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